Wind’s up and the weather is rising for Canadian apple growers
KAREN DAVIDSON
From coast to coast, Canadian apple growers are beaming with the prospect of favourable winds blowing through their orchards this summer.
“I’m so optimistic right now about the 2025 season,” says Brian Rideout, Manitree Fruit Farms, Blenheim, Ontario, referring to 250 acres of apples, peaches, pears, tart and sweet cherries in his micro-climate north of Lake Erie. “We have a very nice crop on the farm. We had a real winter, and northern crops need a winter.”
Like other Ontario apple growers, he’s talking not only about the weather but also the trade winds. A year ago, Rideout was worried about the high volume of Ontario apples coming on stream due to ongoing transition to high-density orchards. It takes about seven years to
recover planting costs, and many of his trees are now starting to produce apple quality and size at the high end of the pay grade. “In some varieties, we’re producing an extra 10 bins/acre which equals another 8,000 pounds.”
The rise in Ontario’s quantity and quality is a happy contrast to what’s going on south of the border.
“We are an importing nation for apples,” says Rideout, referring to the annual wave of apples arriving from Washington State each year. “But other countries and states have also invested in infrastructure. I went to the US Apple convention in Chicago in August 2024, realizing for the first time that states other than Washington – Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota and Wisconsin – have grown their industries too. And each state is very protective of its sector.”
Last year’s worry that imported apples would flood Canadian grocery stores has been shelved, at least for the
time being. The U.S. trade war launched in early March 2025 has upended not only trading patterns but consumer buying patterns. Canadian retailers are responding to a grassroots “buy local, buy Canadian movement” by stocking just one or two U.S. varieties while filling shelves with Canadian-grown apples. Stories abound from British Columbia to Nova Scotia that demand for local, controlled-atmosphere apples has increased significantly, depleting growers’ storage inventories much faster than previous years.
“I personally think it’s all positive,” says Chris Hedges, chair of Ontario Apple Growers. “There has been much more rapid movement of apples. This year is reminding me of a COVID year.” Continued
Are all the right parts healthy and green? Are the pistils and stamens intact? After a frost event in 2024, Brian Rideout (L) and his son Sam are checking on the viability of apple blossoms at Manitree Fruit Farms, Blenheim, Ontario. Photo by Jeff Tribe.
AT PRESS TIME…
Voluntary Grocery Code of Conduct to be in force Jan 1, 2026
Karen Proud, the first president and adjudicator of the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, has announced timelines for the next year. While being in the role only since March 17, 2025, she expects the website to be in operation by mid-June. The website will be designed as a portal for members complete with confidentiality forms.
The voluntary code is expected to be in force January 1, 2026.
Her responsibilities include fostering compliance, providing guidance on the code’s interpretation, resolving disputes, monitoring practices, and reporting on progress annually. She will be promoting collaborative and ethical business practices, ensuring the code evolves alongside industry needs. The code will be financed by a member-fee model. The fee structure is yet to be finalized, but will not be cost prohibitive. Fees will be reviewed annually.
“The code has been drafted,” said Proud, “but there’s a wide spread in the state of readiness for the code. Next January 1, 2026, I expect everyone to be at the right level of implementing the code in earnest. Our enforcement of the code will be switched on for the dispute resolution mechanisms.”
By fall, she will have finalized governance and announced a permanent board of directors.
L-R: Luc Mougeot, president and CEO, Dispute Resolution Corporation; Karen Proud, president and adjudicator, Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, Diane Brisebois, vicechair of the board.
“Many organizations, especially smaller ones, want guidance on how the code works, whether they are a primary producer or independent grocer,” she said. “We’re going to have to learn over time, similar to the code in the U.K. We will learn over the next year that some provisions don’t work. There may be different interpretations.”
The objectives of the voluntary code is to deliver fairness, transparency, and accountability across Canada’s grocery supply chain.
As Gary Sands, vice-president government relations, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, said, “It doesn’t level the playing field but it ensures that principles apply to everyone. If it’s regulation that you wish for, be careful. We have multiple jurisdictions in Canada. Do you want to have governments regulating in aisle 5?”
Industry can prepare by reading the code. The Grocery and Specialty Food West Conference is in Vancouver April
14-15. “I’ll be imploring our members to read the code and staple to your office wall. This document will be transformational for our industry,” said Sands.
Luc Mougeot, president and CEO, Dispute Resolution Corporation, added, “Transparency, predictability, codifying change are very important. There are subelements to this. It’s ok to change an agreement, but all parties must agree to it. This will help to strengthen the relationship.”
Diane Brisebois, vice-chair of the board, Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, said, “Do not underestimate the importance of the office. We don’t have regulations, but we do have the ability to name and shame.”
Karen Proud concluded, “Government will be one of our audiences. I’m counting on government to keep our feet to the fire. There was a lot of pressure from government and others to make this code happen.”
NEWSMAKERS
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) 100th anniversary concluded in Montréal with a nod to many leaders and visionaries April 8-10. Amanda Sharman, Del FrescoPure won the Young Professional Award. The Fresh Health Award was received by Ray Keenan on behalf of Rollo Bay Holdings, Prince Edward Island. Les Mallard, vice president sales of Fyffes North America Inc., was named the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, recognizing his dedication, leadership, and service to the produce industry during a 38-year career. The Packer Canadian Person of the Year Award was presented to George Pitsikoulis, past chair of CPMA. Congratulations to all!
Steve Bamford, CEO, Fresh Advancements, is the new chair of the CPMA 2025-2026 board. He welcomes delegates to Toronto for the April 28-30, 2026 event.
The Grape Growers of Ontario has announced the 2025/26 Board of Directors, including the re-election of chair Matthias Oppenlaender and vice-chair Kevin Watson. The newest member is Dan Lambert. The board also includes representation from across Ontario including Steve Pohorly and Jeff Duc of Niagaraon-the-Lake, Will George and Joe Schenck of St. Catharines, Brock Puddicombe of Winona, Robert Peck of Prince Edward County, and Murray Wilson of Harrow.
Congratulations to Morris Gervais, this year’s recipient of the Berry Growers of Ontario Award of Merit! This award recognizes outstanding dedication and contributions to the sector. He serves as a director on the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. He has starred in various educational berry videos and has even hosted the Prime Minister at his farm.
The British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association welcomes Glen Lucas as interim general manager until a replacement can be hired for Melissa Tesche who departed April 11 for the Okanagan Basin Water Board. Lucas was general manager for 25 years.
The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers held its annual general meeting in late March. The 2025 board of directors is chaired by Dave Hope Ryan Leclair and Peter Epp are vice-chairs. Directors include: Adrien Pinsonneault, Eric Allaer, Carl Merrick, Tracy Gubbels, Dan Froese and Neil Reimer
Agriculture in the Classroom welcomes a new executive director. Denise Schmidt, formerly senior director of North American Canola Business and Industry Affairs at Cibus, brings a background of agronomy, marketing and business development to the role.
Ginseng Growers of Ontario has a 2025 board of directors chaired by Glen Gilvesy. He is supported by Ken Van Torre, research chair; Dan Keresturi, secretary/treasurer; Joe Arva, director; Remi VanDeSlyke, director; Rob Clarysee, director; Marc Noorenberghe, director.
Topline Farms, Leamington, Ontario, has appointed Dr. Justine Taylor as chief sustainability officer. Having spent the last 15 years in various agriculture leadership roles, Taylor brings a wealth of sciencerelated experience to the newly created role to support Topline Farms’ aggressive growth strategy. Most recently, Dr. Taylor was the executive director, stewardship & sustainability & executive director, Agrichemical Warehousing Standards Association (AWSA) for CropLife Canada. Taylor holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Alberta and an MBA from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business.
Condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Helen Fisher, 77, a legend in the grape industry for her prodigious research in the Niagara, Ontario region. She had a front row seat on the transition of the Ontario grape industry from labrusca to vinifera grapes in the 1980s. She released two grape varieties: Vanessa, a semi-seedless table grape, and Vivant, a white wine grape. Grape Growers of Ontario 2025 Award of Merit was awarded to her posthumously. She passed March 23 from cancer.
Justine Taylor
Steve Bamford
Wind’s up and the weather is rising for Canadian apple growers
Canada's Exports of Fresh Apples –by Country
Canada's Exports of Fresh Apples –by Province
Continued from page 1
The Ontario apple industry has rationalized dramatically over the last 30 years. A sector comprised of 300 growers on 30,000 acres has downsized to 200 growers on 15,000 acres, at best. Adding valuable context, Hedges goes on to say, “We are currently harvesting the very best fruit and delivering top-notch product to consumers.”
Historically, Ontario has not exported apples to the U.S. in great quantities. By contrast, the Maritimes has used a combination of a favourable currency exchange and seasonal timing to build a market for its Honeycrisp variety with a stable base of American customers. David Parrish, CEO, Scotian Gold Cooperative, Coldbrook, Nova Scotia, explains that the Annapolis Valley’s unique climate has allowed 50 family-owned operations to produce a high-quality Honeycrisp apple valued by U.S. clients to fill end-of-season demand.
“The cooperative handles 60 per cent of the apples grown in Atlantic Canada,” says Parrish. “That includes Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, which supplies the biggest portion.” Scotian Gold apples being sold into the United States are trucked across various border crossings.
“Most of our apples are destined to the major Canadian retailers, although we also export a bit to the Caribbean and southeast Asia through the ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.
“At our Coldbrook facilities, we have the storage and pre-sorting systems to make this happen,” says Parrish, admitting the cooperative felt the sting of U.S. tariffs for the three days in early March 2025.
Okanagan-based Gord Morrison, senior director of sales, Consolidated Fruit Packers (CFP) a division of Star Produce Ltd., shares that domestic demand for BCgrown apples and pears has drastically increased across western Canada since the
launch of the trade war.
“We’ve been able to sell out our Ambrosia crop nearly two months earlier than previously planned,” says Morrison, based in Kelowna, BC. “We have a lot of great growers in the Okanagan who produce exceptional quality.”
Other BC apple varieties marketed by CFP include Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Granny Smith and Pink Lady. Looking ahead to the summer season, Morrison says, “BC growers anticipate a good crop of BC cherries and stone fruits. We’re feeling optimistic that increased demand from Canadian retailers will continue through the summer fruits and into next apple season. We think there will be a lasting effect of Canadian retailers looking for Canadian product.”
Back in Ontario, Kirk Kemp, president, Algoma Orchards at Newcastle, is realistic about the risks and opportunities ahead. He has 1,500 acres of apples, 70 per cent of which are in Ambrosia, Gala, and Honeycrisp varieties. He notes that overall,
consumption has been down in apples due to so many other fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, that are available year-round. Global competition is fierce in the fruit category, and at $2 to $3 per pound, apples aren’t the bargain they once were.
