Agri Business - Niagara Region

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

AGRI BUSINESS

Niagara Region A

griculture is an important component of Niagara Region’s past, present and future. The land base and location allow a wide variety of agricultural products to be grown and raised in Niagara Region for consumption and export to larger centres.

The many festivals, events and attractions that are based on agricultural products and operations also lend credence to the importance of the industry to the economic, social and historical nature of Niagara.

Niagara’s diverse agricultural base has positioned the region for potential expansion and growth in this sector.

Greenhouse Industry – Niagara’s greenhouse industry has experienced a major expansion. With a commitment to greenhouse operations that span across three generations, Niagara’s owner-operators have gained a broad base of expertise in developing efficient, profitable products and markets.

Niagara has established a strong base of greenhouse operations with market dominance in the flower and nursery stock production. With increasing greenhouse vegetable production in the region, many opportunities exist to greatly expand investment in this sector of the market.

The region of Niagara has several factors which support the expansion of greenhouse vegetable operations into new product lines; favourable climate and access to abundant supplies of fresh water; the availability of affordable land, natural gas and hydroelectric utilities, greenhouse design, construction and equipment companies, produce wholesalers and greenhouse suppliers; financial institutions and marketing support.

Recent competitive analysis research, conducted by KPMG, suggests that the Niagara region is one of the most favourable areas to invest in for food production and related industries.

Niagara region facts Greenhouse Industry

Agriculture

• Second largest producer of greenhouse products in Ontario with 204 greenhouses and 21.09 million square feet under glass or plastic shelter.

• Niagara has suitable agricultural land for tender fruit and grape production, as well as areas for producing a wide range of crops.

• With annual sales of over $284 million, the greenhouse industry is the largest sector of Niagara’s overall agricultural economy.

• The region is home to 2,014 farms with an average size of 100 acres.

• Niagara’s greenhouse industry employs over 3000 people, over half of whom are full time.

• Fruit production is a dominant agricultural economic activity in Niagara, with 637 farms reporting a total of 62,500+ acres of tender fruit. With two-thirds of Ontario’s tender fruit orchards located in the Niagara region, these orchards account for the majority of the province’s peaches, cherries, pears, plums, prunes and grapes.

• The average greenhouse operational size is 100,000 square feet.

• North American markets for year-round, high quality greenhouse vegetable products represents a significant business development opportunity for Niagara growers.

• The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance (TOGA) recently completed an Economic Impact Study which identified evidence of an emerging greenhouse service cluster in Niagara.

• Niagara’s greatest strength in fruit production are the grape and peach markets.

The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) at Brock University Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) in Niagara has established itself as an internationally recognized research institute on cool climate viticulture, oenology, wine business and wine culture.

CCOVI has moved its innovative research beyond the science disciplines of oenology and viticulture, expanding activities to look at all areas of the grape and wine value chain, such as wine business, policy research and agritourism.

CCOVI has three core pillars of focus: researching sector needs that support the growth, profitability and sustainability of the Canadian wine industry; providing educational opportunities to train the industry leaders of tomorrow; and offering outreach and knowledge transfer activities that help raise the profile of Canadian wine globally.

CCOVI’s efforts are telling: a 2014-2015 economic impact study found that CCOVI contributes more than $91 million and the equivalent of 307 jobs to Ontario’s economy annually.

Over the past 20 years, CCOVI’s reputation for industry-leading research and value-added outreach has made it a sought after partner within Ontario, across Canada, and around the world.

Connect with CCOVI and learn more at Brocku.ca/ccovi

Food Processing • There are over 205 food processing companies in the Niagara region employing over 3,600 workers.

• The major subcategories of the sector include: bakeries, fruit processing and juices, confectioneries, poultry and meat processing, dairy products and cheese.

• The Niagara Peninsula has earned international recognition with award winning vintages and ice wine. The region has over 100 wineries with new wineries expanding as part of Niagara’s overall agricultural/ food processing sector.

• The promotion of Niagara Cuisine and other initiatives are becoming increasingly popular.

Phone Numbers: 905-980-6000 Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215 (Canada only) TTY: 905-984-3613 (Hearing Impaired) niagaracanada.com

Gateway CIP Incentive Program • Niagara’s Gateway communities offer close proximity to the U.S. border, competitive development costs, and an advanced multi-modal transportation infrastructure to help your new business succeed or your existing business to grow. Combine this with the financial incentives programs offered by Niagara’s local area municipalities and you will clearly see that the time to invest in Niagara is now.

• The Niagara Gateway Economic Zone and Centre Community Improvement Plan (Gateway CIP) has designated Gateway Community Improvement Areas throughout Niagara. The plan contains programs that provide financial incentives to property owners who revitalize, strengthen and diversify the Niagara economy.

Mailing Address: Niagara Region 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way (Formerly 2201 St. David’s Rd.) P.O. Box 1042 Thorold, ON L2V 4T7, Canada

• Property owners that promote private sector investment, development, redevelopment and construction activity on employment lands in the Gateway Community Improvement Areas are eligible to participate in these incentive programs.

• The Gateway incentive programs are delivered through a partnership between the Niagara Region and the participating municipalities of Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, Thorold and Welland.

• For more detailed maps of the Gateway communities and the Strategic Locations for Investment, please visit niagaracanada.com