OFVC 2015 Show Guide

Canada’s Premier Horticultural Event

13TH EDITION

FEBRUARY 18 — 19, 2015 SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO

CONNECT SUCCESS

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OFVC Executive & Committee Members 2015

P R E S I D E N T

V I C E P R E S I D E N T

Matt Peters HCO

Brad Huisman NPF & VGA

S EC R E TA RY T R E A S U R E R

Glenna Cairnie D I R EC TO R S

CONTENTS 5

President’s Welcome

6

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Cathy Bartolic ONTARIO FARM FRESH, HCO Robert Chorney FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO, HCO Kelly Ciceran ONTARIO APPLE GROWERS, HCO Bob Forrest OMAFRA Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS, HCO Tony Sgambelluri NPF & VGA Torrie Warner NPF & VGA Tom Wiley NPF & VGA CHAIR

Tony Sgambelluri NPF & VGA C O N V E N T I O N C O O R D I N ATO R

Glenna Cairnie

8

Exhibitor List

9

Trade Show Map

FAC I LIT I E S

Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS, HCO T R A D E S H OW

Ross Parker NPF & VGA S P E A K E R P RO G R A M

10

Session Schedule

Deanna Nemeth OMAFRA S P E A K E R C O - O R D I N ATO R

Kathryn Hoshkiw-Tombs

14

Speaker Biographies

30

Craft Brews and Ontario Hops: A Winning Combination

32

Ontario’s Bee Crisis Continues to Buzz

34

Meet the Minister

37

And the 2014 –15 Grape King is…

38

OFVC Roundup—Meet The Buyer and More

ACC O M M O DAT I O N S

Robert Chorney FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO, HCO R EG I ST R AT I O N , T R A D E S H OW & S P O N SO R S H I P C O - O R D I N ATO R

Glenna Cairnie FA R M E R S A N D F R I E N DS R EC E P T I O N

Catherine Clark FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO Brad Huisman NPF & VGA P O ST E R S E SS I O N S

Hannah Fraser OMAFRA / Jason Deveau OMAFRA M A R K E T I N G /A DV E R T I S I N G / W E B S IT E

40

OFFMA Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year

42

Convention Centre Lunch Menus

43

NPF & VGA Award of Merit

44

The Growth of Food Tourism

45

OFVC Roundup Continues

46

Farmers & Friends Reception

46

2015 Innovation Award Submissions

CONVENTION PARTN ERS

Interested in advertising in the 2016 Show Guide?

Contact Steve Watt, steve@ofvc.ca. The OFVC Show Guide is published by Bright Light Communications, www.brightlightcommunications.com.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from OFVC. Copyright © 2015 by OFVC Inc. Printed in Canada.

Steve Watt HARVEST ONTARIO, HCO T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Cathy Bartolic ONTARIO FARM FRESH, HCO C O M M IT T E E M E M B E R S AT L A RG E

Bob Forrest OMAFRA Brad Huisman NPF & VGA Ken Slingerland NPF & VGA Torrie Warner NPF & VGA Tom Wiley NPF & VGA 2015 S E SS I O N C H A I R S

Alix Aitken FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO Amanda Green OMAFRA Andy Reynolds BROCK UNIVERSITY Anne Marie Diotte OMAFRA Brian Hugli HUGLI’S BLUEBERRY RANCH Cheryl Lennox VINELAND RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE Christine Scheer FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO Christoph Kessel OMAFRA Elaine Roddy OMAFRA Evan Elford OMAFRA Hannah Fraser OMAFRA Jason Deveau OMAFRA Kevin Montgomery OMAFRA Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION Leslie Forsythe FORSYTHE FAMILY FARMS Leslie Huffman OMAFRA Margaret Appleb OMAFRA Marion Paibomesai OMAFRA Michael Celetti OMAFRA Pam Fisher OMAFRA Paul Kozak OMAFRA Philip Powell FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO Rebecca Shortt OMAFRA Sarah Marshall ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS MARKETING BOARD Sean Westerveld OMAFRA Todd Leuty OMAFRA Wendy McFadden-Smith OMAFRA

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OFVC PRESIDENT’S WELCOME To the majority of you reading this – WELCOME BACK! To those making your first trip to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, welcome to the largest convention in North America that is dedicated to the science and business of producing outdoor fruits and vegetables!

Our diverse and dedicated group of volunteers from the horticulture community has once again come together to organize a great show! Besides the sun, water and soil, it’s the people and relationships we form that help drive our respective businesses. Our organizing team is well aware of this, so this year in addition to our diverse forums for industry personnel and producers to connect, we are happy to add our ‘Meet the Buyer’ event Thursday morning.

Our always popular ‘Farmers and Friends’ event is again set for Wednesday night and is designed to celebrate the bounty of local Ontario food, wine, craft beer and cider while providing another great forum for connecting in a fun atmosphere. Don’t miss it!

Once again, with a little (read; a lot) of help from our friends at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, we have put together a world class speaker program. There is huge value in staying on the cutting edge of new developments and it only takes one small piece of new information found during one of our sessions to make a big difference in your business.

Thanks to the speakers travelling from near and far and for sharing your hard-earned wealth of knowledge and experience! I challenge you to attend at least one talk that may not directly relate to your business – sometimes a little perspective goes a long way.

Our exhibitors and sponsors are greatly appreciated and their increased presence and support acts as a bell-weather to the health of the fruit and vegetable industry here in Ontario. It’s a great time to grow!

I sincerely hope that you enjoy the fruits of our volunteer’s labour and wish you all the best for the 2015 growing season!

MATT PETERS President O N TA R I O F R U I T A N D V E G E TA B L E C O N V E N T I O N

Regards,

M AT T P E T E R S

5

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS P LAT I N U M

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2015 CONVENTION EXHIBITORS 608 A & L Canada Laboratories 912 A.M.A. Plastics Ltd. 905 Abell Pest Control 704 Adama Canada 302 Adams County Nursery Inc. 330 ADS Canada Inc. 1013 AEF Global 724 Agricorp 1104 Agriculture & AgriFood Canada 1011 Agriculture Solutions 533 Agri-Flex 900 Agro-100 Ltee 125 AgroHaitai Ltd. 729 AgroSpray Limited 317 AgroThermal Systems 309 Allied Associates, LLP Chartered

808 1105

1007 431 732 304 — 914 902 127 1016 531 400 524 917 909 1110 624 629 525 730 701 705 927 1,121 415

Accountants Anatis BioProtection AP Material Handling, A Division of Agri-Plastics Manufacturing Armtec Limited Partnership Arysta Life Science Axter AgroScience Inc. BASF – The Chemical Company Baxter Kitchens Inc. Bayer Crop Science Ben Berg Farm & Industrial Equip. Ltd Bertie and Clinton Mutual Insurance Besseling Group North America Inc. Boyle Tractor Brant Radiant Heaters Ltd. Burgess Baskets C. Frensch Ltd. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show Carther Plants Central Fabricating & Welding/Raynox Cog-Veyor Systems Inc. Compac Sorting Equipment CP Industries Ltd. Crescent Oil/Fuels Inc. DeCloet Greenhouse Mfg. Ltd. Delaware Pump and Parts Ltd. DFK Equipment Sales Dominion and Grimm Equip Don Arthur Orchard Equipment 1020 Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. 1005 Dragonfly IT Inc. 921 DuBois Agrinovation Inc. 402 DuPont Canada 509 Durward Jones Barkwell & Co. 409 Earth Alive Clean Technologies 710 Eckert Machines 313 ECO+ 1112 Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. 502 Engage Agro 708 Enza Zaden USA Inc. 503 Evergreen Liquid Plant Food 510 Farm Credit Canada 123 Farm for Profit/Greencrop Agri Products Ltd. 820 Farmers’ Markets Ontario 807 FBC Canada’s Farm & Small Business

Tax Specialist 1108 Filmorganic

8

507 First Genesis Inc. Equip Flexo Products Ltd. 500 Form Flex / Metazet 321 Frontlink Inc. 1118 Fruit & Vegetable Magazine 632 Fruit Shield Equip G.B. Equipements Inc. 411 General Seed Company (2000) Ltd. 1114 Georgia Pacific Corp.

300 Gintec Shade Technologies Inc. 911 Global Horticulture Inc. 426 Gowan 128 Grant Thornton 826 Grape Growers of Ontario 1009 Grindstone Creek Nursery Inc. 829 Growers Mineral Solutions Equip H & W Equipment 607 Harris Moran Seed Co. 1116 Harvest Goodies 731 Heartnut Grove Inc. 804 Highland Fresh Technologies 802 Highland Packaging Solutions/

Cas Pack Corporation

1004 Hillphoenix 700 Hindle’s Clarksburg Hardware 413 Horticolor 810 IGSA Management 1017 Industrial Bags Inc./Sacs Industriels Inc. 1000 Informed Energy Solutions 408 Janny MT CA Equip JCB/D&W Group 513 Johnny’s Selected Seeds 630 Kam’s Grower Supply 625 KOOLJET Refrigeration Inc. 310 Koppert Canada Equip La Coop Federee – Dispro Machinery & Parts 416 Lahave Natural Farms 920 Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc. 1015 Lambert Peat Moss Inc. Equip Leading Edge Equipment Ltd. 903 Lift Line Machinery Ltd. 1001 Liftow Limited 424 Lucas Liftruck Services 401 Martins Family Farm 1109 Meester Insurance Centre 420 Meridian Credit Union 812 Mori Essex Nurseries Inc. 707 Mori Vines Inc. 1106 MTX Fruit Ripening Systems NA 320 N.M. Bartlett Inc. 224 National Leasing

422 Natural Insect Control 1006 Niagara College - Research & Innovation 809 Niagara North Federation of Agriculture 901 Noco Lubricants 414 Norseco Inc. 801 Northern Equipment Solutions 403 Nourse Farms 827 NOVC – Niagara Grape & Tender Fruit 825 NOVC – Niagara Orchard & Vineyard Corp.

628 NSF GFTC 929 Nufarm 913 NutriAg Ltd. 406 Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario

Workers (OHCOW)

126 OMAFRA 122 OMAFRA – Agriculture Development 227 OMAFRA – Agmaps 124 OMAFRA – Food Safety & Traceability

225 223 1129 417 915

1102 831 609

1008 306 523 — 316 506 1111 529 606 312 1022 725 421 226 627 1113 601

Programs OMAFRA – Horticulture Technology OMAFRA – Foodland Ontario O’Neils Farm Equipment Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association – The Grower Ontario Institute of Agrologists Ontario Produce Marketing Assoc.

Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association Ontariofresh.ca (The Greenbelt Fund) Outfront Portable Solutions Penn Refrigeration Ltd Phillips Farm Supplies Phytocultures Ltd. Pic’s Motor Clinic Plant A Row Plant Products Co. Ltd. Prairie Forest Products Premier Containers (1983) Inc. Premier Equipment Ltd. Princeton Wood Preservers Ltd. Provide Agro Quantum Biotek R.E. Mann Brokers Ltd. R.W. Equipment Ltd. Recoltech Inc. Equip Redtrac International Ltd. 1002 Robert H. Laning & Sons Ltd. 906 Rockford Package Supply 626 Rupp Seeds 1010 Scholten’s Machinery

800 Scigiene Corporation 833 Seedway 505 Seminova 405 Seydaco Packaging Corp.

428 SGS Canada 703 Shur Farms Frost Protection 811 Siegers Seed Company Equip Slimline Manufacturing Ltd. (Turbomist) 824 St. Catharines New Holland Ltd. 633 Sterling Marking Products 603 Stokes Seeds Ltd. 511 Storage Control Systems 315 Strawberry Tyme Farms Inc. 907 Structural Panels Inc. 129 Summerland Varieties Corp.

727 Sunpack Agro-Plastics Canada Ltd. 600 Sunshine Pickles 908 Superior PetroFuels 1003 Supply Rite Steel 706 Syfilco Ltd. 430 Sylvite Agri-Services 611 Syngenta 311 Talk Wireless Inc. 702 The Cider Keg Equip Tirecraft 602 UAP Canada Inc. 733 Universal Field Supplies 327 University of Guelph – Laboratory

Services Division

308 UPI

307 1124 220 407 709 515 319 806 828 728 910 822 803 432 1107

V. Kraus Nurseries Ltd. Vailmont Vineyards Ltd. Vanden Bussche Irrigation Vegetolab Inc. Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Vinetech Canada Inc. VirtualOne Software Warwick Orchards & Nursery Ltd. Weather INnovations Consulting LP Weening Brothers MFG Wellington Wood Products Willsie Equipment Sales Wilson’s Fresh Blueberries Inc. Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE Complimentary shuttle bus service is provided between the Scotiabank Convention Centre and the Embassy Suites Fallsview Hotel. WEDNESDAY 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM THURSDAY 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE

Speaker Sessions

Exhibit Booths

Cafe / Food Court

Registration

Poster Display

9

SESSIONS DAY 1: MORNING (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 9:30 AM

TRADE SHOW – EXHIBIT HALLS A, B & C 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM

ROOM 201 & 202

ROOM 203

ROOM 204

VEGETABLES

ORGANIC WEED CONTROL

FIRE BLIGHT

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Amanda Green, OMAFRA Sponsored by: TD Canada Trust

Chair: Michael Celetti, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF

10:00 am Tomato Diseases Cheryl Trueman, University of Guelph, Ridgetown

9:30 am Mechanical Weed Management Maryse Leblanc, Institute of Research and Development in Agro-environment, Quebec

9:20 am The Fire Blight Situation in 2014 Michael Celetti, OMAFRA

11:00 am Integrating Contans into White Mold Management Systems on Vegetable Farms Alex Stone, Oregon State University

10:00 am Use of Mulches and Cover Crops to Manage Weeds Caroline Halde, Cornell University

Chair: Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA 9:30 am Bacterial Leaf Spot Pumpkins/Squash Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA

10:30 am Using Sheep to Manage Weeds and Cover Crops in Horticultural Systems Fabian Menalled, Montana State University 11:00 am Taking Advantage of Weeds Weaknesses Kristen Obeid, OMAFRA 11:30 am EOrganic, An Online Resource Fabian Menalled, Montana State University

9:30 am Fire Blight Management Begins with Prevention George Sundin, Michigan State University 10:00 am Fire Blight in My Orchard: Now What?

David Rosenberger, Cornell University 10:30 am Alternative and Novel Products for Managing Fire Blight Antonet Svircev, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 11:00 am Grower Perspective: My Experience Managing Fire Blight Cathy McKay, Apple Grower/Consultant; Lindsay Pink, Consultant; Paul Frankis, Apple Grower 11:40 am Q & A Grower/Expert Panel G. Sundin, D. Rosenberger, A. Svircev, C. McKay, M. Porteous, L. Pink, P. Frankis

ROOM 205

ROOM 206

ROOM 207-208

WINERY

APPLE CIDER WORKSHOP (SWEET AND HARD CIDER)

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Kevin Montgomery, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Wine Council of Ontario 9:30 am Climate Change Adaptation: Updates from the Ontario Grapevine and Wine Research Network Methoxypyrazine Remediation Andreea Botezatu, Brock University Optimizing Yeast for Sparkling Wine Production George van der Merwe, University of Guelph Appassimento-style Wines Debbie Inglis, CCOVI, Brock University

Chair: Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA 9:30 am Beyond the Plastic Jug – Innovative Cider Products Cheryl Peck, The Cider Keg

BERRIES CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre 9:30 am The Consumer “pear”spective Amy Bowen, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

10:00 am Invest in Sanitation to Invest in Cider Quality Louise Agius, OMAFRA

10:00 am Recent Advances in Tender Fruit Variety Development at Vineland Jay Subramanian, University of Guelph

10:30 am Making Winning Craft Cider at West Avenue Cider Company Chris Haworth, West Avenue Cider Company

10:30 am FruitTracker – New Tools, More Benefits Grower Panel: Ryan Tregunno, David Hipple, Jamie Warner; Moderator: Sarah Marshall, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board

11:00 am Quality Factors in Cider Making 10:45 am Water and Wineries: Mitigating the Risks, Claude Jolicoeur, Author, The New Cider Maker’s Capitalizing on the Opportunities Handbook Kevin Jones, BLOOM; Jay Mullin, BLOOM; Jean-Laurent Groux, Stratus Vineyards

BALLROOM A

TENDER FRUIT

11:00 am A Commercial Peach Grower’s Perspective on North America Peach Production and Marketing Chalmers Carr, Titan Farms, South Carolina

BALLROOM B

BALLROOM D

OFFMA SUMMIT

FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Chair: Kevin Schooley, Ontario Berry Growers’ Association

Chair: Leslie Forsythe, Forsythe Family Farms

Chair: Philip Powell, FMO

9:30 am Strawberry Aphids and Virus Diseases — Why You Have to Change What You’ve Been Doing Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

:30 am Don’t Serve Me…Make My Day 9 John Stanley, John Stanley & Associates

9:00 am The Art & Science of a Great Market Display Tracy Lamb, Mopani Communications

10:00 am Irrigation and Other Trends in Berry Production in Quebec Christian Houle, Dubois Agrinovation 10:30 am Frost Management: Sprinklers and Covers Barclay Poling, North Carolina State University 11:00 am Water, Nutrients and Fertigation Donna Speranzini, AAFC 11:30 am 4 Corners Farm in Vermont, A Farm Profile Bob Gray, 4 Corners Farm

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10:30 am Nuggets from the November Study Tour Stephanie Maynard, Quinn Farm 11:15 am – 11:45 am OFFMA’s Annual General Meeting

10:00 am There’s a Fly in My Soup!

