http://www.thegrower.org/ News story updates from TheGrower.org en-us http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0m0m2r1g4p5t Incorrect date - In the October issue of The Grower on page 7, Board briefs under paragraph with regards to Research priorities, it states that there will be a meeting with VRIC to discuss research priorities that has been scheduled for November 23 and OFVGA will distribute a meeting notice. ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8z6e3s8a8g1b LEAMINGTON, ON- October 19, 2010 -  The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) announced its final determination today, upholding the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers’ (OGVG) complaint of injurious dumping by Holland of bell peppers into the Canadian marketplace. The complaint, which was filed on December 24, 2009, alleged that imports of greenhouse ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9o2d2r5p9q5t September 8, 2010 (Guelph, ON) - The third annual Ontario Harvest Gala, hosted by the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC), will be held on Thursday, October 21 in Guelph. Each year, farmers and others working in agriculture meet at the event to celebrate Ontario’s bounty. During the gala, the ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=7t7m5w8l8p4g Canada, September 06, 2010 - Cavendish Farms has purchased the breeding rights for "Prospect", a potato variety it says is suitable for French fries and good for the environment. It's the first time the Prince Edward Island company has bought the rights to an entire variety of potato. That means Cavendish decides ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0r4q2e4n9u5r Simcoe, Ontario (September 8, 2010) -- A new winery has opened its doors in the south central Ontario region. Wooden Bear L is the newest facility to commercialize in the Simcoe Ontario area and has located its facility at 801 Norfolk Street South. The winery specializes in wines produced ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9r7b0p2p3r7m Vineland, Ontario, September 9, 2010- Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has recently partnered with Let’s Talk Science, a national, charitable science outreach organization, to bring relevant and reliable information about environmental and agricultural issues to teens via CurioCity.ca – an interactive science-based website. At CurioCity.ca, teens are able to explore the ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3s8o4p1k7r0h WHAT'S NEW Applications are now being accepted for the fifth year of the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2010. Awards will be announced in spring 2011. ABOUT THE PROGRAM The Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence was established in 2006 to recognize and foster ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9t9c5t3y1w7h Winnipeg, September 13, 2010 - Charitable or not-for-profit organizations in Canada providing safety training related to agriculture may now apply online for funding from the new $100,000 FCC Ag Safety Fund. Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) are partnering to provide support ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8j9y6z9y9a5y Industry-government collaboration leads to success in food, flowers and plant research Vineland, Ontario, September 21, 2010- Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, opened the Vineland campus doors today to share latest science and innovation work with industry partners. “Vineland ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8m4b7e0a0s7y   Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association 152nd Annual General Meeting and Convention January 10, 11 and 12, 2010 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Niagara Falls 5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6W7 Click to download ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8n8p2k8s9z0k Guelph ON, November 15, 2010 – Farmers with permits to take water are being reminded to check the expiry date of their documents. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA) is encouraging growers to review their paperwork this fall to ensure that their permits remain current or can be ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2r6x1j0j1w6u Are you working on an innovative project or do you have an innovative product? You could win an award through the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Program. Applications must be in by November 15, 2010. The awards program includes the Premier’s Award (up to $100,000), the Minister’s ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=6w6b0j0d5v8m  Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, November 17, 2010 --- The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry welcomed Rick Mercer, from The Rick Mercer Report, on October 12, 2010, through invitation by the PEI Potato Board. Rick Mercer and his crew met with Jason and Bertram Webster, of Middleton Farms, and Troy Webster, of ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9n7x4a6a1h8l  The preliminary production estimate for the 2010 Canadian potato crop is 97,279,000 hundredweights (4 412 575 tonnes). This is down 4 per cent from last year’s revised production. Area planted was set at 356,700 acres (144 356 hectares), down 4 per cent, while area harvested is estimated down 5 per cent at ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8g0e3x0o2v3x  With slim budgets and big issues, the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario are digging deep for survival, both as an association and as individual growers. The umbrella group represents all unregulated vegetables from artichokes to zucchini. The past