That said, in key Canadian applegrowing regions, over the last decade, growers have invested in consumerpleasing varieties, high-density orchards and the management skills to harvest and store. Canada’s apple growers are positioned to meet the moment.
Of course, none of this is either surprising or good news to Washington State apple growers facing the double whammy of Canadian consumer resistance to U.S.-grown produce and widespread foreign market pushback on U.S. tariffs.
The U.S. Apple Association’s website states “Maintaining competitiveness through international trade is a top policy priority for the U.S. Apple Association and its members. While not all growers export, everyone’s revenue is impacted by exports, so trade is critical to the healthy future of the entire industry. Historically, about onethird of the apple crop has been destined for export with a value of about $1 billion annually.”
Commenting on American apple exports, Chris Hedges observes that Washington State growers have invested heavily in a state-bred apple called Cosmic Crisp. It’s a cross between Enterprise and Honeycrisp. With 12,000 acres planted and expectations of 21 million boxes by 2026, U.S. growers are promoting it heavily, including in Canada. Witness the expensive outdoor superboard along a major freeway in Montreal during Fresh Week, the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. But perhaps big budgets are no longer enough.
“This is a wake-up call for Canada,” says Kemp. “We can be a force to be reckoned with and we need to unleash our potential. I’m 66 years old and I’m fired up about the opportunity.” So, will Canadian consumers find the new Cosmic Crisp out of this world? Or just not find it on the shelf.
The Grower is “Digging Deeper” with Chris Hedges, apple grower and chair of Ontario Apple Growers near Vanessa, ON. Thanks to the sharpened demand of Canadian retailers for domestically grown apples, he’s optimistic for the 2025 crop. The transition to high-density apples in the last decade will pay off this year as trees mature to heavier volumes with excellent quality. This podcast is sponsored by Cohort Wholesale.
Kirk Kemp, Algoma Orchards, Newcastle, Ontario.
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
David Parrish, CEO, Scotian Gold Cooperative, Coldbrook, Nova Scotia.
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Considering variable rate spray technology
TOM WALKER
Penticton BC- As farmers look to adopt new technologies to increase efficiencies, it is natural that they would consider improving their spray systems with variable rate capability. When Dr. Michael Reinke, viticulture specialist at Michigan State University spoke about “Advanced Spray Systems for Fruit Crops” at the Southern Interior Horticulture Show in Penticton BC February 12, he had one caution. “When we are talking about new technologies in sprayers, we have to ask why we are trying to implement these. What are we trying to do?
It turns out that after careful consideration of that question, the best solution for your farm may already be in your equipment shed and might just need some add-ons.
A lot of times growers are seeking labour and time savings, as well as increased worker safety and increased precision when they look to upgrade their spray systems, Reinke says. But it’s not
ALBERTA
a one size fits all. “It depends on which technology you are interested in and which savings you are trying to provide.”
If you park a shiny new GUSS (Global Unmanned Spray System) from John Deere next to a conventional air blast unit, you might think that GUSS can do a better job. But if that air blast is fitted with canopy detection technology, it can perform many of the same variable rate functions as a GUSS, for a lot less cost.
Canopy detection technology is the key to the variable rate sprayer. It provides the machine with data on what and when to spray and adjusts which nozzles to turn on and off and when. It can be fairly low tech, using sonic-based radar, or it can be equipped with the latest LiDAR 3d mapping technology that can consider not only the presence or absence of canopy, but also the canopy density and can adjust individual nozzle activation time.
Generally, this technology is “sprayer agnostic,” Reinke explains. “You don’t have to buy a brand new sprayer that has this
built in,” he says. “A lot of times these variable rate capabilities are a kit that can be added on to the sprayer that you already have.”
Intelligent sprayers are generally looked at as a way to reduce pesticide and water use. They may also be able to improve productivity by increasing machine speed and allowing the operator to spend less time travelling back and forth to the spray shed.
There is also the potential for reduced drift. “‘You can reduce the off-target movement of droplets from these sprayers because they are only spraying when they identify canopy, so you don’t have to worry about spraying in between,” Reinke notes.
Reinke shared data comparing spray coverage in a young cherry orchard with a traditional air blast sprayer, an air blast sprayer outfitted with a “Sonic Spray” kit and one outfitted with “Smart Apply” a LiDAR based system.
“All three systems reached fairly decent coverage,” Reinke says “But providing the intelligent application really reduced off-
Potato Growers of Alberta release video series
The Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) have launched a highly anticipated video series called: “The Story of Us: Alberta Potato Growers.” Five potato farmers
across the province have been filmed. The first series is “The Seed: Where It All Begins.” Also to be included is a water video explaining why this
precious resource is so important for the success of the potato industry in Alberta and how the most advanced irrigation systems in the world are being utilized.
target movement and saved water.”
Indeed, for a given surface area, the regular air blast used 114 liters of water, while Sonic Spray dropped that to 19 liters and the Smart Apply used only 10 liters.
Autonomous sprayers can combine the benefits of smart spray technology with the independence of a self-driving vehicle. GUSS sprayers are being used in the US, particularly in almond orchards and the European manufactured AgXeed fitted with HSS spray technology is being tested in eastern Canada. “You put them where they need to go and you let them focus. They don’t stop for a break,” notes Reinke.
In addition to regular spray applications, autonomous units are useful for select applications such as part of a row, a hard to reach corner, or even the border of a block.
The improved precision of intelligent sprayers does present prompt a discusion when growers are looking to follow product labels and may need to be
clarified by PMRA. “When a product is rated at a certain liters per hectare and you are capable of provided the same coverage with only half the recommendation on the label, are you technically off label?” Reinke asks.
Calibration of an intelligent sprayer ensures that it is working to the peak of it’s design, but that can present challenges Reinke says. “That’s one of the biggest complaints I have heard from some growers is getting frustrated with the calibration.”
In the end, you have to pick the technology that works for you and your farm. “Be honest with yourself if you are considering upgrading so that you are picking the right technology,” Reinke reiterates. “An autonomous sprayer may look flashy, but maybe adding variable rate capabilities to your existing sprayer may make more sense for your operation.”
Tom Walker is a freelance agricultural journalist based in Kelowna, BC.
The Potato Growers of Alberta, a not-for-profit organization, operates on behalf of all the licensed potato producers across the province. It is the voice of growers of processing, seed and table potatoes, advocating for the best interests and successes of their operations.
In 2024, the Board of Directors underwent a new strategic planning session. Two of the set goals were to proactively build and maintain public awareness and trust in Alberta’s potato industry and to cultivate and enhance trust through collaborative and transparent engagement.
With these goals in mind, the PGA created a series of videos that invites the public into the
lives of some of the families producing seed, processing and table potatoes. These short vignettes bring awareness on the background and history, technology and advancements, community and many challenges they face throughout the year to produce safe, healthy food on sustainable land for the next generation.
View here: youtu.be/UUfeCmwQMIw
For more information, contact Terence Hochstein, PGA executive director at terence@albertapotatoes.ca or 403.382.8382.
Source: Potato Growers of Alberta March 21, 2025 news release
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST
QUÉBEC
FMS Fresh Produce becomes Québec’s largest carrot producer
FMS Fresh Produce is taking a major leap forward with a $25 million investment that will make it the first producer in Quebec to process and package locally grown baby carrots.
Baby carrots account for 39% of fixed-weight carrot sales in Canada, representing a $377 million market annually. Yet, until now, in Quebec, they had been entirely imported. Despite their popularity among consumers, producing them locally requires substantial investments in infrastructure, as well as precise management of growing conditions, soil, and climate.
At the helm of the family business since 2016, brothers Marc-Olivier and Steven Daigneault are unafraid to take on a market dominated by American giants, with a clear goal
Verdant Technologies partners
Verdant Technologies, a leader in postharvest innovation, is partnering with Gaétan Bono Fruits et Légumes, a respected wholesaler of fresh produce based in Montréal. The collaboration marks another key milestone in Verdant’s expanding iceless broccoli offering, leveraging its flagship postharvest solution, HarvestHold Fresh.
For wholesalers like Bono, the shift to iceless shipping brings a host of operational benefits. Without melting ice, there’s less moisture accumulation on warehouse floors, helping create a drier, safer environment for employees and equipment.
HarvestHold Fresh also helps Bono further elevate the quality of its broccoli, with the added benefit of extended shelf life. Early feedback from retail partners has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of HarvestHold Fresh across the supply chain.
“HarvestHold Fresh was straightforward to integrate into our program and immediately brought improvements to how we handle product day to day,” said Francis Carruthers, food safety director at Gaétan Bono Fruits et Légumes. “The ability to move away from ice has created a cleaner, drier environment in our facility, which supports both employee safety and more efficient.
in mind: making Quebec a key player in baby carrot production. They firmly believe that growing baby carrots locally is not only possible but essential for the future of Quebec’s agricultural industry.
Beyond giving Quebecers the chance to enjoy homegrown baby carrots, this initiative significantly reduces the distance these vegetables travel before reaching grocery stores. This approach aligns with efforts to minimize the agri-food sector’s carbon footprint while offering consumers a fresher product.
Additionally, with waterefficient equipment and responsible resource management, the company plans to repurpose rejected carrots, providing a solution that is both economical and environmentally
friendly. For the Daigneault brothers, local production is part of a long-term vision—meeting growing market demand while protecting the environment and strengthening the competitiveness of Quebec’s agriculture sector.
“This project is so much more than just producing baby carrots. It’s about building a sustainable business model for the future of our industry while honouring our commitments to the environment and our community,” explained Marc-Olivier and Steven Daigneault.
This nearly $25 million project is coming to life with the support of key local partners. Desjardins, which is providing over $17 million in financing, part of which is guaranteed by Export Development Canada (EDC) and a $5 million investment from
Investissement Québec. These investments will enable the construction of a new 70,000square-foot carrot packaging and processing plant in Sherrington, set to begin operations in summer 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will allow FMS Fresh Produce to expand its production capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
The first bags of baby carrots will
FMS Fresh Produce April 10, 2025 news release
hit grocery stores this summer— an exciting milestone that signals the start of a new era for local agriculture.
Source:
GROWER
Windset Farms showcases innovation and growth
Windset Farms showcased its latest sustainable growing and fresh produce advancements at the recent CPMA trade show in Montreal. From expanding its Delta, BC greenhouse facility to launching an innovative lineup of new products, Windset remains committed to delivering high-quality, flavourful produce to consumers year-round.