Lesley Stoyan, Appletree Markets 11:00 am Keep the Health Unit Happy Atul Jain, The Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors of Ontario; Tony Amalfa, Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care

STUDENT POSTER SESSION

SESSIONS DAY 1: AFTERNOON (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

8:30 AM TO NOON

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 2:00 PM ROOM 201 & 202

ROOM 203

ROOM 204

SWEET CORN

CHANGING POLICIES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOUR FARM

SOILS & SOIL FERTILITY

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Anne Marie Diotte, OMAFRA

Chair: Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Stokes Seeds 2:00 pm New Research on Rust Cheryl Trueman, University of Guelph, Ridgetown

2:00 pm Farmland Values: Trends and Impacts on Farm Management Richard Vyn, University of Guelph

2:30 pm New Control Tactics for Changing Insect Pressure in Sweet Corn Tony Shelton, Cornell University

2:35 pm US Farm Bill and What It Means for Ontario’s Farmers Alan Ker, University of Guelph

3:00 pm Problem Weeds Workshop Dave Bilyea, University of Guelph, Ridgetown

3:10 pm Ag Trade Agreements and What They Mean for Ontario’s Farmers Basia Florio, OMAFRA 3:45 pm Taking a New Approach to Agribusiness Management Ryan Koeslag, Agriculture Management Institution

ROOM 205

TENDER FRUIT

2:30 pm Ten Tips for Marketing on a Budget Chawana Champagne, Aulward Graphics

2:30 pm The Impact of Climate Change on Ontario’s Wine Regions: Challenges and Opportunities Tony Shaw, Brock University

3:00 pm Stories from the Front Lines; Customer Interaction Best Practices Panel: Carol LePage, Reif Winery, Courtney Dobias, Pillitteri Estates Winery; Edward Madronich, Flat Rock Cellars; Moderator: Regina Foisey, Wine Council of Ontario

2:00 pm Ontario Berry Growers Marketing Board Initiative Jennifer VanDeVelde, President OBGA 2:30 pm Crown Borer and Cane Borers on Raspberries Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech 3:00 pm Using Sandea, Chateau, Goal, Prism, Lontrel and Other Berry Herbicides: What’s Working for Growers in Michigan Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University 3:30 pm Renovating Strawberries — Panel Discussion (45 minutes) Kevin Schooley, OBGA; David Phillips, Avonmore Berry Farm; Kevin Howe, Howe Family Farms

3:30 pm 4Rs on the Ground: Field Examples Adam Hayes, Christoph Kessel, John Lauzon, Dan Clarke, A&L Canada Laboratories Inc.

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

2:00 pm Ontario Wine Grape Research Network’s Project on Adapting to Climate Change Debbie Inglis, CCOVI, Brock University

Chair: Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

3:00 pm Getting the Right Rate Christoph Kessel, OMAFRA, A soil test is a key tool in planning your 4R program

GRAPE

2:00 pm LCBO Session: Updates on Sales and Our Wine Country Boutiques Astrid Brummer, LCBO

BERRIES

2:30 pm Nitrogen Management 4Rs John Lauzon, University of Guelph, Getting the most from your nitrogen dollar means knowing rate, source, timing and placement

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Andy Reynolds, Brock University Sponsored by: BASF

CCA CREDITS AVAILABLE

2:00 pm Dirt Poor or Soil Rich Adam Hayes, OMAFRA Soil health: management practices to improve soil health

ROOM 207-208

Chair: Kevin Montgomery, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Constellation Brands

BALLROOM A

Chair: Christoph Kessel, OMAFRA Sponsored by: A&L Canada Laboratories Ltd.

ROOM 206

WINERY

3:45 pm Resources for Your Winery Business Kevin Montgomery, OMAFRA

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

3:00 pm Viticultural Practices and Their Impact on Cold Hardiness: Optimizing Grapevine Winter Hardiness Jim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University 3:30 pm Development of Plants and Markers to Breed for Winter Hardiness Annette Nassuth, University of Guelph

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association 2:00 pm Stone Fruit Game-Changers: Fruiting Wall Training Systems and High Tunnels Greg Lang, Michigan State University 2:30 pm Interventions to Enhance the Microbiological Safety and Shelf-stability of Tender Fruit Keith Warriner, University of Guelph 3:00 pm Serpentine Forced Air Cooling in Bins Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA 3:30 pm Titan Farms, Keys to Our Growth and Success in Peach Production Chalmers Carrs, Titan Farms, South Carolina

BALLROOM B

BALLROOM D

PORT COLBORNE LOUNGE

OFFMA SUMMIT

FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

TASTING COMPETITIONS

Chair: Leslie Forsythe, Forsythe Family Farms 2:00 pm How to Create a Successful Exit Plan Panel: Steve Smith, Smith’s Apple and Farm Market; Dyann Birtch, formerly of Birtch Farms and Estate Winery; Kathryn Ferretti, Nokara Farms 3:00 pm Coming Back to the Farm Marianne den Haan, Sheldon Creek Dairy 3:30 pm Round Table Talks 1) Making Money 101 (Best Business Ideas of 2014); 2) Menu Pricing for Profit; 3) Hosting Profitable Events; 4) New Ideas in Customer Service; Coordinated by Jesse Lauzon, Springridge Farm

Chair: Philip Powell, FMO

1:30 pm Annual General Meeting

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm The Great Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition Jason Deveau, Evan Elford, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Gintec Shade Technologies

2:00 pm Good Things Growing!

Denise Zaborowski, Barb Smith, Foodland Ontario

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sweet Cider and Hard Cider Competition Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA

1:00 pm A Year in Review and 25th Anniversary Celebration of Our Symposium (cake will be served)

2:30 pm The Global Food Economy Tony Weis, Western University 3:30 pm The Global Food Economy — Book Signing Tony Weis, Western University

11

SESSIONS DAY 2: MORNING (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

MEET THE BUYER 7:30 AM – 9:15 AM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 9:30 AM ROOM 201 & 202 VEGCONNECT

ROOM 203

ROOM 204

SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA

POLLINATORS IN HORTICULTURE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Janice LeBoeuf, OMAFRA Sponsored by: The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association

Chair: Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

Chair: Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA

9:30 am What You Need to Know about SWD Anna Wallingford, Cornell University

9:30 am Native Pollinators in Ontario Agriculture Nigel Raine, University of Guelph

9:30 am An Information Tradeshow for All Vegetable Businesses • Drop in to speak with researchers, OMAFRA specialists and other key industry resources throughout the morning.

10:00 am Monitoring for SWD Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

9:50 am Honeybees in Agriculture Ernesto Guzman, University of Guelph

10:30 am SWD Research Updates from the North East Working Group Greg Loeb, Cornell University

10:10 am Integrating Pollinators Into Pennsylvania Apple IPM David Biddinger, Pennsylvania State University

11:00 am Making Insecticides Work for SWD Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University

10:40 am Creating Pollinator Habitat within Farm Systems Susan Chan, Farms at Work

•

Come with your own ideas or questions and explore a wide array new opportunities and key business decisions.

11:30 am Grower Perspective — How We Manage SWD with Pick-your-own Berry Crops Nate Nourse, Nourse Farms 11:45 am Q&A Guest Speaker Panel

ROOM 205 GET RICH QUICK? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW A SPECIALTY CROP CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

ROOM 206 TENDER FRUIT

GRAPE CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Amanda Green, OMAFRA

9:30 am Choosing Your Crop and Developing a Marketing Plan Evan Elford, OMAFRA; Laurie Thatcher Craig, Clear Valley Hops

9:30 am Cultural Practices Affecting Cold Tolerance and Assessing Low Temperature Injury in Peaches Rich Marini, Penn State University

10:30 am Pest Management Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA; Brian Collins, Collins Farm Produce 11:00 am Grower Panel Laurie Thatcher Craig, Clear Valley Hops; Remi Van De Slyke, King Lake Farms Ltd.; Brian Collins, Collins Farm Produce

ROOM 207-208

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Sean Westerveld, OMAFRA

10:00 am Agronomy and Cost of Production Sean Westerveld, OMAFRA; Remi Van De Slyke, King Lake Farms

11:10 am Panel: Making it Work — Encouraging Pollinators on Your Farm Kyle Mauthe, Long Point Region Conservation Authority; Sam McLean, McLean Berry Farm

10:00 am New Varieties, Specialty Varieties and Organics: What do Consumers Want?

Crystal Cottrill, Loblaws; Rob Periera, Sobey’s; Greg Maffey, WalMart; Moderator: Mike Ecker, Vineland Growers

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Constellation Brands 9:30 am Bird Repellant Research Project; New Zealand Polarized Light System and Predator Kestrels Jim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University; Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA 10:00 am Irrigate? Calculate!

John A. Anderson, Collins Barrow WCM LLP

10:30 am How to Grow High-density Pears with Pyrus Rootstocks Terence Robinson, Cornell University

10:30 am Grapevine Leafroll Disease Epidemiology and Implications for Management Monica Cooper, UC Coop Extension, Napa CA

11:00 am Summer Pruning Peaches: Separating Myth from Fact Rich Marini, Penn State University

11:00 am Assessing Botrytis Risk: Should We Do ‘More or Less’ This Season?

Kathy Evans, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

11:45 am – 1:15 pm Fresh Grape AGM

BALLROOM A APPLES CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF

BALLROOM B

BALLROOM D

OFFMA SUMMIT

FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Chair: Brian Hugli, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch

Co-Chairs: Alix Aitken, FMO; Christine Scheer, FMO

9:30 am Managing Summer Fruit Rots in Apples Dave Rosenberger, Cornell University

9:30 am A Year in the Life of My On-farm Market Karen Whitty, Whitty Farms and 13th Street Winery & Bakery

MARKET LEADERS DAY (for members only)

10:00 am Response of Gala to Multiple Applications of Chemical Thinners John Cline, University of Guelph

10:30 am Looking at New Ways to Source Funds for Your Farm Jennifer Stevenson, OMAFRA

9:00 am Managing to Avoid the 3 Signs of a Miserable Job Workshop Mary Lynn McPherson, Strive

10:30 am Cultivar Trial Update Nick Ibuki, Summerland Varieties

11:00 am Profitability Panel Stephanie Maynard, Quinn Farm; Morris Gervais, Barrie Hill Farms; Laura Hughes, Springridge Farm

10:45 am Panel: Views from the Next Generation of Orchard Managers Panelists: Gerbe Botden, Botden Orchards; Manus Boonzaier, Algoma Orchards; Brian Rideout, Manitree Orchards; Lisa Hill-Alexander, Vanessa Hill Orchards; Moderator: Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA

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8:45 am Registration

SESSIONS DAY 2: AFTERNOON (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 2:00 PM

TRADE SHOW – EXHIBIT HALLS A, B & C 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

ROOM 201 & 202

ROOM 203

ROOM 204

HORT ENGINEERING

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR FARM

POLLINATORS IN HORTICULTURE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Rebecca Shortt, OMAFRA

Chair: Anne Marie Diotte, OMAFRA

Chair: Paul Kozak, OMAFRA

2:00 pm Deer Damage: Analysis and Prevention Ben Hindmarsh, OMAFRA

2:00 pm Alternative Financing Options & Crowdfunding Jennifer Stevenson, OMAFRA

2:00 pm Ontario Honeybees in the Maritimes Pollinating Lowbush Blueberries Chris Hiemstra, Commercial beekeeper

2:40 pm Update on Growing Forward 2 Funding Margaret May, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association

2:20 pm Lowbush Blueberries in Northern Ontario Trevor Laing, Northern Ontario Blueberry Grower

2:30 pm Spend Cents, but Save Dollars Around Your Cold Storage and Packing Facility Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA 3:00 pm Smartfresh Alternative Application Methods George Burkholder, SmartFresh 3:30 pm Horticulture Robotics: Where We Are, and Gaps that Need Addressing Medhat Moussa, University of Guelph

3:20 pm Foreign Worker Program and Other Hot Topics in Farm Labour Ken Linington, Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc.

2:40 pm Linking Pollinator Services to Northern Blueberry Production Les Eccles, Ontario Beekeepers’ Association 3:00 pm Expert Panel Pollination in Ontario — Your Questions Answered N. Raine, E. Guzman, S. Chan, L. Eccles 3:30 pm IPM and Pollinators Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA 3:45 pm Apiculture in Ontario Update Paul Kozak, OMAFRA

ROOM 205 SPECIALTY TREE CROPS CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Todd Leuty, OMAFRA 2:00 pm Sweet Chestnut Blight Disease — Developing Resistant Trees Dragan Galic, University of Guelph

ROOM 206 RESEARCH UPDATES

Chair: Cheryl Lennox, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Sponsored by: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

2:30 pm Sweet Chestnut Production in Michigan Erin Lizotte, Michigan State University

2:00 pm Home Sweet Home: Developing Sweet Potato Varieties for Ontario Valerio Primomo, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

3:00 pm Evaluation of Prominent Hazelnut Cultivars in Ontario Toktam Taghavi, University of Guelph

2:20 pm World Crops: Where Are We Growing From Here Viliam Zvalo, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

3:30 pm Modern Maple Syrup Production — Using Maple Syrup in Unique Value-Added Products Todd Leuty, OMAFRA

2:40 pm Your Short and Long-term Tender Fruit Future Michael Kauzlaric, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre 3:00 pm Long Live Sovereign Coronation: Extending Postharvest Storability Kimberley Cathline, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

ROOM 207-208 GRAPE CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Amanda Green, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Engage Agro 2:00 pm Tasmania - An Island with Latitude Kathy Evans, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture 2:30 pm Spotted Wing Drosophila in Winegrapes: A Bigger Issue for Eastern Growers than Previously Suspected Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech 3:00 pm Grapevine Red Blotch-Associated Virus: Understanding an Old Virus that was Newly Discovered Monica Cooper, UC Coop Extension, Napa CA 3:30 pm Protecting Grapevines from Freeze Injury Using Geotextiles Jim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University

3:20 pm Creating Disease Resistance and Valuable Traits in Greenhouse Vegetables Travis Banks, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre 3:40 pm Consumer Science Targets the Sweet Spot for Apples Amy Bowen, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

BALLROOM A APPLES CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Margaret Appleby, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF 2:00 pm Modern Pruning Concepts for Precision Cropload Management Terence Robinson, Cornell University 2:30 pm Moving Towards Ecologically-Based IPM in Eastern Apple Orchards Dave Biddinger, Pennsylvania State University 3:00 pm Labour Efficiency with Platforms John Molenhuis, OMAFRA 3:30 pm Orchards of the Future Terence Robinson, Cornell University

BALLROOM B

BALLROOM D

OFFMA SUMMIT

FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Chair: Brian Hugli, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch 1:30 pm Making Money with Your POS System Larry Wolfe, Armagh POS Solutions 2:00 pm Getting Your Message Across with Videos Allyson Reid, Chockablock

1:00 pm A Chef’s Perspective Chef Cindy Bircham, Elgin Harvest 2:00 pm Market Insurance 101 Robert Chorney, FMO

2:30 pm Get Energized! An Organized Sharing of Ideas & Experiences with Your Colleagues!