year has challenged all growers with wage increases, energy hikes and gaps ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=6y0a0y1i1j5w  With the asparagus seed business exceeding $600,000 from Ontario growers, customers in the U.S. and the U.K., directors are investigating a business model that would be at arm’s length from the Ontario association.That’s a key issue says Jason Ryder, newly elected president, at the recent Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2g5n7x3y7s0s Guelph, January 25, 2011 – New technologies and the latest research developments in the field of agricultural irrigation will be the focus of an upcoming Ontario conference. The three day Ontario Agricultural Irrigation Conference will feature a drip irrigation course, presentations by irrigation experts and assistance with the Permit To ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1f4i4n2w3p3v Guelph, January 20, 2011 – The long-serving general manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Board and the Fresh Grape Growers Marketing Board was recognized for his contributions to the Ontario horticulture sector last week. Adrian Huisman was named the recipient of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Award ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1j4z0d4i2w8x Guelph ON, January 26, 2011 – Ontario’s horticulture farmers have banded together with the provincial government again this year to bring healthy fruit and vegetable snacks to school children in Northern Ontario. The Northern School Snack Program has launched its 19 week program at 110 elementary schools. “The connection between food ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0h2r9l9f3k5c  With the largest wine flute setting a Guinness Book of World Records at the Niagara Ice Wine Festival, Ontario’s grape producers are feeling more celebratory than they have in a couple years. Follow the money trail to the 2010 crush to find out why. The value of the crop ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9y5z3n0h9y3e  Thanks to funding from CropLife Canada, a new pilot workshop “Airblast Sprayers 101” will be offered to growers in southern Ontario in March 2011. Four venues are currently being scouted in Meaford,Woodstock, Simcoe and Harrow by Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau, OMAFRA application technology specialist who developed the course. ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4y2o4u4l1e6x OFVGA and Erie Innovation and Commercialization have engaged the George Morris Centre to examine food distribution and market access issues within the South Central Ontario region and to develop a food distribution model for the area. Interviews with many industry members have already taken place. However, to broaden the scope of ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1v1w7y9h8p4h The establishment of a risk management program (RMP) was the single most important action the provincial government could have taken in today’s budget, say farmers representing the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC). The new program will help ensure the economic success of Ontario’s non-supply managed commodities, which include beef, pork, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0x1r0s3v9r2d  Flavour is complicated. It’s assessed by taste, texture, temperature and most importantly, smell. But flavour is not the starting point for most berry researchers. It’s usually agronomics. That’s why the March 2011 formation of EUBerry is so promising, a multinational consortium funded with ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9j3r7s9l8w9i LEAMINGTON, ON, May 3, 2011- The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) would like to clarify that Ontario greenhouse tomatoes are not the source of a recent tomato recall due to salmonella contamination. Yesterday, Mastronardi Produce Ltd., a marketing company, advised the public not to consume Field & Farm brand, Grape Tomatoes, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4u9k7u9i1p6o Guelph, June 29, 2011 – Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers are pleased with today’s provincial government announcement of a new self-directed risk management program for the edible horticulture sector. Farmers have long been asking for a bankable, predictable and stable risk management program as the fruit and vegetable sector has ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2c4k1i5e0c3t Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau, Application Technology Specialist Gillian Ferguson, Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist Many people think it was Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) that coined the word “robot,” but it was actually Czech playwright Karel Capek (1890-1938), from the Czech word for “forced labour” or “serf.” Now some greenhouses are using robots to spray ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1q0u8o8q8k5r Christmas is Thanksgiving for Cheryl Peck and her family at The Cider Keg. That’s because October to December is the biggest sales season for this fifth-generation, 125-acre apple farm near Vittoria, Ontario. With one-quarter of the apples destined for a value-added treat, the harvest tastes sweetest as sparkling cider, fruit ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2w0h7p9h0q0v LILIAN SCHAER for AGCare Members of two Ontario agricultural coalitions voted in August to amalgamate their two organizations into one to promote food and farming in the province. The joining of Agricultural Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment (AGCare) and the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) will mark the first ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=5l6x5t5l2p4d