Bok choy. Rapini. Fennel. These are examples of the specialty produce that Ontario growers are bringing to market based on signals from brokers and retailer buyers. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the December 2024 cover story and speaking with Shawn Brenn, potato grower. Shawn lists the opportunities but also the risks for these niche markets.…

Price-look up stickers, for the most part, are plastic. They are the size of a thumbprint, yet they “gum up” the composting process when it comes to separating them from organic food waste. The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has noted that Europe is moving towards a certified compostable PLU by 2028. The Grower is Digging Deeper behi…

Climate change and global competition are challenging growers of processing vegetables in Ontario and Québec. Unseasonal rains damaged the Québec crop in 2023. Imports from European countries led North American processors to cut contracts in 2024. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the October 2024 cover story and speaking with Pascal Forest, pres…

Verdant Technologies Inc. has figured out how to use 1-MCP, an ethylene inhibitor, to keep broccoli fresh from field to fork. The new technology – a sheet placed in each box in the field -- is extending shelf life for a fragile commodity to seven to 10 days. How quickly the innovation is adopted depends on acceptance through the entire value chain.…

Cumulative catastrophic weather events over the last four years have left many Okanagan fruit growers with little to no fruit to sell in the summer of 2024. Government response, at the British Columbia and federal levels, has been tepid at best. The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada continue to advocate for more rapid monetary support but presi…

Responsible for human resources at Sandy Shore Farms, Amanda Doughty has embraced not only the work ethic but the community ethic at this asparagus, bell pepper and onion operation near Port Burwell, Ontario. She is focused on the physical and mental welfare of the 200-plus temporary foreign workers from Mexico and the Caribbean. The Grower is Digg…

University of Guelph pomology professor Dr. John Cline has spent his research career in not only apples, but tree fruit. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the May 2024 cover story and speaking with Dr. Cline. He shares information on his most recent trials with a plant growth regulator for peaches and nectarines, that could shave 40 to 50 per cen…

The Ontario greenhouse vegetable sector, now valued at close to $2 billion in farmgate value, is facing regulatory burdens on several fronts. The federal carbon tax is one, but Chatham-Kent’s municipal development charges for water and wastewater will escalate from $179,000 per acre in 2024 to $366,000 per acre by 2029. The Grower is Digging Deeper…

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is registering dozens of biopesticides but the uptake by growers hasn’t been as robust. These new products offer suppression, not total control of insects and disease. That means a management shift in how to integrate them with conventional chemistry. There’s also a mind shift – how much faith do growers…

As managing director of the Canadian Agrifood Policy Institute, Tyler McCann sees a need for more investment if agriculture is to meet its superpower goals in food production. That means more foresight amongst both public and private institutions and ambition to build the infrastructure that’s needed for a climate-resilient sector. In this Digging …

Many farmers -- and farm leaders -- are on the cusp of retirement. The Grape Growers of Ontario is planning for the future by sponsoring a Next-Generation Committee. About 15 to 30 growers, chaired by Jessica Solanki, is much more than a social group. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the January 2024 cover story and speaking with Jessica. She sh…

Soil health and climate change are linked. That’s one of the emerging themes from a Senate of Canada study into the state of the nation’s soils, the building block of the agri-food industry. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the December 2023 cover story and speaking with Senator Robert Black. After a year of criss-crossing the country, talking t…

FERME Québec, a non-profit agency, was responsible for bringing more than 16,000 temporary foreign workers from Guatemala to the province in 2023. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the November 2023 cover story titled 'Guatemalan workers bridge the labour gap for Québec growers'. We are speaking with FERME Québec executive director Fernando Borja…

The pandemic tested the logistics and marketing acumen of farmers’ markets like never before. As executive director of Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia, Justin Cantafio led a remarkable drive that resulted in the growth of provincial markets from 36 to 45. In this Digging Deeper podcast, he shares a perspective on the economic and social impact of t…

As founder of a greenhouse building company and then as a grower himself, Peter Quiring has witnessed lots of growth over 30 years. Nature Fresh Farms is headquartered in Leamington, Ontario. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the September 2023 cover story and speaking with him about his ambition to grow blackberries, raspberries and leafy greens…

The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation is a hub of expertise that touches most aspects of produce trade in Canada. If you’re a grower/shipper, broker or freight contractor, then you know how produce gets moved every day. And with perishable products, sometimes things go wrong. Jaime Bustamante, Director of Trading Assistance at FVDR…