3:00 pm Exploring Value Added Opportunities Facilitators: Tom Neufeld, Vineland; Ted Smith, Adrienne De Schutter, OMAFRA; Jessica Kelly, OMAFRA; Manitoulin Island; Jenny Groenheide, Thunder Bay; Peter Coughler, OMAFRA; Jason Persall, Pristine Gourmet; Matthew Bulmer, Aberfoyle Brent Preston, Gillian Flies, The New Farm

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SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES O N TA RI O FRU I T A N D V EGE TA BL E CO N V EN T I O N 2015 LOUISE AGIUS Louise attended the University of Guelph, graduating with a BSc in Biochemistry. Following her undergraduate education, she worked in industry for three years, holding various roles in food safety and quality assurance in several food processing environments. Her industry experience led her to return to academia where she obtained a MSc in Food Safety and Quality Assurance plus Toxicology. Louise joined OMAFRA in March 2014 as a Risk Management Specialist. In this role, she has particularly focused on cider production and has been helping industry professionals improve the food safety of their cider products and achieve effective cleaning and sanitation.

ALIX AITKEN Alix has been the Market Manager for the Cambridge Farmers’ Market since June of 2011. In February of 2013, Alix join the FMO board as a representative from western Ontario.

Prior to her work in Cambridge, Alix was a Community Development Worker in Guelph where food security was a central part of her job. She believes markets are the “hub” in every community, and that they should be celebrated for their ability to bring people together.

TONY AMALFA Tony joined the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in September of 2007 after thirty years of public health experience at the local public health unit level. In his current position with the ministry, he is responsible for leading and supporting provincial policy decisions and the development, implementation of environmental health programs. Tony works very closely with key stakeholders including public health units, provincial and federal ministries, agencies, and industry in the areas of Safe Drinking Water, Recreational Water, Food Safety and Environmental Health.

JOHN ANDERSON John is a consultant to Collins Barrow WCM LLP and provides Agricultural Business Management and Farm Succession Advisory services to their Agri-Business and Family Farm Succession suite of programs. He has extensive experience in Business Management Planning, Succession Planning, Scenario Planning, Computerized Analysis Services, and Facilitation

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Services. John was also the project leader and driving force behind the development of the B.E.A.R. Plus Program. The only known program to date, that incorporates historical records, enterprise budgets, enterprise risk analysis, and whole farm risk analysis for the agricultural manager.

TRAVIS BANKS Travis joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009. As the Research Scientist, Bioinformatics, he is a core member of the Applied Genomics section helping to leverage the power of the genome for plant improvement. The development of novel plant traits through variation mining in the Reverse Genetics program is a focus of Travis’ work. In addition, he works closely with the vegetable, ornamental and tree fruit breeders at Vineland to identify and develop genetic markers to improve the efficiency of plant breeding efforts. Before joining Vineland, Travis worked for nearly eight years as a biologist in the area of wheat bioinformatics for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Winnipeg. Travis has a MSc in Biochemistry and a degree in Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan.

DAVID BIDDINGER David is a 5th generation Michigan farm kid who received a BS and MS in entomology at Michigan State University and PhD in entomology at Penn State University. He put himself through college as an IPM scout and consultant in field crops and vegetables and worked R&D for Rohm & Haas Chemical Company for 8 years before returning to Penn State in 2002.

Currently he is an associate professor in Entomology and has worked for 12 years as the tree fruit research entomologist at the remote Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center near Gettysburg, PA.

DAVE BILYEA David is a graduate of Ridgetown College and is employed in weed control studies since 1979. He is a weed science technician involved with horticulture crops and other related weed science projects and has been teaching weed identification seminars for over 20 years.

CINDY BIRCHAM Chef Cindy grew up in Aylmer, an agriculturally rich and diverse area of southwestern Ontario.

She began her culinary career, graduating from the Stratford Chefs School (2002), and obtained her red seal certification. Landing back in Elgin County ten years later after working in restaurants throughout the province, she was amazed at the abundance of producers and products that dotted the community. She began her own food producing business called Elgin Harvest.

DYANN BIRTCH Dyann and Bob owned Birtch Farms for 35 years and the farm evolved from wholesale apple farming to retail and adventure farming including a bakery, winery, playground, school tours and much more up until December 2012. They began thinking about an exit strategy in the late 90’s with a 5–10 year plan. Bob is currently employed part time with Agricorp as a crop insurance adjuster and Dyann works part time consulting with a local farm.

MANUS BOONZAIER Manus works in a management position at Algoma Orchards in Newcastle, Ontario. He grew up on a citrus farm in South Africa and earned a degree in Pomoloy and started working as a farm manager on a Wine and Olive farm. He has worked as a Crop Protection manager overseeing all aspects of crop protection, BRC and Global Gap audits and started working at Algoma in October 2013.

GERBE BOTDEN Gerbe is a second-generation apple grower in the southern Georgian Bay area of Ontario.

His parents started Botden Orchards in 2001, with the first orchard being planted in 2004.

His company’s objective is to produce high quality consumption apples to feed the ever-growing greater Toronto area market. As of 2013, Binkley Apples Ltd. was acquired to grow as a vertically integrated company from nursery through to a packer and shipper of fresh Ontario grown apples.

AMY BOWEN Amy joined the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009 as a member of the Consumer Insights team.

Using an integrated approach, the Consumer Insights group is aligned with Applied Genomics and Horticultural Production Systems by providing information to guide the selection of breeding programs, the introduction of new varieties and the messaging of production practices to match consumer appeal. Amy’s current research activities include consumer and market intelligence and consumer preference drivers to inform about tree fruit and vegetable breeding programs and world crops introduction. Amy has a PhD in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Plant Science, Oenology and Viticulture from Brock University. She is also a certified sommelier through the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.

ANDREEA BOTEZATU Dr. Botezatu has graduated from the University of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine in Lasi, Romania with an Honours Degree in Horticulture, majoring in Oenology. She has a Masters Degree in Agricultural Business Management and a PhD in Biological Sciences. She currently works as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Brock University investigating remediation options for wines with elevated alky-methoxypyrazine levels.

ASTRID BRUMMER Joining the LCBO team in 2001, Astrid has had extensive experience sharing her passion for the world of wine, beer and spirits.

She is an expert on the local wine scene and thoroughly enjoys her role helping consumers discover great local wines and ensuring that Ontario wineries find success at the LCBO.

MATTHEW BULMER Matthew farms in Wellington County and is the Executive Director and Manager of the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market.

Matthew’s involvement as a member of his local municipal council combined with his experience in a range of local, regional and provincial organizations has provided him with the opportunity to see issues from a multi-level perspective. The lessons learned from working with groups of divergent interests have proven to be invaluable when identifying opportunities for creative solutions to complex issues.

GEORGE BURKHOLDER George was born and raised on a mixed family farm near Stayner, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Guelph in 1974 with a Bsc (Agr), crop Science. His career includes

time at Maple Leaf Mills and currently works at GRB-Ag Technologies Inc., in specialized pesticide application working with potato and apple growers across Canada as well as co-ordinating SmartFresh treatments in Ontario.

CHALMERS R. CARR III Chalmers is the owner/operator and president of Titan Farms, the premier grower and packer of peaches and vegetables in the Eastern United States. He is involved in daily farm operations overseeing everything from harvesting and food safety to sales and marketing. He is a member of the South Carolina Agriculture Commission and is also treasurer of the South Carolina Peach Council, chairman of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Labor Committee and past chairman of the American Farm Bureau Labor Committee. Over the years Chalmers has received many professional accolades, including South Carolina Farmer of the Year and most recently being awarded the Timothy Vaux Outstanding Alumni Leadership Award from United Fresh Produce Association.

KIMBERLEY CATHLINE Kimberley joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2013 as Senior Research Technician, Posthar vest Science. She is involved in research which investigates the postharvest biology of horticultural crops, as well as the optimization of postharvest handling and the improvement of postharvest quality. Prior to joining Vineland, Kimberley was a research associate for eight years at the University of California, Davis, at the Kearney Agricultural Center, in a raisin, table and wine grape research program. She has also held positions at the University of Guelph and additionally with the National Research Council at the Plant Biotechnology Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Kimberley holds a BSc in Plant Biology from the University of Guelph and her research experience includes a focus on grape biology and viticulture.

MIKE CELETTI Michael is the Plant Pathologist, Program Lead for Horticulture Crops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Guelph. After obtaining his graduate degrees in Plant Pathology from the University of Guelph, he researched disease management at the Agriculture University in The Netherlands. Upon returning to Canada, Mike worked for the Prince Edward Island Potato Marketing Board researching disease and nematode management in rotation crops with potatoes. His interests in chemical control lead him to a position with an international pesticide manufacturing company in western Canada. Prior to joining OMAFRA in 1998, he was the Provincial Plant Pathologist for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

CHAWANA CHAMPAGNE Chawana is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience working with various fortune 500 companies and many local non-profits. Her work can be found around the Mohawk College Campus, The Bridal Guide and most recently, at the Megalomaniac Winery — John Howards Cellars of Distinction. In her current role at Aulward Graphics, she has become a valuable source for creative ideas and concepts and has developed many unique marketing materials that produce results. She is also a provincial member of the RGD, Association of Registered Graphic Designers.

SUSAN CHAN Susan is a pollination biologist (MSc Guelph) with a background in agriculture (BSc McGill) and education (BEd UWO). She has a long-standing special interest in the native pollinator, Peponapis pruinosa, commonly known as the squash bee. Susan researches the ecology of the pollination system of Cucurbita crops (pumpkin, squash, summer squash), especially as it relates to nesting habits, foraging efficiency, and reproductive efficiency of that crop’s pollinators. She also manages the Native Pollinator Program for Farms at Work, a not-for-profit charitable project of Tides Canada located in central Ontario. Through Farms at Work, Susan has a special interest in designing pollinator habitat that fits within a broad range of productive farming systems.

BOB CHORNEY Bob has served as the Executive Director of Farmers’ Markets Ontario since its inception over twenty years ago. He has provided leadership for this provincial association to support Farmers’ Markets across the province and led innovative branding programs for bonafide farmers to distinguish their product for the benefit of consumers.

During his time in contributing to the renaissance of Farmers’ Markets in Ontario, Bob has helped organize 100 new Farmers’ Markets. Bob is passionate about Farmers’ Markets and understands how they contribute to the soul of a community. His inspiration continues to motivate community leaders to take the necessary steps to strengthen the role of Farmers’ Markets in the community.

DAN CLARKE Dan was born and raised on a beef farm in northern Ontario.

He attended the University of Guelph receiving an Associate Diploma in Agriculture as well as a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Upon graduation, Dan worked in Australia on a dairy farm. When he returned to Canada, Dan worked for a major fertilizer company and a global crop protection company before joining A&L Laboratories in 2013. Dan obtained his CCA

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designation in 1997 and he has over 20 years’ experience consulting with producers and training crop specialists and agronomists.

DR. JOHN CLINE Dr. Cline is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph where he conducts tree fruit physiology research.

John is also involved in teaching graduate and undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, and provides extension services to the industry, growers and stakeholders. He holds a BSc in soil science (University of Guelph), MSc in horticulture (Michigan State University), and a PhD in Horticulture (University of London, Wye College, UK).

BRIAN COLLINS Brian is a 5th generation vegetable farmer who is currently finishing his masters at the University of Guelph in vegetable pathology. Brian grows bunched leafy green vegetables along side his parents (Ken and Caroll) on their farm in Hamilton.

MONICA COOPER Since April 2009, Dr. Cooper has held a farm Advisor – Viticulture position with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Napa County.

She holds a BSc in Biology from Washington and Lee University and a graduate degree in pest management from the University of Florida’s Plant Medicine Program. Her current research interests include IPM for vine mealybug, grapevine leafroll disease epidemiology and management, and rootstocks for nematode resistance. Her education and outreach program supports sustainable vineyard management practices in Napa County.

CRYSTAL COTTRILL With over 23 years’ experience in the produce industry, Crystal has worked many facets of the business including foodservice, wholesale, and retail. Starting as an Administrative Assistant at the Ontario Food Terminal, she progressed to various category manager roles through her time at 4 different companies. For the past 9 years, Crystal works as the Senior Category Manager at Loblaw Companies managing grapes, soft fruit, and seasonal fruits.

PETER COUGHLER Peter is the Acting Manager of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs’ Business Management Unit in the Agriculture Development Branch and is located in Guelph.

His home position is Team Lead with the Regional Economic Development Branch of OMAFRA based in

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Brighton. He has a variety of work experiences, including teaching farm management courses at Macdonald Campus—McGill University, manager within government and operating a dairy farm.

ADRIENNE DE SCHUTTER Adrienne is a Training and Skills Advisor in OMAFRA’s Business Management Unit. In this role, Adrienne coordinates development of new training materials and played a key role in the creation of the Ministry’s Exploring Value Added Opportunities (EVAO) course.

MARIANNE DEN HA AN Marianne was raised on a dairy farm in Loretto, Ontario.

In 2012, her family opened an on-farm dairy processing facility, Sheldon Creek Dairy. They currently farm 400 acres, milk 56 dairy cows and process the herds milk into nonhomogenized milk, yogurt and various other dairy products which are sold across central/southern Ontario. Marianne returned to the family farm, after completing two teaching terms in the Arctic to help evolve the growing family business. She is now the Operations and Marketing manager and believes as a farm family, and agri-business, it is integral to be innovative. She is focused on showcasing the role agriculture has in our every day lives and positively influencing consumer’s perception, by directly engaging with them and building relationships with customers, retail owners and local organizations.

DR. JASON S.T. DEVEAU Jason holds an honours BSc in Biology & Psychology from Mount Allison University, a MSc in plant cell physiology and metabolism from York University and a PhD in plant cell electrophysiology from the University of Guelph. Working out of the Simcoe Resource Centre, his current focus is on developing educational materials for airblast sprayer operators, and researching practical methods to optimize spray effectiveness and reduce spray waste and drift.

COURTNEY DOBIAS Courtney graduated from Brock University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Business Communications. While at Brock she started working for Pillitteri Estates Winery in their retail store. In the spring of 2007 Courtney was promoted to Domestic Sales Manager. Going into her 9th year with Pillitteri, Courtney currently heads up the Domestic Sales channels that include: interprovincial sales, duty free, LCBO, licensees and farmers’ markets. In 2010 Courtney and her partner, Tim Lamb, started Infusion Tea – a local organic loose-leaf tea company based out of Fort Erie.

LES ECCLES Les is the new Tech-Transfer Program Lead and started his agricultural career on a dairy and beef operation, managing a 125 head dairy and beef herd, which included crop management, nutrition, and a genetic program. Les’s educational background includes both a diploma in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph.

Les returned to Ontario after spending two years in Mexico working with beekeepers and development organizations to transfer beekeeping technology into the field, and certify beekeeping operations for honey exportation to European markets.

MICHAEL ( MIKE ) ECKER Michael is the President of Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd., the leading marketer of stone fruit in Canada. He is currently a Director of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and chairs the Canadian Government Issues Management Committee. He is a past appointee of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Stakeholders Committee and sits on the Advisory Committee to the Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board and the Fresh Fruit Marketing Advisory Committee. He is a past President of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association and served as a Director for several years as well as a past Director of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) who served on the AAC’s Marketing & Communications Committee and on the Food and Beverage Industry Innovation Fund Committee.