Founded in 1996 by brothers John and Steven Newell, Windset Farms recently added LED lighting powered by renewable hydro-electric power to 48 acres of its Delta greenhouse facility, enabling local, year-round production of tomatoes and cucumbers.
This investment ensures Canadian consumers have access to fresh, highquality produce while reducing food miles. To make it easier for consumers to choose local, Windset introduced a “Proudly Grown in Canada” logo on all its BCgrown products.
Beyond expansion, Windset is focused on bringing innovative new products to
market. At CPMA 2025, the company unveiled several exciting additions to its lineup, combining sustainability, convenience, and exceptional flavour.
• LIVING LETTUCE: A fresh take on leafy greens, this greenhouse-grown lineup features four flavourful varieties: JAZZ Green Leaf, INDIE Red Leaf, COUNTRY Burger Lettuce, and CLASSIC Butter. They are packed in recyclable paper sleeves
• Greenhouse PARTY TRAY Dip has joined the party: Combining convenience and flavour, Windset’s Greenhouse PARTY TRAY is now available with a shelf stable, creamy homestyle ranch dip.
• ON THE VINE Tomato Line: This vibrant family of exclusive flavours includes BRAVO grape tomatoes, AMORE sweet plum tomatoes, and CAMEO cherry tomatoes in red, gold, and tri-colour options.
Source: Windset Farms April 8, 2025 news release
Topline Farms seizes trend in roma tomatoes
Topline Farms is bringing the Roma Revolution to the CPMA Convention & Trade Show in Montreal from April 8-10, 2025. Dino Di Laudo, senior vicepresident of sales & marketing,
Topline Farms, is eager to demonstrate how the farm’s Roma tomatoes can help retailers
boost sales and strengthen customer loyalty.
“Reliability is key to building trust with consumers,” says Di Laudo. “For decades, we’ve delivered consistent quality by controlling every step of the process—from seed to delivery. This ensures Canadian retailers have access to homegrown Romas year-round, satisfying consumers’ cravings no matter the season.”
Roma tomatoes are currently enjoying a surge in popularity.
According to The Packer - Fresh Trends 2024, they are the preferred tomato variety for 45 per cent of consumers.
“The Roma category is thriving,” says Max Mastronardi, executive vice-president. “To meet demand, we’ve introduced convenient pack sizes, including
our new 1lb top-seal format. These options make it easy for Canadians to enjoy their favourite ingredient, grown right here at home. Plus, thanks to our cutting-edge greenhouse technology, our Romas taste just as delicious in January as they do in July.”
Topline Farms is rapidly expanding its acreage, becoming one of North America’s largest lit crop Roma growers. By using Lit Culture technology, which supplements natural sunlight, they achieve consistent yields, superior quality, and a more sustainable operation, overcoming the challenges of shorter days and colder temperatures.
Source: Topline Farms March 26, 2025 news release
GREENHOUSE GROWER
Researchers focus on LED lighting for greenhouse-grown strawberries
A research scientist at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has been awarded a $540,000 grant to study how the innovative use of LED lighting could boost greenhouse strawberry production.
“Due to climate change and extreme weather, growers are increasingly looking at indoor production,” says Dr. Li Ma, researcher at KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH). “LED technology has made significant strides in recent years, allowing us to tailor the lighting spectrum and intensity to meet the specific needs of crops throughout their growth cycle. This leads to healthier, fresher and better-quality fruit.”
The project, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Mitacs, will enable the researchers to focus on the need for precise light management. As Ma explains, each strawberry variety has a different response to light, and controlling the spectrum of light can influence the plant’s health, growth, and resistance to pests.
“By using LED lighting systems that adapt to the plant’s needs, we can optimize growth and production while minimizing energy consumption,” says Ma, emphasizing that this new technology is expected to reduce maintenance costs by 75 per cent and energy costs by 40 per cent. “The goal is to make strawberry farming more sustainable and less reliant
on imported products — reducing carbon emissions and enhancing our local food security.”
The three-year project involves collaboration with industry partners such as Sollum Technologies, a Montreal-based company that is contributing financial and in-kind support with their cutting-edge dynamic LED lighting systems. Another industry partner, Star Produce, is providing expert insights on indoor strawberry production, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and greenhouse applications.
“This project is a collaborative effort between academia and industry,” explains Ma. “We are working together to ensure that the future of strawberry production in Canada is sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly.”
A key component of this initiative is its focus on personnel training and student involvement. Jean-Mornay du Plessis, a student in the Diploma in Horticulture Technology program at KPU, performs weekly scouting for pests and checks drip and drain measurements, ensuring the plants are well-hydrated.
“There are incredible facilities and equipment at the ISH,” says du Plessis. “I’m here to get more experimental, hands-on research experience because I plan to pursue a master’s degree.”
Olivia Puszka, a fourth-year KPU student in the Bachelor of Horticulture
Science, Major in Plant Healthprogram, has spent two years working with soil microorganisms and plants in different environments.
“Since we have many varieties of strawberries, we can observe which ones are more vulnerable to disease and pests,” says Puszka. “I’m actually seeing subjects that I learned in my KPU classes applied to the variables of the plant itself. For me, that has been the coolest part of this experience so far.”
Backyard Farms’ lettuce wins packaging award
Mastronardi Produce, pioneers in the greenhouse industry, continue pushing the boundaries of packaging innovation and design, taking home the coveted Packaging Innovation Award for its new paper lettuce bag at the 2025 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Tradeshow.
Ma says that the lighting recipes developed in this project can also be applied to the Homegrown Innovation Challenge — a six-year, $33-million competition aimed at extending the growing season of berries in Canada, potentially setting the stage for a new era of indoor farming that will provide fresh, locally grown berries year-round.
Source: Kwantlen Polytechnic University March 18, 2025 news release
The new resealable lettuce bag helps keep leafy greens crisp, fresh and delicious with a 65 per cent reduction in plastic compared to a traditional PET tray. “Consumers are looking for alternatives to conventional plastic packaging,” said Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO. “This award speaks to Mastronardi’s continued
leadership in the industry to meet consumer demands.”
The new packaging will be launching soon on Mastronardi’s Backyard Farms brand. Backyard Farms fresh leafy greens are greenhouse-grown and perfect in sandwiches, wraps, burgers, or salads.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University research team L-R: Jean-Mornay du Plessis, Dr. Li Ma, Olivia Puszka, Sarah Murria and Aria Tamanaei.
GREENHOUSE GROWER
New RootzoneLab established at Wageningen University
The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) RootzoneLab has unique facilities for testing new materials, products and technologies for application in the plant rootzone of horticultural production systems.
“We have a number of services that we offer as standard, such as the LightLab in Wageningen and a product quality lab in Bleiswijk,” explains Jim van Ruijven, team leader for Rootzone dynamics and a researcher in water technology in greenhouse horticulture.”
“A year and a half ago, we
looked at the protocols for growing media and water treatment that we already applied for customers and how we could bundle them. From that, the RootzoneLab was born.”
This facility allows companies from different sectors - from water treatment to growth media and fertilizer suppliers - to have their products tested independently. “Previously, it was difficult for companies to find us if they didn’t know we did this. Now it is a lot easier, even for companies outside the sector,” said van Ruijven.
Growing media, biostimulants and water treatment technologies are examples of products and technologies that can be investigated. Measurements are completely independent and objective, customers are provided with a measurement report with detailed relevant characteristics. In addition, also products can be supplied with which customers can perform their own research.
The RootzoneLab is part of the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture. Complementary to the objective tests with products, it is possible to determine a pathway towards large-scale implementation in greenhouse cultivation systems together with Wageningen greenhouse experts.
The Greenhouse Horticulture unit of WUR provides a wide range of products and services to growers, consultants and suppliers. Here are two examples.
Growing media characterization
The societal urge to switch from peat to more sustainable alternatives for use as growing medium creates incentive to develop innovative new growing media. The properties of the
growing medium decides on how to manage the crop, especially for irrigation and fertigation. Plant roots need to find the optimal balance of water and air in the rootzone. Ideally, a growing medium is also biologically stable and maintains its original properties over the full cultivation cycle. For growers to be able to use a material as growing medium, the agronomic properties need to be determined. Wageningen University & Research, Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture can perform scientific grade laboratory tests for your products to determine the following growing media properties:
• Water retention (pF curve)
• Water uptake rate
• Dry bulk density & lab bulk density
• Total pore space
• Organic matter content & mineral matter content
• pH buffer capacity
• Particle size distribution
• N-immobilization (biostability)
• Oxygen uptake rate (biostability)
• Cation exchange capacity (external analysis)
• pH, EC and element levels (external analysis)
For more information, contact: JPM (Jim) van Ruijven MSc
Removal of pesticides from greenhouse drain water
In conventional production of greenhouse vegetables and plants, some plant protection products may be used to fight pests and diseases, despite huge progress in biological control and resilient cultivation practices. These plant protection products could end up in drain water and are potentially discharged to the public sewer system. In order to prevent an environmental impact, greenhouse discharge water needs to be treated to remove plant protection products with approved technology, according to Dutch legislation. We offer a service to test water treatment equipment for removal of plant protection products according to the existing protocol, and report to the approval committee.
Source: Wageningen University and Research
Rootzone lab research. Photo courtesy of Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands.
Grape Growers of Ontario report 2024 farmgate value of almost $104 million
Editor’s note: This is a summary of the report by Matthias Oppenlaender, chair.
We kicked off the year with great optimism following the Government of Ontario’s December 2023 announcement allowing for the modernization of retailing beverage alcohol products across the province. These sweeping changes included opening more retail opportunities for Ontario VQA wine in grocery and convenience stores, enhancing the VQA support program for five years, and working with the LCBO to improve programs to promote
Ontario-grown wine.
The government also announced the Wine and Grape Industry Sector Table (WGIST) for our industry partners and government to build on specific actions to stimulate economic growth within this new retail marketplace.
In March 2024, we welcomed Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, and local MPs at Trius Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they announced a $177M extension to the Wine Sector Program. Additional funding of $5.9 million was also provided to the Canadian Certification Grape
Vine Network to advance research for the clean plant program.
The 2024 growing season produced an excellent vintage despite the weather variability. Growers persevered and produced an outstanding crop. Overall, we harvested 64,826 tonnes of grapes that boast a farm gate value of $103,803,502 million. This is something to be proud of regardless of all the challenges we faced in 2024.
Following a two-year price agreement of 2022 and 2023, negotiations were held in July 2024, which resulted in a 1.67% price increase for classes 5-10.