June 8  - Garlic Growers of Ontario Field Day, hosted by Bob Romaniuk, Scotland, ON June 12, 13 - National Farm Business Management Innovation Roundtable, Ottawa, ON July 28 – 31 - Potato Association of America Annual Meeting, Quebec City, QC July 17-19 - Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, Halifax, NS Aug 13, 14 - North American ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3f5o3n9q7q6b  Just for fun, think of all the things you were supposed to learn how to do, but are now obsolete: how to save a file on a floppy disc, how to record something on a VHS tape, the point of a pager/beeper. If you missed the 90s and most ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3j9o3k2t0i8c There’s nothing like a farmers’ market to sharpen presentation skills. And when it’s the Byward Market, in the shadow of the nation’s Parliament Buildings, there’s even more of a spotlight with city dwellers and tourists alike viewing the wares. Gerry and Diane Rochon, who grow 90 acres of fruits ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3b7x5q7d1j7q What’s that real estate term? Location, location, location. Kevin and Krista Ward are the beneficiaries of that maxim by virtue of their on-farm retail store just a couple miles south of Wasaga Beach, Ontario. For those without a map, that’s like casting your lure into a stream ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2k7d5r7u8x3p  (Niagara Falls, ON, January 11, 2012) – There is a new leader in place at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). Potato grower Mac James was elected Chair of the Board at the organization’s 153rd annual general meeting yesterday. He succeeds Brian Gilroy who stepped down after serving ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9b1d3k3c7d2a   J. CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for RANMAN 400SC FUNGICIDE for suppression of white rust on spinach in Canada. White rust is a common disease of spinach in many areas of North America and has been ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=5m1m4n4y9s2z  J. CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for CALLISTO 480SC Herbicide (mesotrione) for control of weeds on established asparagus in Canada. Callisto herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on corn, mesotrione-tolerant soybeans, cranberries ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2c8o9w2u0x0i Spring freeze causes widespread damage to apple crop For immediate release Vineland ON, May 4, 2012 – Ontarians can expect fewer locally grown apples in stores this fall and those that will be on the shelves will likely be more expensive. That’s due to spring frost that has caused widespread damage to ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3a5q0n7b6n0v Kroger, Loblaw, Safeway agree to accept standard 4”x 2” RPC labels that result in a cost effective solution for growers and packers (May 8, 2012) – Three large retailers—Kroger, Loblaw, and Safeway—have agreed to accept a new standard 4”x 2” label for Returnable Plastic Containers (RPCs) following an industry ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8f4k7s4i6y2r  Mastronardi Produce Ltd. learned yesterday that Naturesweet, Ltd. filed suit against Mastronardi claiming violation of patent and design issues. “Mastronardi is surprised that the action was commenced because Naturesweet has never complained or made any contact whatsoever to Mastronardi regarding any issues relating to the design and packaging of Mastronardi’s ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9h2l7e4g3g4o BROOKS, AB -- Water. Clean water. It’s a common theme in the greenhouse industry whether it’s Alberta or Ontario. Growers in both provinces are conducting research that reflect the nature of their respective growth curves. Nationally, greenhouse sales topped $1.1 billion in 2011. Most of that was ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2w6q5c6t2u8u  There’s no school that teaches efficiency, unless it’s the real-life classroom of Elwood Lawton. This self-motivated, self-taught farmer is usually found in his Stratford, Prince Edward Island machinery fabricating shop. That’s where he’s modified “graveyard” equipment into the most efficient harvester possible for wild blueberries.                               In August, his larger-than-life tinkerings ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4k8b8c9f2l2t Dr. Jennifer DeEll, Fresh Market Quality Program Lead, OMAFRA, and Ken Slingerland, Horticultural Consultant Recent cultivar improvements have spurred Ontario pear producers to modernize the industry. New storage technologies have also revived optimism in storing and marketing pears for longer periods than in previous years. As a result, we have been ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=6h4w7m5b5d2y  GUELPH, Ontario, January 29, 2013 - Issues vital for agriculture's prosperity now and in the future intermingle for prospective participants in the 28th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture (CYSA) competition. After deliberation among board members, led by new CYSA board member and former first-place senior winner Tammy Fischer, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1v9a8f5k9a8c Toronto, October 2, 2012 - Following a summer of relentless hot and dry weather, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario warned today the Ontario government is not doing enough to protect our water resources against the threat of continued dry spells and drought. Gord Miller made the comments during the release of ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8w5m1p1d3i9h  Whitehorse, Yukon – September 14, 2012 – Today, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture reached agreement on the content of the Growing Forward 2 policy framework for the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sector. The new five-year agreement includes investments in strategic initiatives of over $3 billion for innovation, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=6k2w3q3y2g5z Guelph ON, November 19, 2012 – The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is now accepting nominations for its annual Industry Award of Merit, which is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the fruit and vegetable industry. This can include strategic leadership, technical input, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1o4f9m3m0i9d  MELANCTHON TOWNSHIP, November 21, 2012 -- The Highland Companies (Highland) announced today that it is withdrawing its application to develop a quarry in Melancthon Township. Highland also intends to discontinue its efforts to restore the rail corridor through Dufferin County. In addition, Highland announced that John Lowndes has ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=5v0m6q9q3a9z Niagara Branch of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists - PRESENTS - A SPECIAL FREE LECTURE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKER : JOSEPH C. RIDER, Retired Plant Manager with 40 years experience in the canning industry DATE : Monday, January 7, 2013, 2:00 p.m. VENUE : Rittenhouse Hall at the Vineland ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=7p6m5o6r6y1x Current Programs Cover Financial Losses In 2012 January 10, 2013 12:00 pm - Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs The governments of Canada and Ontario are providing additional support for tree fruit growers whose crops were damaged last year. An unseasonably warm spring in 2012 caused some fruit trees across Ontario to ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=7s8i5v8p9w7c  Ontario based research and innovation centre Vineland is hosting a water treatment and management workshop for greenhouse and nursery on 30th of January. During the course several subject on water management will be discussed such as: current water and nutrient management regulations in Ontario, Canada how to manage pathogens, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=9g3k0b8h8d1e Ancaster, ON [December 4, 2012] – Saskatchewan fruit wine producers and first generation Quebec sheep farmers are Canada’s 2012 Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF). Sue Echlin and Vance Lester of Perdue, Saskatchewan and Martin Brodeur Choquette and Johanne Cameron of St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec were chosen from seven regional farm couples across Canada, ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=5d3s7d3l7g0e Simcoe, Ontario, December 17, 2012—Canada’s ginseng growers will benefit from new market opportunities thanks to the Harper Government. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Member of Parliament (Haldimand–Norfolk), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced an investment to the Ontario Ginseng Growers ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=8d3w2z8n8t2n  Guelph, Ontario, January 7, 2013 – The governments of Canada and Ontario are making a joint investment to help producers adopt innovative and sustainable on-farm water management practices. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ted McMeekin today announced a new initiative that will ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4h6d8u4s4u1j Ottawa, Ontario, January 11, 2013 – On behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, I extend my sincere condolences on the passing of the Honourable John Wise, PC. A dairy farmer from Ontario's Elgin County, John brought his passion for agriculture to public life, serving in municipal politics, farm organizations ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3u2w4x6x6z3y   The most recent attempt by the Province of Ontario to liberalize liquor access is not enough for the province’s wine sector, which is campaigning for independent wine stores separate from the LCBO. On New Year’s Eve afternoon, the province announced that over the next 12-18 months some large ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1a9r9l0x2e7p  The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association 2013 board elected grape grower, Ray Duc, as chair. Currently in his tenth year as an OFVGA director, Duc farms with his son and brother-in-law on a third-generation family farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake growing grapes and tender fruit. He succeeds Mac James who stepped down ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3g2j8e0f9p5j  OTTAWA – CanadaGAP, the Canadian food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, has been successfully re-benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative and has achieved recognition against the GFSI Guidance Document Sixth Edition. CanadaGAP has demonstrated that certification options B and C meet the requirements for the following GFSI ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2k8o9l2v6w6n Asparagus Farmers of Ontario and Fox Seeds have hired a new general manager. Bernie Solymár comes to the position with 12 years of extension experience with OMAFRA and most recently, 12 years as a private consultant with EarthTramper Consulting Inc. For several years, he provided expertise to the Canadian ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1w0h7g1g4w2w Supporting Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector, From Farm to Fork The new Ontario government is re-introducing legislation today that, if passed, would help make more local