EVAN ELFORD Evan is the New Crop Development Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) based in Simcoe, Ontario. He works on developing information related to specialty crop production and marketing for a range of crops including ethno-cultural vegetables, specialty berries, specialty grains, and other crops such as hops. Evan grew up on a hog farm in Cannington, Ontario and prior to joining the ministry, he worked for the University of Guelph, industry associations and a horticultural farm operation.

DR. K ATHY EVANS Dr. Evans is a Senior Research Fellow and Convenor of Industry Development and Extension for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania. She is focussing on people and processes within TIA to ensure effective integration of research and extension, including partnerships to accelerate agricultural innovation. Her work on wine-grape disease epidemiology and management has been extended through Australia’s Grape and Wine Innovator’s Network,

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including workshops at the Oregon Wine Symposium and the International Cool Climate Symposium in 2012. Kathy is now working with information technologists to deliver viticultural applications through the Sense-T Program and also collaborates with the Australian walnut industry.

They produce premium quality organic vegetables for restaurants, retail stores and wholesale customers and also enjoy success with their recently launched value-added products of bagged salad greens and salad dressing.

K ATHRYN FERRETTI

Basia is currently the Manager of the Strategy, Intergovernmental Relations and Trade Unit in the Strategic Policy Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She has been with the Ministry since 2006 and has acted as a key negotiator for Ontario with the federal government on the GF2 bilateral agreement and previous to that spent time acting as a Senior Policy Advisor focused on FPT and Trade. In addition to these more recent experiences, she has worked as a policy analyst in policy shops focused on trade and intergovernmental relations with both the Federal and Provincial governments. Her post-secondary education was also focused on trade and intergovernmental relations at both the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto.

Kathryn and her husband Joe have been farming in Niagara for the past 42 years. Many changes have taken place on the farm in the past 40+ years.

When the cannery in St. Davids closed in 2008, the cling stone peach acres were converted to grapes. Currently they grow 4 varieties of grapes for Henry of Pelham Winery in St. Catharines.

An on-farm market was started in 1998 and has experienced steady growth primarily due to the bakery featuring homemade pies and tarts. The farm also has 5 lakefront cottages on the property. While Joe continues to run the farm, Kathryn is more involved in managing the on-farm guest cottages situated along their lakefront property. With no family members taking over the business, and Kathryn reaching her 60th birthday, exit planning is a key issue.

GILLIAN FLIES & BRENT PRESTON Gillian and Brent operate The New Farm which is a certified organic family farm located on the Niagara escarpment just west of the village of Creemore.

BASIA FLORIO

MELANIE FILOTAS As the Integrated Pest Management Specialist for specialty crops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in Simcoe, Ontario, Melanie is

responsible for identifying pests and pest management solutions for specialty crops in Ontario, including sweet potatoes, lavender, herbs, tree nuts, hops and low acreage fruits and vegetables. Dr. Filotas has a BSc in environmental science from Carleton University and a PhD in entomology from Cornell University.

Prior to joining OMAFRA in 2006, she worked as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture looking at the use of biopesticides, natural enemies and other reduced risk products to control insects in commercial greenhouses.

PAM FISHER Pam is the Berry Crop Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Simcoe. She and the OMAFRA berry team teach growers and scouts about berry crop pest management and work with growers to solve problems in the field.

Recent projects have been focussed on spotted wing drosophila, nematode management, strawberry virus diseases and day-neutral strawberry production.

REGINA FOISEY Regina is a Senior Marketing Manager with the Ontario Wine Council and started in the wine industry in 1995. She has worked in a retail setting at a wine kiosk, then moving to a winery where she managed a tasting bar and executed tours for visitors. She also assisted with harvest and vineyard management to gain a full 360 degree view of the industry. She moved to the Wine Council of Ontario

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11 years ago and has worked to develop many of the programs running today for winery support such as retail training, secret shopper, sales training and educational tours for retail staff. She oversees many of the marketing components from advertising, website, printed materials, and research as well as the sustainable winemaking program for Ontario wineries.

PAUL FRANKIS Paul graduated from Wye College, University of London, with a degree in Horticulture. He has worked in orchards around the world including Australia, UK and the US and has managed Sugar Apple Orchards near Kingsville, Ontario for over 20 years.

HANNAH FRASER Hannah is the provincial Entomology Program Lead (Horticulture) with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She spends most of her time working with colleagues on new pest issues, including invasive insects that have made their way to Ontario, and on potential pest management solutions. She is the coeditor of Hort Matters, published weekly during the growing season. When she isn’t in the field looking for things with six (or eight) legs, you can find her at the Vineland campus.

HUGH FRASER Hugh is an Extension Agricultural Engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at Vineland. He grew up on a dairy farm and has worked with horticultural growers across the province for over 25 years on post-harvest cooling, handling and storage of horticultural produce, crop protection with wind machines and bird control techniques and mediation between neighbours and growers on nuisance noise.

MORRIS GERVAIS Morris is a second-generation farmer, who owns and operates Barrie Hill Farms, just outside of Barrie, Ontario. Originally a tobacco farm, the farm exited the tobacco industry by beginning to grow “pick your own” (PYO) strawberries in the late seventies. Throughout the eighties, the farm expanded its offerings to include asparagus as well as PYO raspberries and PYO blueberries. Morris graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in agriculture in 1989 and after four years of full time employment, he realized big corporate life was not for him, and began farming full time alongside his parents in 1993. The farm now produces over 150 acres of fruits and vegetables, the majority of which is sold either PYO, or at its on-farm market.

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ROBERT GRAY For more than three decades, Bob and Kim Gray have successfully navigated their way to a diversified growing operation in West Newbury, Vt. Their 225acre farm called 4 Corners Farm is located in the Connecticut River Valley, overlooking the White Mountains. The farm grows a wide variety of vegetables along with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, many of which can be found under more than a dozen greenhouses and high tunnels located throughout the sprawling property. The farm also has a herd of Jersey milk cows. A busy farm stand within the massive, 200-year-old original barn is one outlet for 4 Corners’ produce, with other farmers’ markets in the region also being lucrative. They specialize in strawberries (5 acres) and greenhouse tomatoes as well as a variety of other fruits and vegetables.

working on weed control in organic farming systems.

Caroline’s research interests include agronomy, weed ecology, soil fertility, and soil ecology.

CHRIS HAWORTH West Avenue Cider was founded by British born cider maker Chris Haworth in 2012. Chris’ cultural roots have inspired West Avenue’s year-round staple “Heritage Dry”. As a former chef in top U.K. restaurants, his culinary roots have inspired his limited release barrel-aged and cask conditioned ciders. When he’s not harvesting fruit in countryside orchards, Chris can be found in the city collaborating with the finest restaurants and breweries to produce one-off, experimental ciders. West Avenue Cider won the prestigious Golden Tap award in 2014 for Best Cider in Ontario.

JENNY GROENHEIDE

ADAM HAYES

Jenny is a beef farmer in South Gillies, in north-western Ontario. Understanding the importance to her business of selling product locally, her farm has gotten involved with the local farmers’ market. Her focus is to help move agriculture and farmers’ markets forward. She is currently finishing her term on the Board of Directors with Farmers’ Markets Ontario. In addition to FMO, she has spent two terms on the board at The Thunder Bay Country Market and has been on the Board of Directors for the Hymers Agricultural Society where she continues to work as a volunteer.

Adam has a long history with the ministry beginning with soil conservation work and time as a soil and crop specialist. The second half of his career has been spent as a soil management specialist promoting soil management best management practices. He initiated the Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days at Ridgetown and has chaired the Southwest Agricultural Conference for the last 6 years. His current focus is on promoting and measuring soil health. In 2014, Adam was the inaugural recipient of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s Soil Champion Award.

ERNESTO GUZMAN

LISA HILL-ALEX ANDER

Dr. Guzman is a Professor and Director of the Honey Bee Research Centre in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph. He has ample beekeeping, academic and research experience. He started to keep bees in 1978, has taught courses in Apiculture and Genetics and has conducted multiple research projects. His research has been focused on the genetics, behaviour, and parasitic mites of honey bees. His studies have contributed to the understanding of foraging behaviour, defensive behaviour, and the mechanisms that confer resistance to honey bees against parasitic mites, which is a critical area that addresses the most serious problem beekeepers face worldwide.

Lisa returned to the family farm 12 years ago with her husband and two boys to become the fourth generation to continue the farming operation. Vanessa Hill Farms Inc., has evolved and continues to diversify with the ever changing climate of agriculture. For the past 33 years, the farm has produced ginseng and then decided to plant their first rootstock in 2008. Currently, they produce 100 acres and nine different varieties, incorporating custom pressed apple cider, wholesale and retail sales at their small farmers’ market. Lisa’s primary position is Office Manager, while her husband Ian manages the daily operations of the farms.

DR. CAROLINE HALDE Dr. Halde grew up on an organic dairy and grain farm near Montreal, QC. She received a BSc in Agronomy from Université Laval, a MSc in Agriculture from Dalhousie University, and a PhD in Plant Science from the University of Manitoba. Her PhD research focused on the use of cover crop mulches for weed control and reducing tillage in organic farming systems. She has also worked as an organic inspector in Québec. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in sustainable agriculture at Cornell University,

BEN HINDMARSH Ben has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Guelph. He has a variety of experience in deer management including six years with the Ministry of Natural Resources as a Management Biologist and Fish and Wildlife Specialist. He is currently an Environmental Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, based in the Woodstock office.

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CHRIS HIEMSTRA Chris and his wife, Christy, purchased his parent’s bee operation in 2000. They have expanded the apiary, and now ship three transport loads of honeybees to the Maritimes for blueberry pollination. Chris has a passion for people and bees. Each season, they educate over 5,000 school children with bee tours. The beekeeping farm is a tourist destination and welcomes over 30,000 visitors, each summer, to explore the world of honeybees and have a family adventure. Chris previously worked in the greenhouse industry as technician in bumblebee pollination and Biological Control and is a recipient of multiple awards such as Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer, Farm Marketer of the year, Innovation in AgriFood, and Chamber Of Commerce Business of the Year.

CHRISTIAN HOULE With an education in industrial design, Christian joined PlastiTech in 1996, as an irrigation and machinery advisor, which in 2005 became Dubois Agrinovation. Over the years, his passion for irrigation has allowed him to introduce new irrigation products and techniques with the aim of helping growers to be more efficient.

NICK IBUKI Nick is a horticulturalist with Summerland Varieties Corp., (SVC) for the last 11 years and is the current Operations Manager. He has a science degree from UBC and now works with the national testing program for apples, cherries and berries in Canada, responsible for managing global Plant Breeders Rights, patents and IP work, overseeing Budwood operations horticultural team and liaising with growers and partners nationally and internationally.

DR. DEBRA INGLIS Dr. Inglis is currently the Director of Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and one of the core research scientists within the institute.

She attained her PhD in Biochemistry in 1995 from McMaster University, and after spending three years as a senior scientist in industry, returned to academia specifically to join CCOVI in 1999. She is a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock, teaching wine chemistry, wine microbiology and metabolic biochemistry in the oenology and viticulture undergraduate program. Her research focuses on priority areas of the Canadian grape and wine industry for premium wine production: Icewine fermentation and factors affecting Icewine quality; factors affecting grapevine cold hardiness; the causal organisms responsible for grape sour rot in Niagara; biochemistry-based research strategies to improve wine quality through the reduction of

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methoxypyrazines associated with greeness in cool climate wines; new emerging wine styles for Ontario such as sparkling and appassimento wines. Debbie has been involved in the grape and wine industry her entire life as her family are grape growers in the Niagara Peninsula. She and her husband Rob currently run their own vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

ATUL JAIN Atul has worked as a Certified Public Health Inspector/Public Health Professional for the past 20 years. He has worked at five different Public Health Units in Ontario, at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as a Senior Consultant and also as a Food Safety Specialist at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. He has been a manager for the past 9 years and currently is the Manger of Inspection Services at Peterborough County-City Health Unit in Peterborough, Ontario. In the spring of 2014, he was elected as President of The Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors of Ontario (ASPHIO).

CLAUDE JOLICOEUR Claude resides in Quebec City and is the author of The New Cider Maker’s Handbook, a new book which is becoming the definitive modern work on the practice of cider making.

A mechanical engineer by profession, Claude first developed his passion for apples and cider after acquiring a piece of land on which there were four rows of old abandoned apple trees. He started making cider in 1988 using a “no-compromise” approach, stubbornly searching for the highest possible quality.

Since then, his ciders have earned many awards and medals at competitions, including a Best of Show at the prestigious Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP).

KEVIN A. JONES Kevin is a business executive with more than 25 years of diversified experience in the private and public sector. He is the President and CEO of The BLOOM Centre of Sustainability where he provides the vision and strategic direction for the organization. Currently, he is leading strategic initiatives to drive change and advance adoption of innovative water and water related solutions in Ontario’s wine industry and other food and beverage processing sectors. A key aspect and success factor of these initiatives is making the connection between water, food sector profitability, risk management, infrastructure optimization, economic development and environmental protection. Kevin has an Executive MBA from Athabasca University, a MSc in Environmental Planning from the University of Toronto and an Honours BA from McMaster University.

MICHAEL K AUZLARIC Michael joined the Business Development team at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009 as Technology Scout & Grower Outreach. In this role, Michael scouts for new technologies, including various tree fruit varieties to fill gaps in the existing pipelines and to improve the overall profitability of the Canadian horticulture sector. He is also Vineland’s liaison to various grower networks across the country. Ultimately, Michael searches for new ways to reduce labour, increase yields and improve the profit picture for the horticulture industry.

Michael is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a BSc (Horticulture Major) and is actively involved with his family tender fruit and grape operation in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

JESSICA KELLY Jessica is the Direct Farm Marketing Program Lead within the Business Management Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Based in Elora, she provides business related support to farmers’ markets and direct farm marketers throughout the province.

She studied business administration at the Richard Ivey School of Business and agricultural economics at the University of Guelph.

CHRISTOPH KESSEL Christoph is the Nutrition (Horticulture) Program Lead with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He works with industry associations, researchers and ministry colleagues to improve crop fertility management in horticultural crops through research projects, demonstrations and workshops. After graduating from the University of Guelph, he worked in the nursery industry before joining OMAFRA as the Nursery Crops Specialist.

He is a Certified Crop Advisor, an honourary member of the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, and a recipient of the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association Past Presidents’ Award.

RYAN KEOSLAG Ryan has been involved with AMI since its formation and in 2009 was named its Executive Director. He regularly travels throughout Ontario, Canada, and abroad to conduct presentations regarding AMI’s business and research. Ryan continues to be actively involved with his family’s dairy operation in addition to his cash crop farm in Wellington County. Ryan’s agribusiness education comes from both the University of Guelph and Olds College in Alberta.

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PAUL KOZAK Paul is the Provincial Apiarist for Ontario, based in Guelph, with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Entomology, both the University of Manitoba. For graduate work, Paul worked under the guidance of Dr. Rob Currie, researching the winter biology of honey bees and varroa mites and various management strategies for varroa in enclosed systems, including formic acid fumigation in indoor wintering buildings. Paul worked as a research associate for the University of Manitoba, studying the use of oxalic fumigation for the management of varroa in packages and as a bee inspector for the province of Manitoba. More recently, Paul worked as the Associate Extension Apiculturist through the Dyce Lab for honey bee studies, Cornell University and New York State Integrated Pest Management.

TREVOR AND TRACY LAING The Laing’s founded Algoma Highlands in Wawa, Ontario, where they reside with their four children. In 2006, 605 acres of lands adjacent to the community were purchased along with a long-term lease of a vacant tree nursery.

Development has progressed with over 350 acres of land being converted into viable blueberry fields. In

2011, Algoma Highlands successfully produced a fresh pack blueberry product targeted for the Ontario market. Since then, a large industrial freezing unit has been constructed within their processing plant to supply frozen product and retain berries for their value added products which they produce and market year round. A large wine press is planned for 2015 to enhance the farm profile, create a new revenue stream and draw tourists.