2024 farmgate value falls to $141 million for processing vegetables
partners to maximize industry competitiveness,” continues Robbins. “The grower resolution asked the OPVG to stress to both levels of government the need to not enact tariffs that make the industry less competitive, i.e. tariffs on cans used by Ontario processors when product coming into the country in cans does not face tariffs.”
The departure of a key researcher at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus in 2022, and the fact that this position remains unfilled, has had a major impact on the industry’s ability to fund primary research of value to growers. That research was focused on several topics of interest to the processing tomato industry and the ability to manage plant diseases in other processing crops. Industry competitiveness depends on research professionals able to conduct studies on industry priorities. Growers partner with processors to fund research projects but need access to researchers.
KAREN DAVIDSON
The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) report that 2024 farmgate value was $141 million, down precipitously from $162 million the previous year.
“This is a result of the decrease in crop prices, and in some instances, contracted volume reductions,” reports Keith Robbins, general manager, OPVG.
In 2024, growers took significant price reductions for peas (-15%), green and wax beans (-15.5%) and sweet corn (-17%).
Negotiations for the 2025 crop have concluded with year-overyear pricing changes, excluding some changes to terms and conditions.
The unstable business environment vis-à-vis the United States is having an effect depending on the situation. Robbins says that growers may be
looking at growing alternative crops. There may be a potential for future contract volume reductions or processor delays in securing contracts. There are shifts in bargaining power at the negotiation table. There is increased emphasis on local product and food safety. Expect import and export changes. And don’t forget the implications of exchange rates.
Several resolutions at the meeting addressed tariffs on cans and the need for a primary researcher at Ridgetown College for processing vegetables.
“We are concerned about any element that could negatively affect our growers and processor partners,” says Robbins. This includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on steel and aluminum and cans and the challenge of increasing input costs.
“While the exact impact of tariffs is not known, the OPVG wants to work with our processing
Juice grape negotiations were completed in August for classes 1, 2, and 3, resulting in a 1.67%
Forward guidance: from resiliency to transformation
In his annual State of the Industry Address in Montréal, Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) president Ron Lemaire called on the fresh produce industry to move from a mindset of resilience to one of proactive transformation amid global instability, trade disruptions and changing consumer demands.
Speaking at the sold-out CPMA 2025 Trade Show and Convention on April 9, Lemaire emphasized the need for unified advocacy, agile adaptation, and bold investment in innovation to ensure the continued strength of Canada’s fresh produce sector.
“We are no longer just reacting to chaos – we are shaping the future,” Lemaire said. “Our sector is one of the most dynamic in the world and we must lead with solutions, not fear.”
Lemaire highlighted a number of themes in his address including: Trade and tariffs
“Keep tariffs out of our business discussions and allow us to do what we do best – be competitive and innovative in one of the most dynamic markets in the world.”
Lemaire stressed the urgency
for the U.S. and Canadian governments to exempt fresh fruits and vegetables from any trade tariff discussions.
From resilience to transformation
“In 2024, our theme was resilience. In 2025, it’s transformation. The world is changing –our industry must too.”
Global turbulence and domestic opportunity
“Climate change, inflation and geopolitical unrest are not going away. But these aren’t just challenges – they are catalysts for innovation and leadership.”
“The Canadian produce sector is proving that it can lead globally by staying agile, sustainable and science-based.”
Empowering through the supply chain
“Ports, borders and logistics remain strained – but our shift to long-term planning will position us to thrive, not just survive.”
“The CPMA is working globally through the Fresh Produce Coalition to advocate for smarter, faster and safer trade flows.”
Top three influencers in 2025: Supply chain evolution
“We are moving from continuous crisis management to essential more structure to solutions and resilience planning within our supply chains.”
Sustainability
“We are redefining sustainability as a business driver, not just an environmental issue.”
Program updates for vegetables
Politics and economics
“With a federal election ahead in Canada, CPMA is ensuring all political parties understand the essential role of our industry. And the importance that produce is an essential driver to our economy and core to food security. Our job is to ensure the next government, no matter who they are, understands that food is national security.”
Successes in advocacy
“In 2024, CPMA advocacy helped pass Bill C-280, delivering long-overdue bankruptcy protection for producer sellers. That’s the power of industry working together.”
“We’ve made progress on forced labour policies, regulatory harmonization and trade engagement – real wins for Canadian agriculture.”
Food as essential policy
Affordable premiums that are cost-shared with governments
Customized coverage based on your risks and historical yields
Peace of mind in growing and investing in your farm business knowing you are covered from planting to harvesting
What’s new in 2025
• Potato farmers may be eligible for a cover-cropping discount.
• Tomato salvage coverage now covers Phytophthora capsici damage and has updated eligibility requirements for blossom end rot.
• The insurable values for other vegetables insured on an acreage-loss basis have been updated to re昀ect the current costs farmers are facing.
“Food must be defined as essential in national policy. We are an economic engine and a social necessity.”
Urgency for a unified voice
“We cannot let political theater define our future. Now is the moment for cross-sector collaboration and a united industry voice.”
Changing consumer dynamics
“Canadian consumers are increasingly avoiding U.S. produce due to trade tensions. Sixty-nine percent say they’ll continue this behaviour ‘as long as it takes.’ We must rebuild trust and brands. For our sector, an integrated North American market is vital.”
“The fact that Canadians are turning away from U.S. produce is alarming. We must be visible, communicative and transparent to protect our brands.”
Leadership and innovation
“CPMA continues to be the Solution Space for our sector. We are equipping our members with the tools to adapt, collaborate and lead. Together we will drive change and our global produce community will be the difference in mapping a new path to success for our sector.”
Industry call to action
“We must be active participants in shaping our future. Be vocal, be visible and stand united to protect and grow our integrated North American market.”
CANADIAN PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION
Scene at CPMA trade show
Jason Friesen (L) and Marlon Kuhl proudly display fingerling potatoes in the Peak of the Market booth. Southern Potato is one of the grower members located at Winkler, Manitoba.
Colin Chapdelaine, Whole Leaf Ltd. (Star Group) showcased greenhouse-grown lettuce from its facility in Coaldale, Alberta. Photos by Karen Davidson.
Michelle Rajotte and Louis-Marie Jutras have become leaders in leek production at Sainte-Brigitte-des-Saults, Québec. Their sliced and washed leeks, packaged under the Cultures de Chez Nous farm name, are ready to cook.
Tasteful Selections is a Nebraska-based company that’s marketing bite-sized potatoes. The mix of Honey Gold and Ruby Sensation varieties are marketed under the O Canada! Brand, paying homage to the Great White North.
OFVGA welcomes new ministers, continues grower advocacy
As I write this column, the Ontario government has returned to Queen’s Park following the winter re-election of Doug Ford and the appointment of the new provincial cabinet. There are many familiar faces around the cabinet table, but also a few important changes with direct relevance to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) and to fruit and vegetable growers.
First and foremost, we congratulate Trevor Jones on his appointment as Ontario’s new Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. As MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, he represents a riding where
agriculture – and horticulture in particular – is prominent in the local economy. He also served as Parliamentary Assistant to Lisa Thompson when she was Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs during the previous Ford government, so he is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities of our sector.
Jones will bring energy to agriculture that is needed during these uncertain times, building on the success of his predecessor in the portfolio, Rob Flack. Flack has become Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), but we are confident he will continue to support our sector’s needs at the Cabinet table. Additionally, his new role with MMAH will help OFVGA champion our work on behalf of growers on temporary and seasonal worker housing and municipal challenges.
Minister Jones is supported by two parliamentary assistants, Paul Vickers and Bill Rosenberg. Vickers is a newly elected MPP representing Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, a riding home to much of the Georgian Bay area apple industry. A dairy farmer, Vickers is a past chair of Gay Lea and a former vice president of the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Rosenberg, a retired businessman and former deputy mayor and mayor, is also a firstterm MPP, elected in the riding of Algoma Manitoulin.
Also relevant to fruit and vegetable growers is Ontario’s new Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy. He covered the maternity leave of the previous minister at MECP, Andrea Khanjin, so he’s no stranger to the portfolio.
OFVGA will be continuing its long-time work with MECP around Environmental Compliance Approvals for septic systems, which represent a considerable barrier to growers looking to build new worker housing.
So, what are the key issues OFVGA will be focusing on with the new government? We will continue to build on our provincial election priorities, which included:
• Establishing new policies for agricultural worker housing to address obstacles hindering the modernization of worker housing in Ontario, such as red tape around septic systems, lack of enabling policies and processes by
municipal governments, as well as advocating for a cost-share support program for growers building or upgrading their worker housing.
• Protecting and promoting fruit and vegetable production by modernizing the Foodland Ontario program, prioritizing ‘local first’ for public sector procurement of fruits and vegetables and promoting policy alignment and barrier-free trade with the United States.
• Supporting the growth and modernization of fruit and vegetable farms by investing in critical rural infrastructure such as natural gas, three-phase power and reliable internet and cellular networks; providing alternatives and exemptions for development charges, permitting fees and municipal stormwater taxes; and supporting farms financially and through policy as they invest in climate change adaptation. And finally, of course, the topic that looms large over everyone these days: tariffs and trade. This situation brings with it a level of uncertainty rarely seen in recent decades and although we don’t know what the next few months and even years will bring, we do know we need to be
prepared as best as possible.
OFVGA just recently met with Minister Jones and emphasized the need to be proactively prepared for the impacts that may come our way from the trade war. This includes advocacy with the federal government to help protect our food system and ways the province can support our industry. While some of these discussions are for increased funding to support programs, there are additional steps the province can take.
For example, we have long been urging all levels of government to apply an agri-food lens to policy and decision-making to help remove barriers and obstacles hindering the growth and profitability of our sector –and encouraging more collaboration between provincial ministries but also between provincial ministries and federal departments. We look forward to working closely with Minister Jones and his new cabinet colleagues as the trade and tariff situation continues to unfold.
Shawn Brenn is a potato grower and chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
Sandy Shore Farms has increased its labour productivity on 270 acres of asparagus near
Burwell, Ontario with single-person harvest carts.
asparagus arrives
Photo by Jeff Tribe.
SHAWN BRENN
Elbows up for homegrown food is not universal
U.S. President Donald Trump expected Canada to bend and break under the weight of his Make America Great Again tariffs. After all, the U.S., a global superpower, is our biggest trading partner, and David vs. Goliath scenarios were undeniable.
But so far, Canada is much stronger than expected. The backlash, distinguished by “elbows up” determination, quickly came to dominate the entire country’s landscape, with food and agriculture front and centre.