food available in markets, schools, cafeterias, grocery stores and restaurants throughout the province. If passed, the Local Food Act would: • Increase local food awareness, access and sales ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4w8v4k8m5i5j Two years ago, water quality engineer Rebecca Shortt was fortunate enough to attend a week-long course in California on mobile irrigation laboratories, a standardized approach to measuring the distribution uniformity (DU) of an irrigation system. The specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food is now exploring whether ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0i5m7i8w0w6n WHERE: Simcoe OMAF office, Blueline Road & Highway 3 WHEN: April 26, 9 am -12 pm Oct 25, 9 am -12 pm Nov 29, 9 am -12 pm Jan 31 2014, 9 am -12 pm Mar 28 2014, 9 am -12 pm - includes step-by-step view of application - reviews supporting documentation ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0c2g9t9k9f8o Bradford, Ontario – Get ready for a new galaxy of variety names: Atomic red carrots, Red Star amaranth and Long White daikon radish. These are the emerging frontrunners identified by the University of Guelph’s Muck Crops Research Station and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC). The Holland Marsh has always ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1h7o8v4b6v9q  In late April, reforms were announced for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The biggest change for agriculture is that the federal government can suspend and revoke work permits and Labour Market Opinions if the program is misused. “It’s a solid ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=5r5n4n2f2v8h Vineland Station, Ontario – Building strength is an interval exercise, characterized by successive waves of energy expenditure and renewal. The stress that comes with high demand isn’t the obstacle; the real obstacle is the lack of intermittent recovery. Those wise words from Tony Schwartz, author of “Be Excellent ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=7m2v8o3e9m9w If Detroit has the largest food rescue operation in the United States, then it’s partly due to its articulate ambassador, Marilyn Beckham. She’s been affiliated with Forgotten Harvest for eight of their 23 years, now calling on food companies to divert their less-than-perfect goods from landfill sites towards charity. ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0u0p2v5a5e5u Ag minister Gerry Ritz has announced $7 million in response to the science cluster proposal submitted by the CHC to the AgriInnovation Program under Growing Forward 2. While this amount is considerably less than the $12,114,000 sought, it is a significant contribution to the sector. The $7 million ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2m3p2l7g4x2e JOHN KELLY Since the 2006 opening of the Ferrero S.P.A. confectionary plant in Brantford, where Nutella and Ferrero Rocher are produced, there have been high hopes to develop a local hazelnut industry. Ferrero represents a significant “pull” market in that it is looking to increase production while at the same ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=3c0k9o0d1e2k SHAWN CASEMORE To say that the face of the produce supply chain is rapidly evolving is an understatement. The combination of increasingly stringent consumer demands, radical fluctuations in commodity prices, and downward pressure on pricing from retailers is squeezing profits and reducing trust across the supply chain. There are ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=0b6d9j3b8u9l Ontario ginseng growers are in a bind, one that you wouldn’t expect. There’s nothing wrong with their product – in fact, globally, it’s top class of its field. American ginseng, the species grown on the sandy soil of the Norfolk plain, (versus Asian ginseng, the other popular variety) is ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=4q7j2e6v2t0l LILIAN SCHAER A group of young farmers has taken to social media to share with Canadians how they produce food and two fruit and vegetable growers are right in the thick of it. Erin McLean, whose family runs a pick-your-own berry operation near Peterborough and serves farmers’ markets and ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=6h4w0c8s7x4n Canada’s population growth is fuelled by immigration, with approximately 250,000 people arriving each year. That’s well over a million new consumers in the last five years, many from Asia with diverse cultures, tastes for food and economic standing. It’s imperative that producers and processors explore these trends to ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2w4b4n6x8j3s  At first blush, the $21 million construction of a tomato greenhouse beside Chatham-based Greenfield Ethanol would seem to be about energy savings. But the benefits may be far rosier than the tomatoes themselves. The Truly Green enterprise, the first in North America ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=1h2g2t5t7m9z  The horticulture sector has not previously consolidated information on the extent and type of wildlife damage. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association with financial support from the Agriculture-Wildlife Conflict Strategic Funding has a project underway to: • quantify wildlife damage; • research effective mitigation measures; • ... http://www.thegrower.org/readnews.php?id=2v0b7b2h5c3l   For many years we have been insisting that science should be the determining factor when pesticides get registered, or get ‘de-registered.’ Good science is unassailable, or so we would like to think. In the past few years there has been a decided (and unhealthy) shift to non-scientific approaches used ...