Ontario’s processing vegetable sector is valued at more than $100 million. Hand-harvested field cucumbers make up $16 million, a niche that’s often forgotten. Many tons go to American processors to be made into a variety of pickles. The stubby ends, known as nubs and crooks, are used to make relish. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the August 20…

British Columbia’s $160 million cherry sector has grown substantially in recent years thanks to new markets in China, Japan and more recently South Korea. The 400-member BC Cherry Association is now raising awareness of their stone fruit domestically. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the July 2023 cover story and speaking with Sukhpaul Bal and R…

Shipping and logistics are still the crux of getting fresh produce to consumers. Ron Lemaire, president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, shares both a global perspective and domestic context of the pain points that need to be addressed to protect the cold chain. These challenges are near-term to ensure Canadian food security.…

The trend to hard ciders is not abating. The challenge is to grow apple varieties that will adapt to a fruiting wall and mature to a size that’s economical to pick. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind May 2023 cover story and speaking with Doug Balsillie. Doug and his wife Leslie Huffman have committed two acres of The Fruit Wagon’s 35 acres to thi…

Crop protection decisions are harder than ever this spring as tree fruit growers seek alternatives to group M fungicides, the ones with multi-site modes of action. Government regulators have restricted their use as well as other products such as mancozeb and captan. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind March's cover story and speaking with Brian Rid…

The ICL-Group is a global manufacturer of specialty minerals with experience in countries as diverse as Brazil, India and the U.S. In this Grower Calling podcast, Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, speaks with Jason Haegele. Jason explains what this specialty plant nutrition company is offering to Canada.…

Meyers Fruit Farms, a tree fruit and floral greenhouse business near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, has invested in five new units that will accommodate up to 40 temporary foreign workers. Planning the design has been mindful of worker comfort and privacy. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, is Digging Deeper behind the February 2023 cover story a…

There is no season harder than succession. That’s why alignment of needs and goals is so important for farm families looking to transition roles and assets. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the January 2023 cover story titled 'Farm transfers are about more than land and legacy.' Editor, Karen Davidson, speaks with Elaine Froese, Canada’s farm wh…

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Competition will spotlight seven regional winners at its final event in Saskatoon, November 23-27, 2022. Three out of seven competitors are from horticulture. One of those couples is David and Jenn VanDeVelde, berry growers and on-farm retailers from Delhi, Ontario. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the December …

Israel Chemicals Limited, or the ICL-Group, is a global manufacturer of specialty minerals. The delivery of these products are through controlled release fertilizers, foliar fertilizers and fertigation fertilizers, just to name a few. Jason Haegele, North American agronomy lead explains how these products are used in the horticultural sector.…

The journey from commodities to brands is traced by the chief marketing officer, a 15-year veteran of the greenhouse industry. The branding of greenhouse vegetables has reached such sophistication that a kitchen was built inside the new marketing quarters of the Leamington, Ontario operation. It serves as the hub for creating recipes and content fo…

Jenny Lemieux, co-founder and CEO of this Toronto start-up, is conducting trials with nine apple growers to solve a common problem: crop load management. One of those growers, Kirk Kemp, Algoma Orchards, Newcastle, Ontario, is excited that computer vision technology can count blossoms and fruitlets with more accuracy than he can. The Grower is 'Dig…

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well as growers become marketers who encourage consumers to “eat the seasons.” The Grower is Digging Deeper behind the July 2022 cover story and speaking with Davina Komienski, owner of Sam's Place Farm Market. Davina shares how fresh produce grown at Komienski Farms is supplemented with other fruits and vege…

Westmoreland Topline Farms is the first in Canada to launch greenhouse-grown, plastic-free English cucumbers in June 2022. The Grower speaks with Dino DiLaudo about the edible coating, developed by Apeel Sciences, made from the seeds and skins of other fruits and veggies. A major Canadian retailer is partnering on the initiative with consumer messa…

As growers, marketers and distributors of produce, the Oppenheimer Group knows the challenges first-hand. Stewart Lapage is steering through multiple crises as executive director of operations and logistics based in Calgary, Alberta. The Grower is Digging Deeper behind our May 2022 cover story and speaking with Stewart. We discuss how the pandemic,…

The drive for more homegrown produce is intensifying as global events shake up norms and supply chains. The Star Group’s foray into strawberries is one example of extending its greenhouse vegetable expertise at BC Hothouse. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, is Digging Deeper into April 2022 cover story and speaking with Colin Chapdelaine.…

As a grape and tree fruit crop consultant in the Niagara peninsula, Ryan Brewster is counselling his clients how to move away from some pesticides that are harsh on beneficial insects. One cultural method is to spray summer oils. Another is to plant late-flowering-cover crops between the rows to attract beneficial insects that eat bad bugs. Karen D…

