Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association; Vegetable Competitions Over the Business Development Manager – Canada, Fresh Foods
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NOVEMBER 2017 CELEBRATING 138 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION THEGROWER.ORG WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE Female leaders stand out in their fields Learning how to cut cauliflower with a machete is tougher than it looks. Jody Mott, executive director of the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association takes a lesson from Galen Tuggy, farm manager, Hillside Farms, near Bradford, Ontario. She is one of many female executive directors of grower associations who brings her own fearsome tools to the table. Photos by Glenn Lowson. are now in purchase-making ministries including not only In other words, urbanites out in their fields, they are KAREN DAVIDSON positions. the obvious one of agriculture, wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t standing up for farmers. Kelly In addition to the thousands food and rural affairs but also for farmers feeding cities. That Ciceran, general manager of the Women have walked many of women on farms, dozens of ministries of environment and message sets the table for Ontario Apple Growers, has a miles since The Gleaners women are also leading farm climate change, labour and respect. decade of experience lobbying painting was unveiled in 1857. organizations. Their service is finance. Urban encroachment is In the past, executive on behalf of farmers. Always in the fields since time making a difference, particularly felt every day as farmers directors might spend their time “I make sure we have an immemorial, women are no in building bridges to urbanites attempt to share narrow canal organizing field days, but more apple voice at the table,” says longer picking up the left-over and the ministries that govern roads with local traffic as they than likely they are meeting Ciceran, adding that much of grain stalks but directing the from urban centres. For one, move their carrot and onion with government officials. For her work feeds into the Ontario harvest itself – from GPS- Jody Mott has been grounding machinery. example, Mott has tried to ease Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ mounted tractors to air- the 100-member Holland Marsh “The government folks are tensions when over-zealous Association. “Apples are a conditioned offices. Growers’ Association since 2014. third parties with no skin in the police officers charge farmers complex crop with a fresh mar- Statistics Canada reported on She joins many other executive game,” says Mott. “It’s my role with traffic violations when ket sector, a processing sector the 2016 census that 77,970 directors and general managers to move them from the position harvest is moved from fields to and direct farm sales as well.” (28.7%) of Canada’s farm opera- in horticulture in Ontario and of a policing agent to treating home base. This past summer, Crop protection is a key file, tors are females. That’s up from across Canada. (see chart pg 3) farmers as a client.” she appeared before the local a sensitive one that requires lots 24 per cent in 2011. Many of “One of my biggest roles is She’s the first to remind a municipal council lobbying for a of in-field education for govern- these women are aged 35 to 54 to build relationships,” says government representative that four-way stoplight at a critical ment officials and stakeholders. years old. Enabled by Mott. The intensive farming in the Holland Marsh is responsi- intersection so that farmers can These technical files require technology and armed with the Marsh basin attracts the ble for feeding every Canadian make a safe turn. precision and attention to detail. agronomic skills, these women watchful eye of many provincial 1.8 kilograms of carrots per year. When female leaders stand Continued on page 3 Tax reform PG 6 NAFTA pushed into 2018 PG 8 Seed and rootstock PG 13 Volume 67 Number 11 P.M. 40012319 $3.00 CDN PAGE 2 –– NOVEMBER 2017 THE GROWER AT PRESS TIME… NEWSMAKERS Ontario premier visits intent behind the increase in What’s to see at the The Ontario Farm Products Beamsville vineyard minimum wage to improve the ‘Royal’ Marketing Commission has appointed livelihood of minimum wage Suzanne van Bommel as the new chair earners, we explained clearly the of the Ontario Processing Vegetable The 2017 edition of the Royal Growers for an initial two-year term Agricultural Winter Fair running with possibility for reappointment for November 3-12 will see a new a maximum of 10 years. She is co- updated horticulture section owner of Har Mar Farms, Belmont, within the Farm to Table Ontario which grows corn, soybeans Discovery Zone. The Ontario and peas. She is joined by four newly Fruit and Vegetable Growers appointed directors: Eric Allaer, Port Suzanne van Bommel Association is taking the lead to Lambton; Michael Denys, revamp the fruit and vegetable Wallaceburg; Tom Hebblethwaite, Blenheim; Chris Stewart, presence at the fair putting a Cedar Springs. Other elected directors