TRACY LAMB Tracy has been promoting local food, farmers and agriculture for over 25 years. She is passionate about the connection between food and health, the need to appreciate and understand where our food comes from and the vital role that farmers’ markets play in that connection. Tracy and her team develop and implement provincial and national programs to raise awareness, motivate shifts in attitudes and behaviours and increase production and consumption of locally-produced food. An expert in marketing communications in agri-food, Tracy has extensive knowledge of all parts of the value chain, from producer to retailer and from influencer to consumer.

GREGORY LANG Gregory earned his BS at University of Georgia and his graduate degrees at University of California-Davis, and has served on the horticulture faculties at Louisiana, Washington, and Michigan State Universities. Greg has conducted research in tree fruit production and environmental stress physiology, variety and rootstock evaluation, and innovative fruit production systems, with special emphasis on sweet cherries. His laboratory teams have been instrumental in advancing and adopting dwarfing precocious rootstocks and protective orchard covering technologies as well as the development of new cherry varieties and high efficiency canopy training systems.

JOHN LAUZON John has been a soil science professor at the University of Guelph since 2000. He currently teaches introductory soil science courses, 4th year courses in soil and nutrient management as well as graduate level instruction in soil nutrient management. Research interests focus on crop nutrient management strategies to maximize the agronomic use of plant nutrients and minimize losses.

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MARYSE LEBLANC Maryse holds a PhD and MSc degrees in weed science from McGill University. She joined the MAPAQ (Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) in 1992 and has been loaned to IRDA (Research and Development Institute for the Agrienvironment) as a research scientist since 1998. She is currently working on physical and cultural weed management (flaming, mechanical weed control, mulching, biofumigation). Her research interests include biology and ecology of weeds and collaborates with numerous government, university and industry groups.

TERENCE LEE ROBINSON Terence is a Professor of Horticulture at Cornell University’s Geneva Experiment Station with a 40% Research and a 60% Extension appointment. His research program is aimed at developing improved orchard management practices to improve yield, fruit quality and profitability of apple, cherry, peach and pear orchards.

His areas of specialization are high density orchard planting systems, rootstocks, pruning and training, thinning, and fertigation and is the co-leader of Cornell’s apple rootstock program. Over the last 30 years he has worked to develop new more productive and profitable orchard systems and new rootstocks

of the Cornell-Geneva series which are dwarfing, productive, resistant to fire blight and resistant to apple replant disease. He was born in El Paso, Texas in 1955 and was raised on a fruit farm in Chihuahua, Mexico. He received his BS degree in Agronomy and Horticulture from Brigham Young University in 1978 and his MS and PhD degrees in Horticulture from Washington State University in 1982 and 1984.

of crops, soil and water. Todd began working with OMAFRA at Harrow as Horticultural Crops and Pest Management Specialist of commercial fruit orchards, small-fruit and wine grapes from 1987 to 1997. Todd obtained BSc and MSc degrees in 1984 and 1988 from the University of Guelph in orchard horticulture then integrated pest management in viticulture.

CAROL LEPAGE

Erin is the state wide Integrated Pest Management Educator with Michigan State University Extension and is affiliated with the MSU IPM Program Office in East Lansing. Erin received her Bachelors of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan Technological University and her Masters of Plant Pathology from Michigan State University.

She is responsible for developing and conducting research and programming to address the priority needs of Michigan agricultural industries. Specific areas of research and outreach include pesticide resistance, reduced input production systems, Christmas trees and minor emerging crops of interest including hops and chestnuts.

Carol has been involved in the Niagara wine industry for the past 15 years. A certified Sommelier, she is the Director of Sales at Reif Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A frequent presenter at wine events and trade shows, her true passion is in creating the ultimate dining experience by finding the perfect match of wine and food.

TODD LEUTY Todd has been an Agroforestry Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs since 1997, working in tree-based industries of horticulture and forestry.

Areas of focus include: commercial tree nut horticulture, maple syrup production, sugar bush management and maple orchard management, bio-energy crops, windbreaks and shelterbelts for protection

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GREG LOEB Dr. Loeb received his PhD in Entomology from the University of California at Davis in 1989. He began working at the Geneva campus of Cornell University in the Department of Entomology as an Assistant Professor in 1995 with research and extension responsibilities for grapes and small fruit crops. Broadly speaking, his research expertise is in applied insect ecology with particularly interest in plant-insect interactions, biological control and integrated pest management. A significant amount of his effort in the past two years has focused on the biology and management of spotted wing drosophila.

MARK LONGSTROTH Mark is a Small Fruit Extension Educator for Michigan State University Extension. He has served the fruit growers in southwest Michigan since 1993.

Mark has degrees in biology and plant science from Boise State University and the University of Idaho. Mark worked in the University of Idaho’s research orchards from 1976 to 1988 as a Research Associate and Orchard Manager. Prior to 2010, Mark covered all fruit crops in southwest Michigan, but his efforts are now focused on small fruit. Mark is southwest Michigan’s resource for the berry industries and is lead field educator for blueberries and cranberries. Mark’s focus is to maintain a healthy Michigan fruit industry, helping growers remain profitable and adapt to changes in agriculture.

RICH MARINI Rich is head of the Plant Science Department at Penn State University. He received a BS from the University of Massachusetts and a MS from the University of Vermont in Plant Science. After receiving a PhD in Horticulture at Virginia Tech he served 4 years as an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University as a fruit tree physiologist working primarily with peaches as well as teaching courses in fruit science. He returned to Virginia Tech and was the tree fruit extension specialist for 19 years before joining Penn State. His research interests include crop load management, pruning, rootstock and variety evaluation and canopy management of peach and apple trees.

Resources law enforcement program. He has worked for many different environmental organizations but currently is a Lands and Waters Technician with Long Point Region Conservation Authority and a program co-ordinator for Alternative Land Use Services within the Municipality of Bayham.

MARGARET MAY Margaret has been involved with program delivery with OSCIA since 1987. She is an outstanding presenter, skilled communicator and is highly respected in the farm community for her knowledge of agricultural issues. She brings real life agricultural experience to the table, as her family operates a beef, sheep and cash crop farm in south-western Ontario. Margaret has excellent rapport with growers and has a ‘shoot from the hip’ approach that is appreciated by all. As Regional Program Lead with OSCIA, she is keen to discuss Growing Forward 2 and how it can impact your farm business.

STEPHANIE MAYNARD Stephanie is co-owner with her husband Phil Quinn of Quinn Farm in Ile-Perrot, Quebec. Together they grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins and Christmas trees that they sell primarily through their u-pick operation as well as in their farm shop.

They also grow asparagus and sweet corn that is sold in their farm shop as well as farmers’ markets they attend. They have a scratch bakery and in their farm shop they also sell a range of local products from meat and cheese to knitted hats and homemade soap.

CATHY MCK AY Cathy and her husband have been growing apples for many years. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Master’s in Plant Pathology and since then has worked for the chemical industry as well as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. In 1986, she left the government to run the orchard as well as started an apple IPM consulting business. Cathy is a member of the boards of the following organizations: Ontario Apple Growers, Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee, Summerland Varieties Corp and CanAgPlus.

SARAH MARSHALL

SAM MCLEAN

Sarah is the manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit and Fresh Grape Growers Marketing Boards, representing over 270 growers. Through partnerships with researchers, marketers, retailers and government, the boards execute initiatives to strengthen and position the sector for a successful future.

Sam began farming in 1991 on a small farm in Buckhorn, Ontario, growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. His farm, McLean Berry Farm, has continued to grow and expand over the years and along with his children, they now have two farms with PYO and pre-picked fruits and vegetables, attend various farmers markets and sell to a wide variety of wholesale markets.

KYLE MAUTHE Kyle grew up on a tobacco farm just outside of Delhi, Ontario, where he helped his mother and father grow tobacco and cash crops for many years. After high school, he attended and graduated from Fleming college with diplomas in the Fish and Wildlife Technician and Technologist programs as well as the Natural

MARY LYNN MCPHERSON Mary Lynn is a member of strive!, a company focussed on helping boards and senior management of organizations lead well. Whether facilitating strategic planning, coaching teams, or consulting with boards, she is keen to provide fuel for forward momentum and positive change. Mary Lynn is a former farm girl, agriculture account manager, and agrologist with Royal Bank.

She has chaired several boards and her community service work has been recognized by the University of Guelph’s Alumni Association Volunteer award. Mary Lynn is a Myers-Briggs personality type indicator (MBTI) practitioner and is qualified to facilitate all of Patrick Lencioni’s content, including The Advantage and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

FABIAN MENALLED Dr. Menalled is a Professor of Agroecology and Intergraded Weed Management at Montana State University (MSU). He received his BS from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, USA. Prior to his appointment at MSU, Dr. Menalled conducted research on weed ecology and management at Iowa State University and Michigan State University. Dr. Menalled’s research and extension focuses on understanding the mechanisms conditioning the abundance and distribution of annual and perennial weeds in agricultural systems. His interests include weed population and community dynamics, crop-weed competition and weed management in conventional and alternative cropping systems.

JOHN MOLENHUIS John has been with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as the Business Analysis and Cost of Production Program Lead for the past 14 years. In this role he leads projects in the area of cost of production and financial benchmarking. John has been involved with the Apple Cost of Production study and the Platform Labour Savings Study with the Ontario Apple Growers. John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Guelph and grew up on a farrow-to-finish hog operation outside of Strathroy, Ontario.

KEVIN MONTGOMERY Kevin helps connect businesses with resources and knowledge to enhance competitiveness and capture new opportunities. His career began with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 1991. Currently, he covers south-western Ontario working with food, beverage and bio-based companies. Kevin is currently the wine sector lead for the Business and Development Unit.

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MEDHAT MOUSSA

TOM NEUFELD

Dr. Moussa has considerable expertise in the areas of intelligent robotics, computer vision, artificial intelligence and computer systems. He has been working in these fields for over 17 years and has published many articles in premier journals like the IEEE Transactions on Robotics. Dr. Moussa’s robotics related research focuses on developing intelligent robots for traditional industrial applications like automotive as well as non-traditional applications like agriculture. His team has recently field-tested a robotics system for automating vegetable greenhouse operations which was developed in close collaboration with growers and other stakeholders. He has a PhD in Systems Design Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.

Tom owns 350 acres of land that he farms near Vineland in the Niagara area. The farm consists of cash crop wheat, corn and soy beans along with raising beef cattle. Around 15 acres of the operation is concentrated on market garden vegetables that are sold on 5 different markets in the Niagara area. They grow a variety of vegetables, with the primary ones being potatoes, sweet corn, beans, peas, and tomatoes. The Neufeld family has been associated with the St. Catharines market since 1932 making them the longest serving vendors there.

JAY MULLIN Jay has extensive experience assessing innovative technologies, evaluating industrial processes, and quantifying environmental, economic and social impacts.

As a Technical Project Manager with BLOOM, Jay has worked with a wide range of sectors including energy generation, grid management, soil and groundwater remediation, material recycling, and transportation. Most recently, Jay has focused on water use and wastewater management projects in the food and beverage sector. These have involved the application of innovative technologies and approaches including closed-loop water recycling at Algoma Orchards and on-site wastewater treatment demonstrations at a variety of food and beverage companies. Over the past two years he was worked closely with Ontario’s wine and craft brewing sectors to evaluate current water and wastewater practices, identify risks and opportunities facing companies, and developing practical approaches and solutions to improve water management performance. Jay has a BSc (1st Class Honours) from Queen’s University.

ANNETTE NASSUTH Annette obtained her BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in molecular biology and biochemistry in The Netherlands. This was followed by post-doctoral positions at the Max-Planck-Institute at Munich and at the University of Ottawa before joining the University of Guelph as a faculty member. She has been working on the coping mechanisms of plants with stress for many years, with an emphasis on the molecular basis of low temperature tolerance in grapes for the last 15 years. This included a collaboration with grape breeder Helen Fisher to develop more frost hardy wine grapes. To encourage exchange of information between as many people related to the wine grape Industry as possible, she is a CCOVI fellow since 2010, and as such, has participated in the CCOVI seminar series and in projects that span research from field to the bottle.

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NATE NOURSE Nate is a Berry Production Specialist and past positions include past President North American Strawberry Growers Association, past President North American Raspberry Blackberry Growers Association, Production Committee Chair National Berry Crops Initiative, Executive Board Member New England Vegetable Growers Association as well as Executive Board Member National Clean Plant Network Berries.

KRISTEN OBEID Kristen has a Master’s degree in weed science from the University of Manitoba and an honours bachelor of science degree from the University of Guelph. As the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Weed Management Program Lead for Horticulture crops, she leads the development, co-ordination and implementation of various programs related to weed management issues in Ontario. She is a past recipient of the Deputy Minister’s Award for her work as a provincial vegetable specialist. She previously spent several years with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and in the private sector co-ordinating research trials in support of new product registrations.

store. He has worked in multiple head office positions ranging from Private Label development to Grocery Category Management before returning to where it all started in produce. Rob believes produce is the vehicle that sets the tone for not only a store but a retailer wholistically.

JASON PERSALL A fourth generation family farmer, Jason is well recognized as an advocate for local food and value added. Ten years ago, Jason vertically integrated the 1,000 acre family cash crop farm in Norfolk County to include virgin cold pressed oils (canola, sunflower and soybean oils) made from a cold press mill he designed himself. This remains a core part of the Pristine Gourmet business with other products including edible beans, pulses and by-products. Their gourmet products are sold to hundreds of restaurants and retail stores across Ontario, Quebec and western Canada.

DOUG PFEIFFER Doug has belonged to the faculty of the Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, since December 1981. His research and extension programs emphasize vineyard, small fruit and orchard crops. Important insects in recent years have been Japanese beetle, grape root borer, grape berry moth, and the sharpshooter vectors of Pierce’s disease. However, current attention has largely shifted to spotted wing drosophila and brown marmorated stink bug. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in integrated pest management, and a graduate course in insect morphology. He co-directs the college’s Online Masters in Agricultural and Life Sciences degree program.

LINDSAY PINK Lindsay is an independent consultant that works primarily for the commercial apple growers in the southern Georgian Bay region of Ontario.

CHERYL PECK Cheryl, known as “The Cider Boss”, lives and works on the 4th generation family farm operation near Vittoria, Ontario.

Along with her husband Scott, Director of Planning and Engineering for HRCA, and her two children, they farm hundreds of acres of orchard and field crops that is carefully harvested and transformed into their apple cider creations. The Cider Keg produces, wholesales and retails fully integrated SQF certified apple cider products from coast to coast.

ROB PERIERA Rob is the region director for produce in Ontario for Sobey’s.

He has over 15 years of experience starting as a part time produce clerk in a Toronto

BARCLAY POLING In his three decades devoted to extension and research at N.C. State, Dr. Poling has been directly involved with introducing and implementing plasticulture production methods in North Carolina. He also helped develop plug technology for strawberries and has championed the use of floating row covers. He retired from NC State in December, 2010, after 31 years of service but remains active in the strawberry industry and recently completed his tenure as interim executive director of the North Carolina Strawberry Association from January – November 2014.

MURRAY PORTEOUS Murray is a fourth generation apple grower and father of four. As well as apples, he and his family grow pears, sour cherries, peaches and asparagus on 865 acres in Norfolk County.

Murray has represented the agricultural industry at the local, provincial, national and international levels on the topics of human resource management, research and innovation, safety nets, crop protection and integrated pest management. He has served as the Chairman of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Agricultural Adaptation Council, Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council and is the Past President of the Canadian Horticultural Council.

As a member of the Ontario Research and Innovation Council, he helped develop Ontario’s Research and Innovation Strategy for the Premier. As Chairman of the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Labour Committee, Murray deals with horticultural labour issues and represents Canada when negotiating contracts for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

PHILIP POWELL Philip was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. For the past 25 years, he has managed Ottawa’s famous ByWard & Parkdale Markets. Philip was a founding member of Farmers’ Markets Ontario, the association that represents the provinces 171 farmers’ markets, and is presently serving as its chair. He was also involved in getting Savour Ottawa, the Capital areas “buy local” culinary initiative off the ground in 2006. He continues to sit on the Savour Ottawa steering committee. In 2009 he assumed responsibility for the city’s business licensing and enforcement sections in addition to the markets program.