To varying degrees, agriculture and food journalists elsewhere, united across 62 countries as the 6,000-member
International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, report the American tariffs are having a rallying effect inside their borders, too.
But they also say Trump is not their biggest fish to fry.
Take Mexico, for example. There, journalist Alberto Ruiz who works with a multi-media company in Jalisco, says the farming and food sector worries that tariffs will force U.S.retail giants like Target to raise prices of Mexican produce. Avocados, tomatoes, vegetables, tequila and beer are among the commodities under the microscope.
But Mexico has long had an elbows-up mentality about the U.S. Mexico has a food culture that stretches back centuries, and it’s pushed hard against U.S. technology that it believes threatens that culture, such as GMO corn and high-fructose sugar products. Tariffs are just one more catalyst for food nationalism in Mexico.
That said, Ruiz reports that some renowned Mexican chefs are now championing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, collaborating with local farmers to preserve traditional farming practices and biodiversity. “It’s an
approach that not only sustains cultural heritage but also enhances the quality of Mexican cuisine,” he says.
In Brazil, agricultural journalist Daniel Azevedo, whose byline has appeared on the pages of The Grower, says unlike Canada, food sovereignty in Brazil is “a well-settled issue, given the strong development of agriculture over the past four decades.”
He says Brazil is more concerned about tariffs’ contribution to the increasing cost of food. Despite the country’s growing dominance on the world’s export stage for some commodities, poverty and food insecurity affect more than 27 per cent of Brazil’s 211 million people. Four per cent of its citizens go hungry daily.
“It’s a sad contradiction,” he says. “Even though we have a surplus of food, more than one-quarter of households experience some degree of concern or shortage of food. They’re hungry and poor. That’s what we’re focused on.”
Similarly, South African agricultural journalist Linda Botha says her country is also self-sufficient in food, so
supplanting imports with homegrown food hasn’t taken off. However, even though South Africa counts on the U.S. for just four per cent of its exports, they represent key industries such as wine, citrus, avocados, litchis and macadamia nuts. “They’ll struggle without access . . . many sectors within agriculture will no longer be feasible,” she says.
Like Canada, South Africa wants to find new trading markets. The question is where.
“There is a lot of talk about diversifying markets,” she says, “but with the EU already saturated, high tariffs in India (30%) and lots of competition in China, there are few places where you can go.”
Finally, in highly industrialized Germany, where homegrown fare is also a centuries-old tradition, agricultural editor Christine Stoecker-Gamigliano says that while tariffs make headlines there, they’re not prompting a local food revolution. Germans are more focused on their new government's handling of the weakening economy, foreign policy difficulties with Russia and the war in Ukraine.
“Food security doesn't play a role here,” she says. “Consumers
are more concerned about rising prices; farmers are worried about what rules will apply over the next four years. Trump is important, but rather secondary.”
Owen Roberts is a past-president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a communications instructor at the University of Illinois
OWEN ROBERTS
Brazilian journalist Daniel Azevedo
Improving consumer confidence in agri-food innovation
When it comes to Canada’s food system, how we talk about innovation matters just as much as the innovation itself. Between February 13 and 19, 2025, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) conducted an Omni Survey to better understand how Canadians feel about innovation in the food system. The results were clear: Canadians don’t want to hear buzzwords such as “cutting-edge” or “modernization.” They want to know how changes will affect their daily lives.
Here’s what CCFI learned:
• Excitement, with caution. While most Canadians are optimistic about innovation, about one in five consistently express concerns. These concerns often stem from uncertainty about how changes will impact their lives.
• Focus on outcomes, not change. When innovation is framed around tangible outcomes—such as food security, job creation, and a reliable food supply—concerns drop significantly. Canadians feel more confident when they see how progress aligns with the values
they associate with the food system: care, quality, and responsibility.
• Messaging matters. Enthusiasm declines when the focus is on change itself rather than the real-world benefits. Terms such as “innovation” and “cutting-edge” don’t resonate as strongly as messages that directly address affordability, confidence, and security. Canadians want to know how changes will make their lives better, not just that change is happening.
Ontario garlic growers to host field day
June
Excitement about Canada’s food industry
The key takeaway is simple: Canadians care less about the what of innovation and more about the how and why. How will it create more jobs and opportunities in the food sector? Why will it help us produce more
with fewer resources? How does it benefit the environment and contribute to a sustainable future? Shift the conversation to focus on real-world benefits—such as job growth, resource efficiency, and environmental impact -- to build greater trust and excitement for the future of Canada’s food system.
COMING EVENTS 2025
May 6-8 International Potato Symposium, Rimini, Italy
May 11 Garlic Workshop, Guelph, ON
May 12 International Day of Plant Health
May 30 International Day of the Potato
June 7 Garlic Growers’ Association of Ontario Field Day, Furmanek Farms, Arthur, ON
June 10-12 GreenTech Conference, Amsterdam
June 14 Farm & Food Care’s Breakfast on the Farm, Hoenhorst Farms, Innerkip, ON
June 18 3rd Annual Ontario Potato Board Industry Social Golf Tournament, Hockley Valley Resort, Mono, ON
July 16-18 Potato Sustainability Alliance Summer Symposium, Charlottetown, PE
July 20-23 International Fruit Tree Association Summer Tour, Ontario
July 24 Gaia Consulting Field Day, Southridge Farm, Southport, MB
July 2025 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, Winnipeg, MB
Aug 6 Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association Summer Orchard Tour, eastern end of Annapolis Valley, NS
Aug 12-13 North American Strawberry Growers’ Association Summer Tour, Nova Scotia
Aug 13-15 US Apple Outlook, Chicago, IL
manufacturers will be on display, along with products from fertilizer and pest control product suppliers. The agenda includes a tour of a new garlic curing and storage facility along with a field tour of a cultivar and clean seed comparison trial.
Registration starts at 8:30 am and the agenda starts at 9:00 am and goes until 4:00 pm. Lunch will be provided. Furmanek Farms is located at 8818 Wellington Road, Arthur, Ontario, and all are welcome to join, rain or shine. For more information about the field day, go to: www.garlicgrowersofontario.com or E-mail garlicgrowersof ontario@gmail.com.
Sept 18-20 Canadian Farm Writers Federation annual meeting, Winnipeg, MB
Sept 24 Ontario Produce Marketing Association Golf Tournament, Lionhead Golf and Country Club, Brampton, ON
Oct 8-9 Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Niagara Falls, ON
Oct 16-18 Global Produce & Floral Show, Anaheim, CA
Oct 28-29 Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Public Trust Symposium, Westin Toronto Airport Hotel, Toronto, ON
Nov 7-16 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON
Nov 18-20 Potato Growers of Alberta Annual General Meeting, Red Deer, AB
Nov 27-30 Outstanding Young Farmers National Event, Toronto, ON
2026
January 6-8 Potato Expo, Dallas, Texas
The Garlic Growers Association of Ontario is hosting the 2025 field day on Saturday,
7th at Furmanek Farms near Arthur, Ontario. Equipment from multiple
RETAIL NAVIGATOR
Re-visit your plan for the 2025 season
During my time in this industry, I have never experienced a consumer shift in buying preferences as swift and dramatic as the one we see today. Consumers are comparing notes with each other in stores as they peer at country-of-origin labels. And they are active online.
Retailers have had a lot of challenges in the first quarter of 2025. They have changed a lot of sourcing to new markets, pivoting away from traditional U.S. markets because consumers’ buying decisions are influenced by the messages from Washington. They have had their hands full, so they might not have had time to review plans for the local season.
Pivots in the marketplace
For suppliers, the big question is: are your plans for 2025 still relevant for your customers? You should confirm that the volumes, timing, package sizes and other factors are still right for the current environment. It is possible you cannot change many of these. That is important for your customer to know too. They
do not always have an appreciation for your challenges to ‘find more’ or ‘dial back’ volume.
Since the last growing season in Canada a lot has changed. Consumers have voted at the cash register and sent a message to retailers they do not want to support products produced in the U.S. When you visit the stores, you see citrus from South Africa, berries from Morocco and longstem garlic from Egypt. This can result in different packages or sizes in categories.
As we get into the berry season, retailers will be anxious to get Canadian product into their stores. In your discussions with customers, try to understand their perspective on volume. If they have been selling strawberries from the U.S. and consumer demand is down, will they be looking for more local berries this year? Canadian consumers will be more interested in local than ever. Locally-grown berries taste better.
Consumers are sending a message that the perceived reputation for U.S.-based retailers is dropping. As reported in the April issue of Canadian Grocer, in the Reputation 2025 survey released by Leger, Costco was the top-ranked retailer with 79 per cent reporting that consumers have a good opinion of Costco while only 5 per cent gave a bad rating. The rest said they didn’t know enough—or anything at all—about the company. Costco’s overall score of 74 was top among retailers.
Since the start of 2025, the political environment has impacted reputation. Given the turmoil in the market, Leger went back to consumers in March and
shared startling results in its article: Costco leads in reputation, but tariffs beginning to sour Canadian’s stance on U.S. retailers.
Costco has dropped by 11 points and Walmart has dropped 19 points. Whether consumers vote with their wallet will be determined. Suppliers do need to understand if volume is shifting from one retailer to another as consumer sentiment changes.
Be a resource for your customers
There continues to be a lot of volatility in the regulations whether it’s tariffs imposed by U.S. or counter- tariffs imposed by Canada. Do your best to remain up-to-date and learn from industry associations, your suppliers and anyone else you can. Share this information with your customers so they understand. Most category managers are responsible for multiple SKUs so any time you can help them with information you will improve your relationships.
Watch input costs carefully
In some categories, we are starting to see the impact of tariffs and counter tariffs on retail pricing. This can be directly related to the product or in packaging, ingredients or other inputs. Keep your customers informed about the changes you anticipate and the impact on your costs. After the period of food inflation we have endured, nobody wants to see higher prices again.
Unfortunately, it is happening and will continue. A lot of
packaging originates in China and moves through the U.S. With the escalations in tariffs between these two countries, there is a good chance your packaging could increase if you do not have it in your possession. Provide your customer with as much information as you can to ensure you get a fair price for your products.
Smooth transitions
This year is probably more important than ever to know when your crop will be ready, given the changes your customers have put in place.
The supply chain for packaging is one area to stay close to. Given the volatility of tariffs, many people are leery of ordering too much or perhaps waiting and the costs continue to increase. If you do not have your packaging in your facility, make sure your suppliers have it on the way or in their possession. A great product ready for the customer, with no packaging is a bad spot to be. You will enhance your relationship with your customers if you can have a good transition to local products.