from District 1 are Dave spotlight on technology and Epp, Leamington and Pascal Jennen, Dresden. Mike Lenders, career opportunities within the Ilderton, was acclaimed in District 2 and Dan Froese, fruit and vegetable industry. Straffordville was acclaimed in District 3. With the exception of The ever popular apple and Dave Epp who chaired the previous board in 2009 and Mike giant vegetable competitions will Lenders who joined the previous board in 2017, all are new at the still have a significant presence at table. the fair. Due to a decline in Photo caption L-R: Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, Bill George, entrants in other various fruit and Tom Coleman recently moved to Earthbound Farm as customer vice chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association; vegetable competitions over the business development manager – Canada, fresh foods. His new Matthias Oppenlaender, chair, Grape Growers of Ontario past few years, this has opened position is based in Whitby, Ontario. Since 2007, he’s been with up the chance to reimagine the IFCO Systems, most recently as director of retail sales for Bill George, vice-chair of the impact that it will have on farm horticulture display area. Canada. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable families, and are pleased that the The OFVGA and its commod- Growers’ Association hosted premier understands our issues,” ity members will have the follow- Vineland Research and Innovation Centre welcomes two new Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne says Matthias Oppenlaender. ing displays at the show. directors to the 13-member Board and thanks two outgoing on October 12 for a birds-eye “Normal labour costs for horti- directors for their contributions. Incoming directors include view of his vineyard from the seat culture farms are about 65 per November 3-4 - Ontario Apple Kristin Ego-MacPhail, Owner, Ego’s Nurseries Ltd. and Shelley of a mechanical harvester. cent of operating earnings, mak- Growers Martin, president and CEO, Nestlé Canada Inc. Departing Matthias Oppenlaender, chair, ing it the highest on-farm November 5 - Norfolk Fruit members are Marilyn Knox and Phil Tregunno. Grape Growers of Ontario, joined expense,” says Bill George. “The Growers the tour. increase announced for next year November 6-7 - OFVGA Condolences to the family and friends of Gerry Stephenson (75) The visit was more than a can push labour costs to as much November 8- Ontario Potato on his sudden passing on October 17, 2017 in Kitchener, Ontario. photo opportunity according to as 90 per cent of operating earn- Growers He was a passionate Environmental Studies researcher and the Grape Growers of Ontario. ings.” November 9 - Holland Marsh teacher on the safety of pesticides at the University of Guelph, The members met with the pre- There is a very real need for Growers Association making numerous contributions to weed science for Canada and mier to discuss topics of impor- financial assistance to transition November 10-11 - Ontario North America. He served on the Ontario Pesticide Advisory tance to grape growers and to to the higher minimum wage to Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Committee for more than 30 years and was highly respected by relay first-hand the issues that are protect family farms, as well as November 12 - OFVGA all who knew him. impacting farm families. The support for local VQA wine made planned increase in minimum of 100% Ontario-grown grapes to All of the commodity groups will Antony John, an organic vegetable grower near Guelph, Ontario, wage to $14/hour January 1, 2018 ensure a market for the fruits of be giving away free samples. has won the 2017 Canadian Farmer-Rancher Pollinator is one of the key issues. their labour. Conservation Award. His farm named “Soiled Reputation” is “While we appreciate the home to more than 20 beehives. A 30-foot buffer strip seeded with legumes is allowed to flower around a 40-acre field. In addi- tion to carrots and leeks, his fields and greenhouses yield at least 50 different organic vegetables used primarily for gourmet salad mixes. The farm supplies produce to restaurants, markets and homes, both locally and in the Greater Toronto Area. The award is given by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association. The Grower was recognized for excellence at the recent Annual Awards of the 350-member Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation held in Quebec City on September 30. Freelance photographer Glenn Lowson took the Gold Prize for best news photograph, featuring assistant winemaker Vanessa McKeen transferring Seyval Blanc grapes to the press at Georgian Hills Vineyards, The Blue Mountains, Ontario. The venture is owned by John Ardiel and his sons, Greg and Liam. Editor Karen Davidson won a Silver Prize in the monthly press reporting category for her feature, “Taking stock of the Canadian-American relationship.” Published in April 2017, this cover feature surveyed growers and industry personnel on their perspectives of NAFTA renegotiations based on personal rela- tionships with American clients.