VALERIO PRIMOMO In 2011, Valerio joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre as a Research Scientist, Vegetable Breeding. His work is focused on developing greenhouse tomato varieties as well as sweet potato varieties that perform well under Ontario’s environmental conditions using traditional breeding methods and current molecular technology.

Shortly after graduating, Valerio accepted a Post Doc position with the Genomics Integration group at Pioneer Hi Bred headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, where he identified and developed genome wide genetic markers in soybean. In 2007, he accepted a Research Scientist position with Pioneer Hi Bred in Caledon, Ontario, as a molecular breeder for several crops including canola, sunflower, sorghum and rice.

Valerio received his BSc in Biochemistry from McGill University and his MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Guelph. In 2004, Valerio completed his PhD at the University of Guelph where he identified genetic regions associated with isoflavone content in soybean seed.

NIGEL RAINE Nigel, a leader in pollination conservation and ecology from Britain, joined the University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences (SES) in May 2014 as the Rebanks Family Chair in Pollinator Conservation. He was previously a faculty member in the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway University of London. Raine studies the impacts of pesticides on bees, insect behaviour and pollination ecology. At Guelph, he will raise awareness of the importance and plight of pollinators, inform public policy, and help train highly qualified conservationists and agriculturalists, all critical to the health of pollinators and food systems. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Entomological Society and the Linnean Society of London, has held academic positions at Sheffield University, the Zoological Society of London and Queen Mary University of London and has studied zoology and biological sciences at Magdalen College, University of Oxford.

ALLYSON REID Allyson is an urban gal with a rural heart. She grew up on a farm north of Belleville, Ontario and received a degree in film and theatre from Queen’s University in Kingston. Telling stories is her passion and it has her shooting biz owners, animals, car chases, explosions, farmers, actors, CEOs, CFO’s, products, organizations, corporations, and big ideas. Chockablock Media Inc., is her Torontobased digital content creator that runs on heart and a sense of humour. She believes everyone can hit their marketing goals via video on YouTube, Intranet sites,

Instagram, websites, trade shows, conferences, social media campaigns and live events. Allyson helps her clients motivate more action, increase buys and buyins, and spark more of the most valuable authentic online engagement.

DAVID ROSENBERGER Dave grew up on a dairy farm in eastern Pennsylvania, spent summers during high school and college working on a diversified fruit/vegetable/greenhouse operation, and completed his doctorate in Plant Pathology at Michigan State University in 1977. He spent 36 years doing applied research and extension programming for tree fruits while working at Cornell University’s Hudson Valley Lab, which is located in the fruit-growing region 90 miles north of Manhattan. Although he retired a year ago, Dave has continued some of his research and extension activities in his new role as Professor Emeritus.

BRIAN RIDEOUT Brian graduated from Lambton College in 1994 as an Environmental Technologist, then moved to northern Manitoba to work as a Water Quality Specialist for a Mining Company. Before moving to Manitoba, he married the Farmers Daughter, Robin. They returned to the Robin’s family farm in 1998 where Brian started to learn how to grow quality produce from his father-in-law, Rusty Smith. Since moving back, Brian has become the manager of the IPM program, assisting in converting the farm from overhead irrigation to drip irrigation and moving apple production from standard trees to dwarfing stock orchards.

ELAINE RODDY Elaine is involved in field research trials and extension and specializes in sweet corn, cucurbits, beans, peas and asparagus. Her responsibilities include all aspects of crop production, pest management and marketing. Elaine’s current projects include; nitrogen use efficiency in legume vegetables, vine crop disease management and purple spot of asparagus. She is also the editor of the Ontario Field Vegetable Guide (OMAFRA Publication 839).

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CHRISTINE SCHEER

ANTHONY SHELTON

TED SMITH

Christine is the farmers’ market manager at London’s Covent Garden Market and an advocate of local sustainable food. She is also a chef and a community food advisor, food writer, cooking class teacher and is married to organic farmer John Wilson.

Tony is a Professor of Entomology at Cornell University, based at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. His research responsibilities entail developing sound pest management strategies for vegetables with spinoffs for other crops. He has worked on sweet corn pest management since 1981. Components of his program stress insect population ecology, biological control, plant resistance, agricultural biotechnology, insecticide resistance, insect movement, trap cropping, and plant productivity and marketability as a function of insect infestations. In the last 20 years, a considerable amount of his effort has been devoted to risk assessment of insect management strategies, especially insect-resistant genetically engineered crops. His program has a strong commitment to outreach education for the agricultural community and the general public.

Ted grew up helping his parents work large market gardens in southern Ontario, and later on Manitoulin Island. After several years and a number of different careers, Ted returned to Manitoulin Island and his love of gardening. His farm, Gypsy Family Farm, is a polycultural blend of plants and animals where organic principles come first.

Currently, Ted is serving on the Board of Directors for Farmers’ Markets Ontario®. He also writes a weekly newspaper column where he advocates for family farms and ethical farming practices. Ted is also a MyPick® Verified Local Farmer®.

KEVIN SCHOOLEY After graduating from the University of Guelph in 1987, Kevin worked at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for 13 years as a pest management and fruit and vegetable specialist. He also worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a commodity specialist in Ottawa for 3 years. For the past 15 years, Kevin has worked with fruit and vegetable growers in the Ottawa area as an independent on-farm consultant and since 2004 has acted as the Executive Director of the Ontario Berry Growers Association and since 2006, as the Executive Director of the North American Strawberry Growers Association.

DR. TONY B. SHAW Dr. Shaw is a Professor in the Department of Geography and a Fellow of CCOVI (Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute) at Brock University.

He teaches courses principally in the areas related to meteorology, applied climatology, viticulture, and environmental sustainability.

His research areas include wine terroirs, site selection methods for new vineyards, freeze protection methods, renewable energy, building climatology and climate change and impacts. Current research projects include the demarcation of sub-appellations in Ontario’s main wine regions, assessment of new areas for wine production and the potential impacts of climate change on Ontario’s main wine appellations and the emerging regions.

DONNA SPERANZINI

Barbara is the Retail Services Supervisor for the Foodland Ontario program. She works with Ontario’s retail groups, farmers’ markets and on-farm market groups to increase market opportunities and prominence of Ontario grown foods. Barbara has been with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for over 15 years in various marketing and program roles.

Donna has a long history of working with soil, water and nutrient management across all field and horticultural crop production systems in Ontario.

Her projects involve collecting and interpreting performance data on new technologies that allow farmers to reduce their nutrient and water footprints. After 16 years of working with the province, Donna is now working for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where she continues her on-farm studies looking at whole farm water management, water storage, irrigation, and wastewater management in horticultural production systems. Donna has a Masters in Forestry and Environmental Science from the University of Toronto.

STEVE SMITH

JOHN STANLEY

Steve and family operate Smiths’ Apples and Farm Market near Port Elgin, Ontario. A science geek and enthusiastic teacher at heart, he enjoys learning, teaching, growing and selling heritage and modern apple varieties.

John is a coach, consultant, author, speaker and trainer.

He has been described as the ‘Retail Guru’ and he has also been described as the leading horticultural consultant in the world today. His skills in perishable retailing, food, plants, flowers and pets, anything that cannot be put on a shelf and ignored, in fact, apply equally to all fields of retailing. His presentations are enthusiastic, charismatic and engaging.

BARBARA SMITH

JENNIFER STEVENSON After graduating from Concordia University with a BComm in Statistics, Jennifer held several positions within the finance sector before becoming the VicePresident and Director of Information Technology at a Bay Street bank. She left to begin a career as a derivatives trader and became Vice-President of Global Markets Derivatives Trading at Deutsche Bank New York. After leaving Deutsche Bank, Jennifer has bought and sold several businesses, including an onfarm production, marketing and processing business.

She joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs in 2010 as Business Finance Lead and works to help small and medium sized businesses reach their growth potential.

LESLEY STOYAN The Daily Apple is a Torontobased food and lifestyle solutions group with a reputation for making health a little more palatable. Founder, Lesley Stoyan, caters and teaches a variety of fresh food cooking classes and workshops, designed to maximize taste, nutrition and most importantly, fun! Her “hip approach to a planetfriendly lifestyle” truly makes it easy living green.

Lesley, along with her husband Chris Trussell, cofounded the non-profit organization, AppleTree Markets Group, dedicated to building community through sustainable food-based initiatives.

DR. JAYASANK AR SUBRAMANIAN Dr. Subramanian (Jay) is an Associate Professor with University of Guelph. He has over 25 years of experience in fruit crop improvement, biotechnology and post harvest technology. He has worked with diverse crop species and for the past 12 years has been working with tender fruits, using both conventional and contemporary approaches. He has been invited to deliver talks and keynote addresses in several countries and has published over 50 research papers and released 15 improved crop varieties. He is a member of the editorial board in three International Journals and reviews manuscripts for several journals in plant sciences and has mentored several graduate students, postdocs, and high school and secondary school students for their science fair projects.

GEORGE SUNDIN George is a Professor of Plant Pathology and runs the Tree Fruit Pathology Lab at Michigan State University. He has been at MSU since 2002 and has Extension responsibilities in tree fruit disease control. His research includes field and lab studies covering management of fire blight, fungicide resistance in apple and cherry pathogens, and the evaluation of new bactericides and fungicides for disease management in apple, cherry (sweet and tart cherry) and peach. The main diseases covered include apple scab, bacterial canker, brown rot, cherry leaf spot and fire blight. The goals of Sundin’s

Extension program are to provide timely information and recommendations on management of tree fruit diseases to growers in Michigan and in other fruitgrowing regions.

DR. ANTONET SVIRCEV Dr. Svircev is a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Vineland, Ontario, specializing in the development of biological control agents for the control of pre- and postharvest pathogens. Current research involves the development of bacteriophages and their carrier bacteria for the control of the fire blight pathogen in the orchard. This project is moving forward to large scale field trials. The second project focuses on discovering novel biologicals for the control of post-harvest and storage diseases of horticultural crops. Dr. Svircev’s ultimate goal is to promote the importance of using and implanting biologicals into Canadian agricultural systems.

TOKTAM TAGHAVI Dr. Taghavi is a Research Associate with the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph, Simcoe Research Station. Her research interests include the development of new cultivars of hazelnuts for the Ontario hazelnut industry. In January 2013, she was named Adjunct Professor at the University of Guelph. She has previous professional experience as an assistant professor at the University of Tehran in Iran as well as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida. She has experience in transferring research knowledge from the lab to growers, including multiple horticultural crops, fertilizers and crop protection, and post-harvest technologies.

CHERYL TRUEMAN Cheryl has been a College Professor at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus since 2009. Her duties include teaching and research in areas of crop protection and integrated pest management (IPM) in field vegetables.

REMI VAN DE SLYKE Remi is owner and president of King Lake Farms Inc., located east of Straffordville. The farm produces ginseng and hops.

He has been farming this since graduating from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Commerce in Agricultural Business in 1995. Remi is currently vice chairman of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association.

GEORGE VAN DER MERWE Dr. van der Merwe received his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Hennie van Vuuren from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His PhD research on the nutrient adaptation of yeast was performed at Stellenbosch University, the University of Memphis, Brock University (CCOVI) and the Wine Research Centre at UBC. As a Research Associate in the Wine Research Centre, he developed an interest in the responses of wine yeast to wine fermentationrelated stresses. In 2002, he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph where he is currently an Associate Professor. His research focuses on understanding the molecular responses of yeast to its environment using wine fermentations as a model system.

JENN VANDEVELDE Jenn is the current President of the Ontario Berry Growers Association and owns Wholesome Pickins in Delhi, Ontario, with her husband David. Wholesome Pickins produces strawberries and raspberries and has an on-farm market and bakery. Jenn has been on the OBGA board for 6 years.

ANNA K. WALLINGFORD Anna is currently working in Greg Loeb’s lab in Geneva, NY, as a post-doctoral associate investigating the biology and ecology of Drosophila suzukii, with a focus on improved monitoring and better understanding of its overwintering biology. Anna’s background includes work with insect

27

pests of several fruit, vegetable, and ornamental commodities in the mid-Atlantic U.S. and California, as well as work with plant pathogens and their effects on primary and secondary plant metabolism.

KEITH WARRINER Dr. Warriner is currently a Professor within the Department of Food Science at University of Guelph. He received his PhD from the University College of Wales Aberystwyth, UK. He undertook post-doctoral research within the University of Manchester and University of Nottingham. He joined the Faculty of the University of Guelph in 2002.

During the last fifteen years in the field of microbiology and food safety research, Dr. Warriner has published more than 100 papers, book chapters, patents and conference abstracts. He has broad research areas focusing on food safety initiatives in the area of fresh produce. Notable successes has been one of the first to identify the potential for pathogens internalize within growing plants, post-harvest decontamination methods based on UV:peroxide, method for sanitizing seeds for sprout production and application of bacteriophages to control pathogens associated with produce. Current research is focused at risk assessment of manure amended soil, water recycling in wash operations and interactions of emerging pathogens with growing plants.

small farmer livelihoods. He is the author of two books, The Ecological Hoofprint: The Global Burden of Industrial Livestock (2013) and The Global Food Economy: The Battle for the Future of Farming (2007) as well as the co-editor of two collections, Critical Perspectives on Food Sovereignty (2015) and A Line in the Tar Sands: Struggles for Environmental Justice (2014).

DR. SEAN WESTERVELD Dr. Westerveld joined the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 2008 as the Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Specialist. He received BSc (Agr.), MSc, and PhD degrees in Horticulture from the University of Guelph from 1996 to 2005. After completing his education, Sean worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Muck Crops Research Station of the University of Guelph on the Holland Marsh. Sean also worked as a research associate and interim leader of the Vegetable and Nontraditional Crops Research Program at the University of Guelph, Simcoe Research Station. His primary role in OMAFRA is to support the Ontario ginseng and herb industries through technology transfer and to provide input into provincial and federal policies that may affect the industry. Sean is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph.

TONY WEIS

K AREN WHITTY

Tony is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Western University in London, where he has worked for the past 10 years. His research is broadly located in the field of political ecology and the intersection of agrarian political economy, environmental management, and

Karen is a graduate of McMaster University where she obtained a degree in Biochemistry and pursued a career in research for 18 years. In 2007, Karen made the decision to focus 100% of her time and energy on Whitty Farms and now directs operations at the farm’s seasonal market, 13th Street

Winery and 13th Bakery & Marketplace. Together with her husband and a dynamic team, they have created a unique, friendly and exciting experience that encompasses fine wine, great local food, value-added farm products, beautiful gardens and inspirational artistic expression.

JIM WILLWERTH Dr. Willwerth is the Senior Scientist in Viticulture at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) at Brock University. His responsibilities are to perform research and outreach services in the field of viticulture and to address the research priorities of the Canadian grape and wine industry. His current research program is focused on grapevine cold hardiness and understanding how to maximize cold hardiness in V. vinifera. He also has numerous applied research projects ranging from new freeze protection methods to use of new bird deterrent methods. He spearheads large outreach initiatives including the VineAlert Grapevine Cold Hardiness Database and the Grape Preharvest Monitoring program for the Ontario Grape and Wine Industry.

DENISE ZABOROWSKI Denise is the Manager of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Domestic Marketing’s Foodland Ontario program. She is a local food advocate who encourages the public to ask for, purchase and care about all of the “good things that grow in Ontario”. She is also the 2011 recipient of the Visionary Award from the American Agri-Women Association for leadership.

Denise has been in the Ontario public service for over 12 years and has held a number of roles including Client Services Officer, Executive Assistant to the ADM, Food Services Supervisor and Healthy Eating Team Lead. She holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Marketing Management from the University of Guelph and an undergraduate degree from Guelph in Consumer Studies.

VILIAM ZVALO

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Viliam joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2014.