Enthusiasts of precision agriculture are now looking to robots to alleviate labour shortages. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, is 'Digging Deeper' in the February 2022 cover story and speaking with Chuck Baresich, general manager of Haggerty Creek Inc.Chuck is demonstrating robotic weeders for various crops in different soil types to see how t…

The chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board is confident in the 20-year long-term management plan for potato wart, a fungal disease that’s been rarely seen by lifetime growers. He’s seeking answers from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on why the border is closed to PEI exports of seed and fresh potatoes to the United States. And why the …

Apple grower Kyle Oakley and his family have transitioned to market gardeners in the last decade with the help of high tunnels. With the purchase of Goldsmith’s Farm Market & Bakery in Thornbury, Ontario, they are confident enough to expand with two greenhouses to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and flowers. It’s an example of the trend to more p…

The pandemic has disrupted the supply chain in potatoes with some sectors experiencing a boom, and others suffering from a dip in demand. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the November 2021 cover story and speaks with Kevin MacIsaac, general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada. They discuss how the entire …

Two Ontario vegetable growers share different perspectives – one is contracting celery to an American food processor, another is worried about decreased plantings of field vegetables in his area. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the September cover story and speaks with Dr. Evan Fraser, director of the University of…

Amanda Dooney and her husband Hayden have bought a total of 80 acres of high-density apple orchards near Simcoe, Ontario since 2019.The arrival of the pandemic challenged strategic plans for Suncrest Orchards. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the August cover story and speaks with Amanda about how stable accommodati…

Strawberry propagator Dusty Zamecnik has tripled the size of his greenhouse in order to supply the growing demand for starter plants in the greenhouse sector. What used to be just 50 acres is now 120 acres of Ontario greenhouse-grown strawberries for year-round consumption. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the July …

Potato growers welcome new products and label extensions that offer options for chemistry rotations. Bayer is launching Vayego insecticide. And Luna Tranquility fungicide, a mainstay of Bayer’s portfolio, offers protection against several leaf diseases that are associated with early dying complex. In this podcast Karen Davidson, editor of The Growe…

Trade protectionism is not going away. The U.S. government is reviewing the security and strength of its supply chains, spurred by the global pandemic, climate change and geopolitical shifts. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the May 2021 cover story and speaks with Al Mussell, research lead, Agri-Food Economic Syste…

The chair of the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers overcame initial resistance by his seasonal agricultural workers to get vaccinated. With a couple days to ruminate over printed flyers and face-to-face meetings, all of his 71-member crew from Niagara-on-the-Lake consented and were inoculated on March 22, 2021.Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes …

The safety protocols around COVID-19 are restricting capacity at the Pest Management Centre to conduct toxicological trials needed to register crop protection products. A permanent funding structure would help meet future goals. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of the March cover story and speaks with Charles Stevens, …

The arena of business risk management is complex with interconnected government, crop insurance and private insurance programs. Federal proposed changes for AgriStability, for example, are currently under review by the provinces. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, talks to Steve Funk, director of agriculture risk management resources for MNP, a …

Carbon taxes are going up. They are $50/tonne now but the federal government has announced incremental increases to reach $170/tonne by 2030. At the ground level, this policy will increase prices on fertilizer.Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of The Grower's February 2021 cover story, and talks to Brian Gilroy, preside…

For 25-plus years, Bob Tosh has been giving farm management advice, including how to retire with enough cash flow for two generations. Planning for a healthy retirement involves a whole-family discussion. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, talked to Bob Tosh, MNP, to find out how this accounting company offers more than tax planning and accounti…

Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, goes 'Behind the Scenes' of January’s cover story titled 'Wired for launch' and speaks with Scott Hodgins, manager, Cohort Wholesale. He’s been in the crop protection business for 20 years and shares his thoughts on the impacts of COVID-19 on research for horticulture.…

Ontario’s greenhouse sector was at the epicentre of the COVID-19 crisis, under intense public scrutiny. Near Leamington, Ontario, Nature Fresh Farms was a leader in advocating for on-site testing, but then 199 of its asymptomatic workers tested positive. Local health authorities shut down the entire 160-acre facility on June 30, 2020. It took two w…

Software developer Cliffe Hodgkinson has finetuned a web-based program called FarmHR that eases the load of record-keeping for temporary foreign workers. One of his British Columbia clients, a human resources manager, adopted the program in 2020 to manage the personnel files for 600 tree fruit workers. Karen Davidson, editor of The Grower, speaks w…