The annual hops competition held at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention has a new name: ONHops Brewoff. The feature beer style for 2020 is The Double (aka Imperial) IPA.

Arizona growers, who market 52 million cartons of lettuce annually, have adopted more stringent water quality metrics.

Walmart is not the top grocery retailer in Canada in sales– Loblaw has that distinction --  but it is globally with in-store net sales of about $503 billion. Of that number, $49 billion is in on-line net sales, a sales channel that’s expected to double in value in the next five years.

The race is on to harvest the Canadian potato crop by early October. Kevin MacIsaac, general manager, United Potato Growers of Canada, shares an in-depth report from a board of directors’ meeting on September 10.

Farm Credit Canada is suggesting that farmland values across many regions of the country are showing only modest increases of about three per cent in the first half of 2019.

A multi-year deal with Kraft Heinz Canada ensures that Highbury Canco, its employees and contracted growers in the Leamington, Ontario area will continue producing brands such as Heinz beans, Heinz tomato juice and Classico pasta sauce.

Almost $6.3 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario will help Bioenterprise create a single-source virtual network. The agency is expected to provide support to 200 businesses.  

Up to three bursaries valued at $2,000 each are available from the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers. Deadline is October 15.

Damage from Hurricane Dorian’s winds and rains varies depending on crop and location in the Maritimes. Assessments are underway.

With the increase of Ontario’s minimum wage to $14 per hour, some employers may be unaware that they are at or over the $490,000 threshold for the employer health tax. Check with your accountant.