In his role, he investigates field and greenhouse production of world crops and other new crop opportunities for Ontario growers. Viliam brings a wealth of experience after spending 13 years at Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc., in Nova Scotia where he provided support to vegetable producers and managed numerous research projects in new vegetable crop development, cultivar testing, pest management and evaluation of different production systems and methods. While at Perennia, he was instrumental in the development of a commercial sweet potato industry in Nova Scotia, while also introducing other new crops to the region such as hops, brassica greens and oilseed pumpkin. Viliam holds a PhD in Plant Physiology/Soil Ecology from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia and an Executive MBA from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

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Craft Brews and Ontario Hops: A winning combination

BY COURTNEY DENARD

Competition brings together some of the best craft brewers and local hop growers the province has to offer.

NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, The Great Ontario Hopped Craft

Beer Competition continues to create a platform for brewers and growers to forge connections that will strengthen the industry.

Evan Elford, new crop development specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and one of the competition’s coordinators, says that’s been the competition’s main objective over the past three years.

“We want to establish new working relationships within the industry and give people the opportunity to realize that there are local hops grown right here at home,” says Elford.

This mission was definitely accomplished at last year’s competition!

The 2014 winning entry was the result of a partnership between The Blue Elephant Craft Brew House and Carolinian Hop Yard, both located in Simcoe, Ontario.

The two businesses came together specifically to create their award winning ale.

Tim Wilson and Melanie Doerksen, owners of Carolinian Hop Yard, provided the hops, which were grown on their three-acre farm in Norfolk County without any chemical fertilizers, insecticides or herbicides.

30

The couple got into hop production in 2011 after buying a section of land from Tim’s parents who have farmed in the area for years.

Carolinian Hop Yard currently grows 3,300 plants made up of nine different varieties of hops. The Nugget variety was last year’s main hop and the perfect choice to offer Heather Pond and James Grant at The Blue Elephant.

The Blue Elephant restaurant has been a Norfolk County hot spot for over two decades. In 2012, the pub decided to reinvent itself by building a microbrewery and began brewing Ontario craft beer right on-site.

In traditional European fashion, The Blue Elephant’s beer is brewed in small batches with no additives or preservatives using only pure water, local organic barley, wheat, and hops.

Brewmaster James Grant creates fresh ales, lagers, pilsners and specialty brews all year long including Sweet Leaf Brown Ale, the winner of last year’s Great Ontario Hopped Craft Beer Competition.

Winning the 2014 competition has meant different things for the partners.

Speaking on behalf of Carolinian Hop Yard, Doerksen

says winning gave her and Wilson the push to expand their hop yard and develop plans to grow to 4.5 acres in total.

“The award has also spawned us to be advocates not only for Norfolk County hops, but for the wider Ontario hops ground-swell,” Doerksen adds.

Heather Pond of The Blue Elephant says taking the first place award was a much-appreciated pat on the back.

“It was great to put a feather in the cap and give the restaurant some recognition and credit,” says Pond.

At the same time, all partners agree the competition is an excellent way to work together with those in the Ontario hops and craft beer-making sectors. The foursome enjoyed the experience so much; in fact, they’ve paired up again for the 2015 competition.

When asked what the judges can expect from last year’s reigning champions, Pond says it’s a secret but she does promise it will be a tasty treat.

Like every year, the 2015 Great Ontario Hopped Craft Beer Competition will include commercial brewers; hop producers and students in their graduating year of the accredited Ontario Brewmaster course.

This time round, the participants have been asked to develop a Porter style beer, which will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges.

The first place winner will be awarded the GOHCBC Bottomless Cup in their honour, as well as a permanent plaque to take home.

The 2015 Great Ontario Hopped Craft Beer Competition, sponsored by Gintec Shade Technologies, will take placewill take place on Februar y 18th in the Scotiabank Centre’s Port Colborne Lounge from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

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VinelandResearch

Bee crisis ONTARIO’S

CONTINUES TO

BY COURTNEY DENARD

Buzz

Ontario’s honeybee crisis continued to generate headlines in 2014; making it one of the most politicized issues the agriculture sector has seen in recent history.

EXPERTS, GROWERS , consumers and social media all have an opinion on what’s causing bee kills across the province and neonicotinoids remain the top culprit.

According to Les Eccles, techtransfer program lead with the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, over winter bee loss in Ontario started to climb in 2007 and has not dropped below 20 per cent since. Winter loss in 2014 reached 58 per cent, the highest level in the past seven years.

Eccles says 10 per cent winter loss used to be considered normal, and acceptable, but the average over the past 12 years has been around 35 per cent.

Why the bees in Ontario are experiencing more winter loss remains the big question but Eccles says one thing is for sure, science has proven a INDUSTRY

32

connection between bee kills and the use of pesticides on crops like corn and soybeans.

Dr. Nigel Raine, Rebanks family chair in pollinator conservation at the University of Guelph, is a leading expert on bee health. The university selected Raine as Canada’s first research chair on the matter following a year-long international search.

Raine confirms there is research to show that pesticides do have a negative effect on bee health. He says it’s not uncommon to see impaired learning, memory, and/or motor coordination in bees that have been into contact with chemical sprays.

Neonicotinoids, in particular, are generating a lot of attention because Raine says they are a systemic class of insecticides.

Unlike traditional pesticides that are sprayed on and remain toxic for a short period of time, neonics appear to impact plants differently. Most notably, the insecticide seems to stay on the crop indefinitely so bees that are pollinating take in an appreciative amount of toxins throughout their lifetime.

PHOTO : P. KOZAK, OMAFRA

This can lead to dangerously high levels of toxicity within the bee and there’s also evidence to show there may be a negative impact on the bee’s offspring.

“One key issue seems to be amount of pesticide coming off the seeds as they go through the machine and ending up in the planter exhaust plume,” Raine says. “If pesticides were better adhered to seeds there would be less risk of them becoming airborne dust or of high residue levels accumulating on surrounding vegetation and wild flowers.”

But Raine says there’s much more to this story than just the use, or nonuse, of neonicotinoids on grain crops. He says improving overall bee health is a multi-factorial problem that requires a layered approach.

Craig Hunter, research & crop protection expert with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, couldn’t agree more.

Hunter, who has over 40 years experience working in the crop protection sector, says if Ontario is going to come out ahead on this

PHOTO : P. KOZAK, OMAFRA

matter, the original goal must be remembered at all times and that goal is finding ways to protect pollinator health.

“I think the issue has become politicized and polarized to the point where there are a lot of different people sitting in different corners,” says Hunter. “At this stage of the game, we need all groups to lower their arms and build a consensual plan for everyone involved.”

A major part of that plan, Hunter adds, is a comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) program based on third party data and base levels. Figuring out how to improve available suitable nutrition for bees in Ontario is also critical.

One suggestion from Hunter is to fast track an IPM program similar to the one already developed for Ontario’s horticulture industry.

Hunter was heavily involved in this program, which included the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-

Food Canada, and countless industry stakeholders.

The crop protection expert said it took years to present the appropriate plan but it was worth the time and investment.

“The industry needs to think about modeling the bee situation around that system,” says Hunter.

Hunter also sees value in taking note of what is working in today’s commercial bee sector. He says there are many beekeepers in the province that aren’t having any problems whatsoever.

“There are beekeepers that have losses and those that do not. We need to focus on the latter and see their secrets.

We need to know what they’re doing and adopt those practices,” he says.

At the end of the day, change is tough and Hunter says most people, regardless

PHOTO : P. KOZAK, OMAFRA

of where they stand on the issue, don’t want to alter their practices. But change is necessary.

“If we want Ontario’s bee population to be in a better state, change is going to have to happen much sooner than later,” he says. 

PHOTO : P. KOZAK, OMAFRA

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Meet the Minister

BY COURTNEY DENARD

As Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Honourable Jeff Leal has the important job of representing Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector at the provincial level.

After many years in provincial politics, Minister Leal took over the agriculture portfolio in June 2014 and since this time has worked to support and promote all good things grown in Ontario.

Because Minister Leal is still somewhat new to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the OFVC considered it important to formally introduce the Peterborough native to everyone attending the 2015 convention. That’s why we chose to dedicate this year’s Q&A to getting to know the Honourable Jeff Leal.

Q: Tell me about your experience in the agriculture industry prior to June 2014.

A: Agriculture is a predominant sector and economic driver in my riding of Peterborough. In addition, 40 per cent of Peterborough is rural. As a result, I have always taken a keen interest in agriculture and rural communities, meeting regularly with farmers and rural municipalities in my riding. Being named Minister of Rural Affairs in 2013 allowed me to further understand the intricacies of rural Ontario. Adding Agriculture and Food to my portfolio was a natural fit, as many policies tie Agriculture and Food to Rural Affairs.

Q: What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in the past eight months as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs?

A: The importance of listening and working collaboratively with farmers, agricultural organizations and all other stakeholders to ensure we develop sound public policy, contributing to a strong agriculture and agri-food sector.

Q: What role do you think local food plays in Ontario’s agriculture industry as a whole?

A: Local food is pivotal to Ontario’s agriculture and agrifood sector. When we buy local, we not only enjoy fresh, delicious meals, we strengthen our communities, support a sustainable environment, create jobs and grow our economy.

THE HONOURABLE JEFF LEAL

34

Q: How does your ministry plan on promoting local food in Ontario?

A: Since 2003, our government has invested more than $140 million to support sales of Ontario foods. We have made it easier for consumers to purchase Ontario VQA wine made from 100 per cent local grapes by piloting the sale of VQA wine at farmers’ markets. We also created the food donation tax credit for farmers.

The only one of its kind in Canada, this credit rewards the generosity of farmers, providing a 25 per cent tax refund for all agricultural products they donate to food banks and other local food programs.

Q: What are some of the biggest issues facing the Ontario agriculture industry today and how does your ministry plan on addressing these issues?

A: One challenge is to consistently innovate to remain competitive, while another is to achieve growth in a sustainable way. Our government fully supports growth, investment and innovation opportunities in Ontario’s agri-food sector. We will continue to support this sector through a comprehensive suite of economic development programs including Growing Forward 2, the Rural Economic Development Program and the Local Food Fund. Our government also supports the sector through business risk management programs, traceability initiatives, research and innovation and the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

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Q: Where do you see the Ontario agriculture industry going in the future?

A: The agriculture and agri-food sector in Ontario is already a dynamic cornerstone for our economy, contributing $34 billion to our Gross Domestic Product

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and employing over 760,000 people. In the future, I see tremendous opportunity for this sector to make an even greater contribution to our economy, culture and quality of life.

In 2013, Premier Wynne challenged the sector to double its growth and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020. To meet this target, my ministry’s mandate letter, available publicly online, outlines five priority areas we will focus on: supporting the growth of the agri-food sector, ensuring sustainability of agriculture, providing business supports to farmers, expanding agriculture in the north and fostering vibrant rural economies.

Q: Is there anything else in general you would like to say to Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers?

I am encouraged by the wonderful collaboration between this sector, my ministry, the Ministry of Education and the Dietitians of Canada to deliver the ‘Fresh from the Farm’ pilot program. Innovative collaborations such as this raise awareness among Ontarians about the value of locally produced, healthy fruit and vegetables and that is great for Ontario agriculture. 

THE HONOURABLE JEFF LEAL

A: Ontario has the largest horticulture sector in Canada and it is very diverse, producing many different kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as wine grapes and floriculture products. The sector has many strengths to build upon and is in a good position to benefit from increased consumer interest in local food.

Find your freshmate.

Looking for that perfect buyer? Ontariofresh.ca is the professional marketplace for local food, where suppliers like you can find eligible bulk buyers and wholesalers across the province.

Come and see us in booth #1008 at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, and we’ll show you how.

36

KEVIN BUIS, GLENL AKE VINEYARDS

And the

2014–15

BY COURTNEY DENARD

Grape King

The Grape Growers of Ontario have selected its 2014–15 Grape King and this year the honour goes to Kevin Buis of Glenlake Vineyards.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME GGO has selected a Buis for its

distinguished title. Kevin’s brother Peter was named Grape King in 1987.

Kevin grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the family farm that was started by his Dutch immigrant parents in 1957.

Throughout this time, the operation was a mixed farm that produced a variety of fruit, potatoes and hogs.

It was Kevin’s brother Peter who came up with the idea of growing grapes in 1980. Kevin was in high school at the time but even at a young age he agreed that this was a good business move.

“So we started to learn how to grow vinifera wine grapes from scratch with no experience whatsoever in the grape industry,” Kevin says.

A couple of years later, Kevin left the farm to attend the University of Guelph where he studied agricultural engineering. When he returned home a few years after that, the Buis brothers moved full steam ahead with Glenlake Vineyards.

The vineyard has experienced steady growth over the past 34 years thanks to a continued focus on improved productivity and innovation.

In reference to this philosophy, Glenlake converted some

is…

of its vineyards to a vertical divided trellis system in the mid1990s. This was a very unconventional move at the time but Kevin says it paid off.

“It was a little more work but we ended up getting bigger crops and higher quality,” he says.

Kevin sees the vertically divided trellis system as a critical business decision in Glenlake’s history. He also believes it played a part in taking home the 2014-15 Grape King title.

Of the honour, Kevin says he was very pleased to learn that he was selected. He adds that he is especially humbled to be representing the industry at large.

“There are a lot of good growers in the area and we’ve all pushed each other to be better and they’re one of the reasons I got this award,” says Kevin.

Almost 30 years of hard work with an amazing team is another reason. Kevin says he cannot emphasize enough how thankful he is to his wife Jacqueline, his family, and his staff. “Without them none of this would happen,” he says.

As Grape King, Kevin will spend the next year traveling the province, attending media events, wine festivals and industry gatherings representing the Grape Growers of Ontario. 

OFVC ROUNDUP Meet the Buyer

New tax credit supports local food sharing

OFVC IS PLEASED TO OFFER a unique opportunity to help

BY COURTNEY DENARD

Ontario farmers meet key grocery chain and food industry buyers to create value-added business opportunities. This event is an excellent opportunity to gain first-hand insight into sourcing requirements as well as speak directly to key personnel and explore potential supply opportunities. The bulk of the event will feature ‘speed-dating’ style, one-onone meetings allowing participants to meet, learn, and network with the buyers.

OFVC Meet the Buyer Thursday, February 19, 2015 Scotiabank Convention Centre (public café area by the Stanley St. entrance) 7:45 am – 9:15 am

Confirmed buyers include: Costco Canada, Gordon Food Service, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Sobeys Ontario, Wal-Mart Canada and more!

This event is open to OFVC registered attendees only and there is no charge.

Sponsored by:

With support from Foodland Ontario. 

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THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO recently announced a new

tax credit that aims to put nutritious, locally grown food on the plates of those who need it most.

The Food Donation Tax Credit for Farmers now offers a tax credit on any agricultural products donated to community food programs, including food banks and student nutrition programs.

The tax credit’s worth is 25 per cent of fair market value for the goods donated and is part of the government’s local food strategy and Local Food Act, 2013.

According to the Ontario Government, one-third of the 375,000 Ontarians served by a food bank every month are children. Meanwhile, more than 600,000 children and youth participate in breakfast, snack and lunch programs in communities across the province.

Under the proclaimed legislation, farmers can claim the new tax credit for donations dating back to January 1, 2014.

Producers can claim the credit when filing their annual income tax return.

More information on The Food DonationTax Credit for Farmers can be found online at: www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/ credit/cfpdtc/index.html 

Ontario garlic going strong

2014 Gary Ireland Scholarship Award

BY COURTNEY DENARD

BY COURTNEY DENARD THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENT OF THE UNIVERSITY of Guelph’s

ONTARIO GARLIC HAS A LOT OF THINGS going for it!

Gary Johnson, a long time garlic grower in Stouffville and a director on the Garlic Growers of Ontario board, says the provincial garlic industry is currently going through a revival.

“In the last five years there’s been an up kick in the amount of garlic that’s grown in Ontario,” he says.

This is thanks to a couple of reasons. First off, Ontario consumers are becoming more loyal to the product.

