“Our food is fresh and people can trust the quality, but we won’t be there if we are forced to price ourselves out of the market,” he says, adding that Ontario fruit and vegetable growers are price takers who must compete with farmers from other countries who have lower production costs and warmer climates that allow for longer growing seasons. So how is Gervais hoping to weather the minimum wage storm? He’s taking a careful look at his operation this winter to see where he can become more efficient. That includes getting a clear picture of the production costs for each of his crops so he can set his pricing as accurately as possible – and it may mean dropping some crops from his rotation if they can’t be profitable enough for his farm.
He’ll also be reviewing the farm’s labour processes to see where savings can be gained, and he’s involved with the Berry Growers Ontario looking at new packaging options that hopefully will help growers compete against lower priced imports. And he’s hoping Ontario’s consumers will stand by growers and continue to support them by buying local product even if the prices are higher than at the supermarket. After all, he says, Ontario farmers are giving consumers what they’re asking for: local, healthy and sustainable food from producers they can trust. “We will see how committed local Ontario consumers are to supporting us. We want to stay in business and we will try our best to become as efficient as humanly possible,” he says. “But we also need consumers to stick with us and pay a bit more for locally grown food.” n
Come meet us at the OFVC on Feb 21-22 at booth #533
For all your professional pruning and harvesting tools. Electric pruners with lithium battery
Hand pruners, loppers and saws
39