Decide what is flexible
Prior to checking in with your customers, review what you really can change and what is not flexible. For example, if seed is ordered and there is no more or you have already planted, you do not have many options. If you had exported to the U.S. in the past and the tariffs are impacting you, there might be some extra volume you need to move. In the past consumers have said they want more Canadian products. It was always a challenge to prove these opinions influenced their decision at the shelf. Now we really do see Canadian products being selected in place of similar products from the U.S. This should continue into the local produce season which could result in more demand for Canadian products.
Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la Cart-a suppliers’ guide to retailer’s priorities. Peter is based in Halifax, N.S. where he is the principal at SKUFood. Peter works with producers and processors to help them get their products on the shelf and into the shopping cart.
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PETER CHAPMAN
Long-stem garlic from Egypt
FOCUS: IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT
A timely review of Ontario’s water-taking permits
By Ontario law, you must have a permit if you plan to take 50,000+ litres of water in a day from the environment. This includes: a lake, stream, river, pond, groundwater.
Ontario’s Permit to Take Water program ensures water takings in Ontario are managed to the standards of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.
All updates are available at: www.ontario.ca/page/ permits-take-water
According to Ali Alaawad, engineer, water quantity for Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, a list of potential consultants can be found here: data.ontario.ca/dataset/ irrigation-equipment-suppliersand-consultants-inontario/resource/72b9deeb-abe04fff-9d24-7fec1c3a9c01
“The newly updated PTTW intake system is very streamlined, and the application process is much faster than before,” says Alaawad.
Review the process
Ontario regulates new or increased transfers of water between Great Lake watersheds. Permits will not be issued for activities that would negatively affect existing users, the environment or remove water from a watershed that already has a high level of use. Exceptions exist. You don’t need a permit if you take less than 50,000 litres of water day, or take water for
livestock, wetland conservation or receive water supplied by someone with a valid permit.
Proposals for water taking are classified according to their anticipated risk to the environment. There are three categories of permits:
• Category 1: water takings are anticipated to have a lower risk of causing an unacceptable environmental impact/interference
• Category 2: water takings are anticipated to having a higher potential of causing unacceptable environmental impact or interference
• Category 3: water takings are anticipated to have the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impactor interference
If your application is to propose water taking from more than one source (e.g., a well or a creek) or for more than one purpose (e.g., irrigation, food processing), you must classify your water taking activities to reflect the overall total taking amount and the most sensitive source.
How to apply for a permit
Before you apply for a permit, you need to:
1. Read the guide to the permit to take water application.
2. Review the guide to scientific study (hydrogeological or hydroecological) for category 3 applications.
3. Review the guide to surface water studies for category 3 (and 2) applications.
4. Create a map of your water
taking location.
5. Create a My Ontario Account and ministry account. Learn more about setting up your My Ontario and ministry accounts.
Once you are logged into your ministry account, you can:
• start your application by entering your permit information
• attach your supporting documents
• make your payment
• submit your application
• track your application progress
If you have questions, you can contact the Client Services and Permissions Branch.
Other ways to apply
My Ontario Account provides 24/7 access to your ministry account. If you are experiencing
technical difficulties, you are encouraged to contact the Client Services and Permissions Branch (CSPB) for assistance.
If you cannot submit using your ministry account, you can also submit your permit by email.
To submit your application, send an email to PTTW.Submission @ontario.ca with the following attachments:
1. A complete permit to take water application form.
2. Copies of all required supporting documents.
You will receive a confirmation email with the reference number for your application.
Do not submit payment information in your email. Learn more about payment methods for PTTW applications.
Application fees
For each category, there are different application fees to process, review and issue a permit:
• Category 1: $750
• Category 2: $750
• Category 3: $3,000
You can pay for your PTTW application online using your ministry account.
If you submit your application by email and payment is required, you can pay through the application form by selecting pay online.
If you are paying using a certified cheque or money order, follow the directions on the payment page of the form.
If payment is not received, it may delay the review of your application.
Fee exemptions
You don’t have to pay a fee, if you take water for:
• irrigation and frost protection for agriculture, including:
o vegetable crops
o fruit orchards
o flowers
o nurseries
o tree and sod farms
o tender fruit
• aquaculture (fish farming) The agriculture exemption does not apply to:
• agribusiness
• food processing operations o including vegetable and fruit canning, processing and pickling
Renew a permit
You should renew your permit at least 90 days prior to the expiry date of your permit.
• To renew a permit for the same water taking activities, you must complete a Category 1 application.
• If you will be increasing your previously permitted water taking, you must complete a Category 2 or 3 application, depending on the changes involved.
Update permit
You need to report any change of address or other updated information to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks within 30 days of any such change. Updates to your permit should be reported to the ministry using your ministry account accessed through My Ontario Account.
If you are reporting any change of ownership of the property to which a permit applies the person taking over the property must also include with their application:
• a signed letter from the previous Permit Holder confirming cancellation of previous permit
• a letter from the applicant explaining that the application is for a change in person or organization responsible for water taking
• proof of legal name of the applicant (if applicable)
• a copy of the old Permit to Take Water
FOCUS: IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT
Initial water allotments vary in southern Alberta
KAREN DAVIDSON
Southern Alberta is home to the most intensely irrigated land in all of Canada. Potatoes are one of more than 40 specialty crops grown in the area. The St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) is a bellwether of grower needs straddling geography from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat.
About 70 per cent of Alberta’s processing spuds are grown in this district. Also worth watching are the irrigation districts of Lethbridge North and Bow River.
The initial water allocation has been set at 12 inches per acre at the farmgate for the 2025 irrigation season, according to SMRID. Last year’s initial allotment started at eight inches, so this number appears generous given that there’s little snowpack in the mountains. Ideally, potato growers would need 16 inches to grow an optimal crop.
“With the recent dry and windy conditions, our teams are working hard to accelerate the timeline for startup and crews are preparing for the upcoming irrigation season,” reports general manager, David Westwood, St Mary River Irrigation District. “We anticipate that water will be available to many parts of the district by May 2, and across the
district through the week of May 5, weather permitting and the commissioning of new pipelines.”
Water allocations are based on the most recent irrigation water supply forecasts supplied by Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation. The numbers for end of April 2025 will be closely watched.
“We need more moisture in the May-June period, otherwise it’s going to be a long summer,” says Terence Hochstein, executive director, Potato Growers of Alberta. “We have been in drought for several years now.”
The annual general meeting
British Columbia growers may face droughty conditions
On April 1, the BC River Forecast Centre released its most up-todate data, reporting that the provincial snowpack is below normal, averaging 79% of normal. The figures increased from 73% on March 1.
The good news is that the snowpack is higher than April 1, 2024, when the BC average was 63% of normal. The Fraser River at Hope snow index is below normal at 79%. By April 1, about 96% of the seasonal snowpack has typically accumulated.
Below normal spring freshet hazard is expected due to the low snowpack. There are pockets of stations with slightly above normal snow levels in the southern sections of the Okanagan, Boundary and West Kootenay. These regions have a slight increased freshet flood hazard.
Low snowpack and seasonal runoff forecasts combined with warm seasonal weather forecasts and lingering impacts from on-going drought are pointing towards elevated drought hazards for the upcoming spring and summer. This forecast is based on data from 104 manual snow courses and 112 automated snow weather stations around British Columbia.
Source: Canadian Drought Monitor, March 2025.
districts. The 2025 initial water allocation per irrigation acre for LNID is 14 inches.
The Bow River Irrigation District (BRID) will announce its allocation after its April 23 board meeting. Richard Phillips, general manager, BRID, expects a normal allocation of 18 inches.
reports of the Lethbridge North Irrigation District (LNID) and Bow River Irrigation District reveal the practical stresses on the water system. Fortunately, dialogue has resulted in watersharing agreements between
In total, there are 11 members of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA). The current concern is that the Alberta Environment and Protected Areas ministry has opened a review of water availability that includes possible changes to the Water Act. This could result in amendments affecting water
licences for irrigation districts.
A recent AIDA report states its major concern: Reductions in water licence allocations to irrigation districts will result in increased water availability shortages to irrigators in average water years. Increased shortages in average years will have significant economic and social impacts from farm revenue losses due to decreases in product quantity and quality which in turn will impact the operability of existing agri-food processing facilities and limit the opportunity to attract additional facilities to Alberta in the future.
Photo courtesy of St Mary River Irrigation District.
FOCUS: IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT
Testing a 4R nutrient stewardship program for Ontario’s Holland Marsh
CHARLIE LALONDE
The provision of fresh vegetables such as carrots and onions is highly competitive, with
many growers seeking supply chain advantages. For consumers, the sustainability of food production is increasingly important, alongside freshness.
To address this demand, the
Holland Marsh Growers’ Association (HMGA) initiated a project to evaluate the suitability of an established third-party sustainability certification program—already recognized in the grain and potato sectors—for use by vegetable growers.
The 4Rs, the right source of fertilizer at the right rate at the right place and right time is a nationally recognized grains program that identifies best management practices to ensure both nitrogen and phosphorus are used with optimum efficiency thereby protecting the environment, while reducing costs for growers.
Holland Marsh growers have been informally interested in the 4R nutrient stewardship concepts for a long time. As the Holland Marsh is an environmentally sensitive area, it requires careful management of its nutrients to protect its soil and surrounding waters with respect to phosphorus and nitrogen leaching. While a program is not specifically designed for vegetable production, growers benefited indirectly though their certified crop advisors (CCAs) who apply the 4R principles to determine crop nutrient recommendations. However, growers wanting to market their crops based on sustainable production lack a structured program to verify such claims.
A literature review was conducted to summarize the
were identified outside the 4R framework. These practices are nevertheless required to protect the environment and to mitigate and optimize the 4R practices. Here’s one example. Growers broadcast fertilizers at seeding as an efficient practice fitting with limited planting days whereas the 4Rs call for placement of the fertilizer next to the seed. With the high-density planting in seedbeds, it is a time-consuming process to knife fertilizer next to seeds. What we observed is growers mitigating their practice by selecting high-efficiency fertilizers, incorporating the fertilizer immediately after broadcasting and in many cases planting the same day. Unfortunately, research has not caught up with the assessment of the trade-off between these practices.
current state of research supporting the implementation of a 4R nutrient stewardship program. Following this, HMGA hosted a roundtable discussion to review the findings and gather expert advice. This pivotal meeting brought together academics and representatives from the fertilizer sector across Canada to discuss the latest scientific developments and explore opportunities for applying the 4R principles in the horticultural sector.