Johnson says consumers have discovered that Ontario garlic and cloves are larger, juicier and have more flavour than imports. “Consumers are beginning to realize that once you buy Ontario garlic, you won’t buy anything else,” he says.

The increasing number of garlic festivals across the province is also helping growers promote their product and further sales.

From Toronto, to Stratford, to Carp, and all the way up to Sudbury, communities large and small are getting on the garlic festival bandwagon.

“People come out to the festivals to specifically buy Ontario garlic and they buy it in very large quantities,” says Johnson.

Ontario garlic is also available at many farmers’ markets across the province and through local farm gate sales. To find a garlic grower near you, log on to: www.garlicgrowers. on.ca 

Gary Ireland Horticultural Scholarship is Telesphore Marie, a third year student in the B.Sc. Agriculture program.

Marie, who is studying crops, horticulture and turfgrass sciences, says his passion for horticulture began in elementary school. He started creating his very own gardens at this young age and eventually began a small landscaping business.

When he got a little older, Marie decided to take his love for horticulture to the next level by choosing the discipline for his post-secondary studies. He earned a diploma from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture before enrolling at the University of Guelph.

Marie will graduate from U of G in the spring of 2016 but he doesn’t plan on stopping his studies there. His next step will be to attend graduate school to research crop production systems.

When asked how he feels about being the recipient of the 2014 Gary Ireland Scholarship Award, Marie says very excited!

He feels that his passion for horticulture and vegetable production, along with his practical experience (he’s currently creating a five acre vegetable plot), are two important factors that set him apart from the other candidates.

More than anything, though, Marie says he is grateful.

“I appreciate this scholarship immensely,” he says. 

TELESPHORE MARIE RECEIVING THE SCHOL ARSHIP FROM OFVC COMMITTE MEMBER CATHY BARTOLIC

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CHEF LYNN CRAWFORD AND K AREN WHITT Y

2 014 O F F M A

Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year

BY COURTNEY DENARD

The Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association has chosen its Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year and the 2014 award goes to a third generation family run business that has its hands in a little bit of everything.

WHIT T Y

FARMS,

OWNED

AND

operated by Karen and Doug Whitty, is widely diverse and includes pick your own fruit, a roadside market, a bakery, and a winery. Owner Karen says the addition of each new venture came from a desire to establish a year round, value added business.

Whitty Farms manages about 200 acres of land overall. The fresh tender fruit grown on site is either used for pick your own or sold at the roadside market, located conveniently on the border of St. Catharines’ city limits.

SHOPPERS READY TO BUY AT WHITT Y FARMS’ ROADSIDE MARKET.

40

DOUG WHITT Y

Some of the fruit is also used to make delicious baked goods and preserves that are for sale all year long at the farm’s 13th Street Bakery Marketplace, which opened in 2009.

Grape production makes up another important part of Whitty Farms. About 50 acres of the total 200 are dedicated to growing wine grapes that are used to create quality wines at Karen and Doug’s own 13th Street Winery.

Running such a diverse operation might seem challenging to some but Karen says each part of the business comes together nicely to make the whole. The glue holding it in place is the story behind it all and that’s where good marketing comes into play.

WHITT Y FARMS’ ROADSIDE MARKET

A SAMPLING OF DELICIOUS, LOCAL PRODUCT AT 13TH STREET WINERY

“Consumers today want to know the story behind their food so marketing is becoming more and more important,” says Karen.

While Karen and Doug have learned this lesson over time, the business owners have also seen the value in nontraditional forms of marketing.

Karen says it’s not just about promoting your business as a sole entity it’s about partnering with other members of the community to sell each other’s story as one.

“It’s not just talking about one place, it’s talking about your whole region. Once you start to look at your business from that perspective, you can position yourself on the world map and that raises your profile,” says Karen.

Winning the 2014 Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year should also help with the business profile. Karen says she was really excited that Whitty Farms was selected as this year’s recipient and especially honoured since it’s an award from industry peers.

She is also grateful to the passionate team of people, especially her family, who work tirelessly on a daily basis to make Whitty Farms the success that it is.

“When a business wins an award, I think it’s all of the people in the business that are winning not just one person,” says Karen.

The OFVC would like to offer its official congratulations to Karen, Doug and everyone at Whitty Farms on this distinguished award! 

LUNCH MENU SELECTIONS DAY ONE RETAIL

DAY TWO RETAIL

ONTARIO PORK SANDWICH $6.50

HOUSE MADE MEAT PIES $6.50

Pork Schnitzel Style - Upper Canada Smoked Gouda, Hewitt’s Sour Cream, Shoot Boss Mustard Greens, G.H. Tomatoes

Steak & Gravy Pie - Piccioni Bros Mushrooms, Ontario Squash

LOCKE ST. MEAT SOUVLAKI SAUSAGE $6.50

Chicken Souvlaki - Ontario Hot House Cucumber Tzatziki, Shredded Lettuce, Leamington Tomatoes, Red Onion SIDES WITH YOUR SANDWICH ADD $2

Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad Gwillimdale Farms Potato Salad

Organic Chicken Pie - Ont. Root Veggies, Daniel Herbs, Potato LOCKE ST. MEAT SOUVLAKI SAUSAGE $6.50

Chicken Souvlaki - Ontario Hot House Cucumber Tzatziki, Shredded Lettuce, Leamington Tomatoes, Red Onion SIDES WITH YOUR SANDWICH ADD $2

Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad

Creamy Coleslaw, Fresh Herbs

Gwillimdale Farms Potato Salad

ENTRÉE SALADS $6.50

Creamy Coleslaw, Fresh Herbs

Iceberg Salad - G.H. Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onion, Feta, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Roasted Shallot Dressing SCCN Caesar - Our Own Ceasar Dressing, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Double Smoked Bacon, House Made Croutons WINTERY SOUPS* $4.50

Green Acres Farms Celery Root & Apple Roasted Mushroom Bisque Winter Vegetable Broth, White Bean & Kale *Comes with Rolls and Butter.

ENTRÉE SALADS $6.50

Iceberg Salad - G.H. Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onion, Feta, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Roasted Shallot Dressing SCCN Caesar - Our Own Ceasar Dressing, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Double Smoked Bacon, House Made Croutons WINTERY SOUPS* $4.50

Green Acres Farms Celery Root & Apple Roasted Mushroom Bisque Winter Vegetable Broth, White Bean & Kale *Comes with Rolls and Butter.

CLASSIC COMBOS* Pasta with Tomato Sauce $10 Sausage with Drink $10 Hot Sandwich with Drink $10 Soup & Salad $10 Soup & Drink $8 Salad & Drink $8 *All Soups and Pasta Come with Rolls and Butter.

CLASSIC COMBOS* Pasta with Tomato Sauce $10 Sausage with Drink $10 Hot Sandwich with Drink $10 Soup & Salad $10 Soup & Drink $8 Salad & Drink $8 *All Soups and Pasta Come with Rolls and Butter.

NPF & VGA 2014 Industry Award of Merit

BY COURTNEY DENARD

A long time grower with deep family roots in the farming sector is this year’s recipient of the Industry Award of Merit, presented by the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.

LARRY HIPPLE OF BEAMSVILLE is

being recognized for his outstanding contribution to Niagara’s horticulture sector.

As owner and operator of Hipple Farms, Larry works with his wife Debbie and son David growing grapes and fruit on land that has been in his family since the early 1800s.

Hipple Farms produces 70 acres of wine, juice and basket grapes along with 80 acres of tree fruit including peaches, pears, cherries, apricots,

L ARRY HIPPLE, HIPPLE FARMS

plums and more. All goods are sold at the farm’s own seasonal market or through the Vineland Growers Cooperative.

Larry has been an active member in the horticulture industry holding many positions on various boards over the course of his career.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Larry was a director and president of the Vineland Growers Co-operative.

Larry was also active in the Ontario Fresh Grape Growers’ Marketing Board where he was a director for many years and eventually chairman.

As part of this position, he was a director on the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association for six years.

Larry says he made it a priority to be involved in the industry to learn from other growers around him and to gain leadership.

Acquiring insight into innovation and research was important for the grower as well. Larry says his board

participation furthered his knowledge in this area and gave him access to the latest information.

When asked how he feels about receiving the 2014 Industry Award of Merit, Larry says surprised, humbled and honoured.

“There have been a lot of people before me who have been honoured with this award and they’ve done some great things,” he says. “I definitely want to thank my family who kept the farm going while I was away at so many meetings and to my fellow growers and board members that I’ve worked with over the years, it’s been great!”

Congratulations to Larry on all of his hard work and on being chosen as the 2014 Industry Award of Merit recipient. 

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THE GROWTH OF

Food Tourism

BY COURTNEY DENARD

There’s a changing consumer attitude out there and the shift is on to the world’s biggest tourist activity.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, John

Stanley returns to the OFVC this year to discuss his new book ‘Food Tourism: A Practical Marketing Guide.’

John currently hails from Australia but spent years travelling the world, studying horticulture marketing and management. He is a Nuffield Scholar, a farmer, and was previously a professor at the University of Surrey in England.

The author says throughout his travels and studies he identified marketing as a weakness in both the horticulture and agriculture sectors. Never one to shy away from a challenge, John took this topic on as his own and has become a world-renowned expert in the field.

In his new book, John and his coauthor wife Linda, offer a practical guide on food tourism, currently the world’s biggest tourist activity.

Theoretical books on this topic have been published in the past but ‘Food Tourism: A Practical Marketing Guide’ is one of the first publications to give readers marketing advice for real life business scenarios.

Convention goers will not want to miss the opportunity to hear John

44

speak about his latest book at the 2015 show. The author will be giving an in-depth talk on the exciting topic of food tourism, while asking some very important questions. One in particular will focus on the changing expectations of consumers and how farm marketers can meet those expectations.

John says the biggest message he wants to get across is that there’s a changing consumer attitude out there.

“Many of us in this industry are baby boomers but the market is mainly made up of millennials who think differently than we do. It will be important to get our mindset around this new group of consumers because if we do not, we could lose a lot of market potential,” he says.

John’s presentation will take place on Wednesday, February 18th at 9:30 a.m. in the Scotiabank Centre’s Ballroom B. 

OFVC ROUNDUP

CONTINUED

Ontario craft cider taking flight

Ontario wines go to market

BY COURTNEY DENARD

BY COURTNEY DENARD

ONTARIO MIGHT NOT BE the first place

ONTARIO VINTNERS QUALITY ALLIANCE (VQA) wines can

you’d think of when it comes to making cider but that’s about to change!

According to Nick Sutcliffe, who owns and operates Pommies Cider with his wife Lindsay in Bolton, the province is seeing massive growth when it comes to locally produced cider.

Nick says that up until 2009 the province was home to only one local cider maker but today that number has grown to 19 with more on the way.

Meanwhile, cider is the fastest growing category at the LCBO and a study completed by the George Morris Centre found that Ontario craft cider would be using 10 per cent of all apples grown in the province by 2018.

To navigate and support this industry growth the Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) was formed in 2012.

The OCCA’s primary goal is to build a global centre of cider excellence in the province and promote quality, local ciders.

The OCCA has declared that Ontario craft cider will only be made with 100 per cent Ontario apples. Sutcliffe says, “This is not a gimmick. It’s just something we decided because we have the best apples in the world.”

More information on Ontario craft cider can be found at www.ontariocraftcider.com. 

now be found at a farmers’ market near you!

Earlier this year, farmers’ markets across the province got the go ahead to sell local Ontario VQA wines as part of the Ontario government’s renewed Wine and Grape Strategy.

This was good news for both wine makers and market goers. Wine makers will now have the opportunity to sell their product at locations other than the LCBO and consumers will enjoy increased access to locally produced wines.

Patrick Gedge, CEO and president of the Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario said in a news release that “the wine and grape industry in Ontario is very excited by this opportunity to expose more consumers to our world class VQA wines through farmers’ markets.”

Not all Ontario wines have been included in the program however.

Ontario fruit wines are still primarily available at respective on-farm wineries for the time being. Hopefully this won’t be the case much longer because it would be terrific to see all Ontario wines available at farmers’ markets.

Ontario is home to 140 VQA wineries and approximately 200 farmers’ markets. 

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s r e m r Fa s d n e i & Fr AT T H E J O IN U S

P G RECE N I N E EV

INNOVATION AWARD

2015 ONTARIO FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONVENTION INNOVATION AWARD SUBMISSIONS

TION

th – 7 pm ry 18 5 a u r b e F day, ow Wednes Trade Sh n io t n e onv At the C

Reception Menu Ontario Wine, Craft Beer & Hard Cider Drinks will be available at 3 wine and 3 beer/hard cider stations located throughout the floor.

To find them, please look for the gorgeous balloon displays.

Featured Ontario wines include: Casa Dea Estates Winery, Huff Estates Winery, Peller Estates Winery, Sandbanks Winery.

Featured Ontario Craft Beers include: Draught Dodger, Wellington Brewery, The Blue Elephant Brew House and Manantler Brewery.

Agriculture Solutions Inc.

Dow AgroSciences

B O O T H # 1 0 11

B O OT H # 1020

AQUA SA P / SE A NU T RI L LC

T WINGUARD

Aquasap is a brand new product

A powerful new solution that

being introduced in North America

incapacitates both sucking and

for the 2015 growing season. It

chewing pests. Its two distinct

improves fertilizer efficiency,

modes of action deliver unmatched

increases soil nutrient availability,

speed and effectiveness.

improves nutrient uptake, and improves plant resistance to disease,

Provide Agro. Corporation

insect and environmental stress,

B O OT H # 421

reducing the need for applied

C F 2 0 0 0 / H O L S P R AY S Y S T E M S

fertilizers and fungicides, thus

H.S.S. has developed a high

reducing the overall cost of inputs.

efficiency sprayer that provides growers with less drift, lower fuel

BASF

consumption, more consistent

BOOTH # 304

coverage and increased operator safety.

N E A L T A™ M I T I C I D E

Featured Ontario Ciders include: Pommies Dry Cider, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery, West Avenue Cider.

New for 2015, Nealta Miticide

Complimentary apple slices provided by Martin’s Family Fruit Farm, popcorn from White Meadows Farms and apple cider donated by Warners Farm.

All guests receive a souvenir custom-printed wine glass with their first drink to use throughout the evening and then take home.

Enjoy roaming performances by: Farrucas Latin Duo and The Urban Fiddler

™

uses a brand new active ingredient

Universal Field Supplies

and insecticide mode of action to

BOOTH # 733

control European red mites, Two-

HA SEGAWA TRIPOD L ADDER

spotted spider mites and McDaniel spider mites in pome fruit, grapes,

broad clawed feet and flat top

Carther Plants

and practical orchard ladders

B O O T H # 111 0

around. Similar to the design of

H Y D R O P O N I C A L LY G R O W N

the Eiffel Tower, your weight is

STR AW BERRY PLUG

directed downwards and outwards,

TRANSPL ANTS

pinning the ladder to the ground.

makes this the safest, most stable

We are the first strawberry propagator growing under the Program that is operating in a completely hydroponic nursery system from the time the plants leave the tissue culture lab until they reach the grower.

46

telescopic back leg, as well as

strawberries and tomatoes.

Ontario Plant Propagation

T H A N K S TO O U R E V E N T S P O N S O R S

The wide base, deep steps,

JOIN US FOR THE AWARD PRESENTATION Wednesday, February 18 during the Farmers’ and Friends Reception — FCC Café in the trade show area.

Thanks to all participants!

To be selected,

they need to be protected.

Use DuPont™ Exirel™ insecticide, powered by Cyazypyr™, early in the season to give your pome fruit, stone fruit and blueberries the head-start they need during the most critical stages of development. Exirel™ has fast acting, translaminar and xylem systemic movement so you’ll be protecting new growth from difcult chewing and sucking pests, including aphids, plum curculio, apple maggots, codling moth, Oriental fruit moths, leafrollers, weevils and spotted wing drosophila.

Exirel™, powered by Cyazypyr™, an important part of an integrated pest management program.

Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit exirel.dupont.ca As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Exirel™ and Cyazypyr™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.