As anticipated, the science surrounding production on muck soil remains complex and continually evolving, particularly in areas such as testing methods, fertilization rates for highphosphorus muck soils, and the identification of optimal fertilizer sources. Among the key production practices identified, pH management emerged as especially critical. Acidic muck soils require a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 to fully realize the benefits of the 4R approach.
Improving fertilizer efficiency through best management practices not only supports environmental sustainability but also enhances water quality in the marsh. Increased efficiency leads to better nutrient uptake by plants and reduces excess fertilizer runoff into surrounding waterways.
A grower survey was also conducted to identify grower best practices. Many practices with environmental outcomes in mind
Muck soil has many unique features that need to be managed. For example, CCAs reported using a nitrate-based fertilizer over ammonium-based fertilizer to mitigate losses to both air and water. Another practice deals with the coating of mineral elements to the fertilizer granule. The coating ensures the full dispersal of micronutrients throughout the soil allowing readily access by the vegetable crop. As each crop has specific nutrient requirements, ag retailers are formulating according to the crop. Due to the high leaching potential, fertilizers are applied in the spring only.
Third-party data recording is provided through ag retailers and coordinated with a soil testing laboratory. So, everything from the soil sampling timing, the soil analysis, the crop recommendation and fertilizer delivered and applied to a crop is captured. The grower, through on-farm recording, captures the timing of the various farm activities and yield data. Many farms have more than 25 years of field data and some growers are implementing whole farm data management systems to link data needs.
A 4R program can support growers’ marketing efforts by providing transparent data to third parties along a value chain. A system does exist for grains and potatoes where the 4R grower data is captured and certified jointly by the grower and CCA and then placed into a database. Based on our observations, growers can easily participate in a 4R program as the good practices are employed, data is managed efficiently and the CCAs servicing growers are very knowledgeable. Ultimately, the 4R nutrient stewardship program allows for a continuous improvement model for growers.
Charlie Lalonde is project lead for Holland Marsh Growers’ Association.
This heron is oblivious to the intense farming activities of the Holland Marsh. Growers have adopted stewardship practices with both water and soil in mind. Photo by Glenn Lowson.
Management options for cyclamen mite in 2025
ERICA PATE AND JUSTIN RENKEMA
Cyclamen mite is a challenging pest for strawberry growers because there are few control options. Damage becomes evident at harvest with small, cracked, seedy, unmarketable berries. Identifying cyclamen mite injury before it causes damage to the plant or fruit is difficult, but early intervention is important for effective management.
The first step is identifying cyclamen mite. Cyclamen mites are small, about ¼ mm long, often hidden in protected parts of a strawberry plant, in young, folded leaves, or in the crown. To monitor, look for slightly crinkled, stunted young leaves and small, stunted plants. Pinch out a young, folded leaf where these symptoms are found. Open the folded leaf and look along the mid vein for masses of eggs and mites. A hand lens (10- 20X) is needed to see the mites. Petioles and runners can sometimes have a ‘dog-tooth’ effect with small bumps along the runner causing a roughened feel. In severe infestations the entire plant will be stunted and compact, and fruit will be bronzed, small, cracked, and seedy. Keep a close eye on older fields, fields with a history of injury, rowcovered fields, or high-tunnel strawberries, where cyclamen mite populations can increase quickly in the warmer, protected environments. There is no established threshold for cyclamen mite; once cyclamen mite is identified plan to treat the entire field or block.
Management options include: Prevention
Avoid introducing or spreading cyclamen mite to new fields. Mites can easily be moved from an old, infested field, into a new field by workers or equipment. Work in new fields first to avoid introducing cyclamen mites from infested fields to clean fields. If possible, avoid planting new fields next to older, potentially infested fields.
Pre-plant control
Steam treatment for cyclamen mite control before planting has
recently been investigated in Ontario. Steam treatment of dormant, bare-root transplants at 44°C for 1, 2, or 4 hours can be used to nearly eliminate cyclamen mite before planting. Steam treatment protocols include a pre-conditioning treatment at 37°C for 1 hour, followed by 1 hour at ambient temperature, and then 1, 2 or 4 hours at 44 °C and high relative humidity (>95%). Transplants should be planted shortly after treatment. Steam treatment can also help control common strawberry diseases, including powdery mildew, botrytis, angular leaf spot, and anthracnose. Recent results on steam treatment were presented at OFVC 2025, including experiments on steam treatment on different strawberry cultivars and different plant types (bare root, plugs, tips). The slides from this presentation are now available at ofvc.ca. Research on how using steam treated plants with very low numbers of cyclamen mite affects the need for other controls in the planting or following year is ongoing in Ontario.
Chemical control
Chemical management options are limited for cyclamen mite.
Agri-mek® SC has been relied on for cyclamen mite control, and a second miticide, Magister® SC, was recently registered for cyclamen mite on strawberries. Keep in mind that cyclamen mite is often hidden in protected parts of the plant and can be difficult to reach with a miticide. The best time to apply a miticide for cyclamen mite on June-bearing strawberries is approximately one week after renovation. However, a spring miticide applications is needed if mites are identified or injury is present early in the season. In this case make the application before harvest, ideally before bloom, before damage to the bloom can occur and when miticides can reach the mites in the crown before the canopy fills in.
Agri-mek® SC (abamectin, group 6):
• Apply Agri-mek® SC at 225 mL/ha in a high-volume spray, with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.10.5%.
• Slow down, and use sufficient water volume to get thorough coverage of the plants and crowns. Do not apply in less than 375 L water/ha.
• Agri-mek® SC is locally systemic or translaminar (absorbed into leaves), and is absorbed best by new, expanding leaves.
• Agri-mek® SC will be rainfast after 2 hours or once dry
• Agri-mek® SC can be applied twice per year, with a 3-day PHI
• This product is toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops and weeds. Avoid application during crop blooming period.
• Timing can be challenging: Do not tank-mix Agri-mek® SC with chlorothalonil (Bravo or Echo), or captan. Make sure to keep a 5 day gap between Agrimek® SC or oil applications and chlorothalonil (Bravo or Echo) or captan applications. Do not apply sinbar after applying Agri-mek® SC. Wait 5-7 days after Agrimek® SC before applying sinbar.
Magister® SC (fenazaquin, IRAC group 21A):
• Apply Magister® SC at 2.63 L/ha in a minimum of 1000 L water/ha. 1000 L water/ha is the optimal volume; lower water volumes may reduce efficacy. Do not use less than 500 L water/ha.
• Apply with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v.
• Magister® SC can be applied once per year, with a 1 day PHI.
• Magister® SC provides rapid knockdown, is non-systemic and requires thorough coverage of the plants and crowns.
• Magister® SC is rainfast after 3-4 hours
• This product is toxic to bees. Avoid application during bloom or when bees are active. See label for specific bee toxicity statements.
• Magister® SC targets nymphs and adults, is less effective on overwintering eggs but is more effective on new eggs.
Other conventional miticides and biopesticides have recently been evaluated for efficacy against cyclamen mite in Ontario.
The biopesticides included in the experiments (Grandevo, Venerate, Bb Protec, Ecotrol, Botanigard ES, JMS Stylet Oil and Vegol) did not provide high levels of control of cyclamen mite. The conventional miticides included in the experiments were
Magister® SC, Agri-mek® SC, Nexter (pyridaben, group 21A), and Oberon (spiromesifen, group 23).
Miticides were applied in field plots at renovation 1 week after mowing at a spray volume of 1000 L/ha. All products provided control when evaluated 2 and 6 weeks after application. Nexter and Oberon should provide some control of cyclamen mite when applied for two-spotted spider mite.
BITS AND BITES
Biological control
Finally, biological control is a promising tool for cyclamen mite control. Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite often used by growers for thrips control. Neoseiulus cucumeris has been evaluated for biocontrol of cyclamen mite in the U.K. and Europe, where it reduced cyclamen mite populations and
improved strawberry yield. In experiments in Québec, N. cucumeris controlled cyclamen mite for part of the season and resulted in higher yields compared to the untreated control. Using N. cucumeris as a biological control tool against cyclamen mite may be limited in some areas of Canada due to our cold climate, as many predatory mites, including N. cucumeris, are sensitive to cold and cannot survive below freezing temperatures. A successful cyclamen mite biological control programme includes early release of predators, and cool spring temperatures may limit early releases of N. cucumeris in some areas.
Other predatory mites have also proven to be promising biological control tools for cyclamen mite, including Neoseiulus fallacis, a wellestablished species in Canada that can overwinter in northern climates, and Neoseiulus californicus. Both N. fallacis and N. californicus are often used for control of other mites. Research into biocontrol options for cyclamen mite is ongoing in Ontario. For more information about biocontrol options reach out to a biological control supplier- find a list of Biological Control Agents Suppliers on the
ONGreenhouse Vegetables blog. Cornell also has an excellent resource with profiles of Biocontrol Agents available on their website. In addition to encouraging or releasing beneficials, try to avoid insecticides that kill beneficial insects, such as pyrethroids (group 3s, Up-Cyde, Decis, etc).
Biological control of cyclamen mite with entomopathogenic (=insect or mite infecting) fungi is another possibility. The fungus Hirsutella sp. was recently identified parasitizing cyclamen mites in multiple Québec strawberry fields, and it appeared to contribute to cyclamen mite control.
However, fungicides applied to strawberries negatively affect the naturally-occurring Hirsutella sp., limiting its control of cyclamen mite. Further research is needed to determine an effective fungicide strategy that will not negatively impact the beneficial Hirustella sp. entomopathogenic fungi.
While there is ongoing research to develop long-term cyclamen mite management strategies, using a combination of the tools discussed above will contribute to improved cyclamen mite control and reduced plant injury or yield loss this season.
Sun-Brite Foods warns of rising prices on canned goods
According to Sun-Brite Foods -- the Canadian-owned and operated producer of brands such as Unico and Primo and the 50th largest tomato processor by tonnage in the world—U.S.-led and CAD reciprocal tariffs will lead to increased food prices for everyday Canadians, despite this produce being grown by Canadian farmers. The company
has operated since 1973.
Canadians should be aware of an expected increase in cost on Canadian-grown food – canned food products, anywhere from $0.25 to $0.40 per can.
The federal government’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on American-made aluminum and steel cans represents a threat to our nation’s
food sovereignty, security and economy, leaving everyday Canadians to pay the price says John Iacobelli, CEO and owner, Sun-Brite Foods, based in Ruthven, Ontario.
There are currently no Canadian-based manufacturers able to produce the cans required by Canadian food processors. Forced to rely on American
supplied cans, the cost of canned food products will significantly increase due to 25 per cent tariffs slapped on all raw steel and aluminum entering the U.S. This, combined with the Canadian government's 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on aluminum cans coming back to Canada, will further drive up manufacturer’s input costs which will ultimately be passed onto consumers.
“We expect reciprocal tariffs to negatively impact our collective ability to prioritize Canadianmade goods against U.S.-made competitors on grocery store shelves over the coming months,” he says. “Grocery prices are already expected to reach unprecedented heights in 2025; Canadians can’t afford to have their government contributing to even higher prices on the shelves.
References: Duclos, A., Delisle-Houde, M., Moisan-De Serres, J., Tellier, S., Fournier, V., and Tweddell, R.J. 2025. Effect of synthetic fungicides used in conventional strawberry growing system on Hirsutella sp., an entomopathogenic fungus of cyclamen mite. Agriculture, 15 (715).
Pate, E., Fournier, V., Hallett, R. H., and Renkema, J. M. 2024. Steam treatment controls cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus) without compromising strawberry plant survival, growth and yield. International Journal of Fruit Science, 24(1), 314–331.
Patenaude, S., Tellier, S., and Fournier, V. 2020. Cyclamen mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) monitoring in eastern Canada strawberry (Rosaceae) fields and its potential control by the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 152: 249–260.
Renkema, J. 2025. Biopesticide transplant dips of foliar acaricide applications for control of cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus) in strawberry. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 94.
Erica Pate is fruit crop specialist, OMAFA and Justin Renkema is research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Sun-Brite is taking extraordinary steps to mitigate these costs but without support from the federal government to remove reciprocal tariffs or expedite approval for remission of tariffs, Canadian families will suffer.”
“As a proudly Canadian company producing brands such as Unico and Primo and the largest tomato processor in Canada, we believe the government must fight Donald Trump’s unjustified trade war, but Canadians cannot be asked to sacrifice putting food on the table. Reciprocal tariffs affecting food products will disproportionately affect lowincome Canadians and make life more unaffordable for all of us.”
Source: Sun-Brite Farms April 7, 2025 news release
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Crown gall of grape vines: etiology, epidemiology and control
DR. JOSÉ RAMÓN
ÚRBEZ-TORRES
Crown gall is a bacterial disease affecting grapes worldwide.
Don’t be fooled if anybody tries to tell you they don’t have crown gall. Everywhere we plant grapes we can find this disease.
Allorhizobium vitis (A. vitis) (formerly Agrobacterium vitis) is a gall causing bacteria specific to grapes. The disease causes tumors or galls in the trunk of grape vines, as well as necrosis in the roots. The galls form above ground, often at the graft union, but can be higher up the trunk or even in the cordon.
Crown gall is one of a few significant bacterial diseases in grapes, but it can be devastating. It is true that it is more prevalent in areas subject to freeze events, so this is a timely topic given the severe cold spells we have had in the last two winters here in the Okanagan.
The A. vitis bacteria can be asymptomatic in the grape vine and depending on the amount of bacteria present in the plant, either within or on the surface of the vine, it will not cause a gall. But if there is a sufficient threshold of bacteria, and the vine sustains a wound, either through pruning, machine damage or cracking caused by freezing, the bacteria has a way into the plant.
The wounded tissue releases a signal and the bacteria are attracted to those wounds.
This could be described as a ‘cancer-like process.’ Genetic information in the bacteria causes the plant to form the galls.
The gall interferes with water and nutrient movement through the vine. It may not kill a mature vine but affected vines will have
~ DR. JOSÉ RAMÓN ÚRBEZ-TORRES “
Crown gall is one of a few significant bacterial diseases in grapes, but it can be devastating.
reduced vigour, delayed ripening and reduced sugar content (brix).
Young vines are particularly susceptible as they have smaller trunk diameter than mature vines. If the gall is able to girdle the young vine it will choke it off completely and it is likely to die within a year of being infected. We are seeing the most mortality in vines within five to six years after planting.
Leaves turning red may be the first indication of a problem while scouting your vineyard. I find there is a strong correlation between foliage symptoms and the presence of a gall so the next place you would look would be the graft union.
The bacteria arrives at the vineyard inside plant material and unfortunately is not the subject of pre-screening. A. vitis is a non-regulated pathogen. It is already present in Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) does not require testing or quarantining.
A primary source of
introduction will be with symptomless plant material coming from the nursery. But root debris left over from removing vines in the vineyard may also harbour the bacteria. Studies have also shown A. vitis can remain in the soil for up to two years, so soil can be an inoculum source as well.
Some current methods of testing are very time- consuming, but recently Drs. Tanja Vogel and Louise Nelson from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have used Droplet Digital PCR testing to identify as little as one or two A. vitis bacteria in grapes. This testing method is very, very, robust and it has shown us that the bacteria is not evenly distributed through the vine.
This uneven distribution may be a key to propagating clean plant material. If we are able to detect clean tissue in parts of the vine, we can use tissue culture to propagate clean plants.
Unfortunately, there are no
products registered in Canada for controlling crown gall in grapes. But there is hope for biological controls. The best research we have right now is actually with biological controls because it has been shown that they can work.
Work is being done in Australia and Japan to commercialize biological products. We are also working with Dr. Vogel at UBC. We have identified local isolates here in B.C. that are as promising at inhibiting the growth of crown gall and may be more adapted to our local conditions.
Without a means of control, the first line of defence is to maintain optimum vine health with adequate nutrition and water. Controlling fall vigour and giving vines adequate time to go into dormancy will make them more resilient to freeze events. Studies have shown that hilling vines can insulate the graft union to protect from freeze damage and practising multi trunking to allow for replacement and
renewal of damaged trunks is also a strategy for freeze prone locations.
Right now, there are no sources of vine material that are certified A. vitis -free But I do believe that it is possible to develop clean vines and that will go a long way to controlling crown gall.
Photo Credits
Crown_Gall_1_2_3: Dr. UrbezTorres, AAFC – Summerland Research and Development Centre
Dr. José Ramón Úrbez-Torres is a plant pathologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, based at the Summerland Research and Development Centre, British Columbia.
CROP PROTECTION
Apple growers put forth two priorities for future crop protection
The minor use program brings pest control products to minor (smalleracreage) crop and specialty crop growers in Canada. Pest control products are usually not marketed to these growers because of their limited production areas and high costs associated with pursuing registration. The program helps ensure that growers have access to the most current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) toolkits available for crop protection.
The minor use program is operated as a joint initiative between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Each March,
government and horticultural sector representatives meet and determine the program’s research priorities for new crop protection products for horticulture producers in Canada.
In 2025, two priorities on apples were put forward for capacity analysis:
1. Under the organic priority section, PyGanic (pyrethrins), a product for Japanese beetle was put forth by Québec with the secondary solution being BioTitan (Beauveria bassiana).
2. Under the broadleaf weed priority section, Enlist 1 (2,4 D Choline Salt) was submitted for weed management in orchards.
Additionally, while Adavelt fungicide
(florylpicoxamid) has been on the radar of many pome growers, Corteva is unable to support a potential expansion at this time and thus a use was not pursued. Corteva may be prepared to label it for Canadian apples in the future for black rot or powdery mildew management which would provide a new FRAC Group 21 mode of action for growers. Syngenta is also considering future support of Miravis Prime for scab management and will keep the apple sector advised of potential support in future workshops. This would present a FRAC Group 7 and 12 fungicide.
Source: Ontario Apple Growers April 2025 newsletter
Syngenta leads top five companies in supplying crop
protection products globally
According to consolidated data, the global crop protection market continues to grow, with Brazil taking the lead in agribusiness sales in 2024, reaching $14.3 billion. This analysis comes from Anderson Nacaxe, CEO and co-founder of Oken Finance, a company specializing in Web3 technology for the financial market and economic tokenization acceleration.
According to the expert, analysis of major companies and markets shows a stable but transforming sector, driven by innovations and regulatory changes. The market projects an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8 per cent through 2030, although it experienced a sales decline in 2023 due to lower demand and currency fluctuations.
Syngenta maintains global leadership with projected sales of $13.6 billion in 2024, followed by Bayer at $12 billion, BASF with $9 billion in sales, and Corteva Agriscience at $7.3 billion.
Brazil has established itself as the largest global market for crop protection products, reaching $14.3 billion in 2024. According to Anderson Nacaxe, this result was driven by soybean, corn, sugarcane, and coffee production. The 1.7 per cent CAGR reflects the continuous expansion of Brazilian agribusiness.
The United States remains the secondlargest market at $13.3 billion. However, a
CAGR of just 1.2 per cent shows slower growth, limited by strict environmental regulations. China ranks third with $10.8 billion and three per cent CAGR, driven by agricultural modernization and demand for technological inputs.
“Argentina and India show growth above two per cent annually, indicating increased use of agricultural technology. France, Canada, Germany, and Russia remain smaller but stable markets,” notes the analysis by Oken Finance’s CEO and co-founder.
Industry trends and impact
Adoption of biotechnology and biopesticides will be essential to meet regulatory and sustainability demands.
Latin America consolidates its position as a growth engine, led by Brazil and Argentina.
Environmental regulations will impact Europe and the U.S., favouring sustainable solutions.
Market concentration: The five largest companies (Syngenta, Bayer, BASF, Corteva, and UPL) dominate the sector.
“Brazil surpasses the U.S. to become the largest global crop protection market, while China grows rapidly. The sector’s future will depend on innovation and regulatory adaptation, with emphasis on
more sustainable and efficient solutions,” concludes Anderson Nacaxe.
Source: AgroPages February 28, 2025
Editor’s note: The charts are for net sales including: fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, seed treatments, plant growth regulators, nematicides, and biologicals.
Addition to Downforce AG fungicide label gives boost to apple growers
Apple growers now have another option to protect their crop from devastating diseases, with apples being added to the Downforce AG fungicide label.
Downforce AG is a Group 29 fungicide that uses the force of 40% fluazinam to protect a wide range of crops from a variety of yield-robbing diseases.
In apples, Downforce provides excellent control of the following diseases: apple scab, flyspeck, sooty blotch, cedar apple rust, bitter rot, Alternaria blotch
Downforce also provides suppression of: black rot, Brooks spot, Quince rust, mites including two-spotted cedar mite, European red mite and apple rust mite.
Downforce AG inhibits the germination of disease spores to guard against infection. And with application rates as low as 162 mL per acre, it’s an economical option for
disease control and suppression. Downforce AG comes in an easy-to-use liquid formulation and is conveniently packaged in a 2 x 10 L case. See the product label for application details and timing. Always read and follow label directions. Downforce AG should be used as part of an Integrated Pest Management program and in rotation with other disease management products as part of an effective resistance management strategy.
