Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower

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Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
OCTOBER 2020                            CELEBRATING 141 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION                                                     THEGROWER.ORG

                                                                              GROWING FORWARD

                                             Grape expectations: up and down

After 45 years of farming, it’s safe to say 2020 has been a year like no other for Ernie Wiens. Due to scant rainfall and high temperatures, grape tonnage volumes are expected to be
down by 20 per cent. Barring any weather surprises, he expects quality will be “exceptional.” He’s poised to take a brix test of Chardonnay grapes, one of many varieties grown at the
family’s 400 acres of vineyards near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Photos by Glenn Lowson.

                                              down about 20 per cent,” says Wiens.            access to qualified labour are driving             What has changed during the summer
KAREN DAVIDSON                                   Wiens and his three sons – James,            grape growers to mechanize where               months is how Lakeview Vineyard
                                              Daniel and Tim – have adjusted to a             possible.                                      Equipment is servicing new customers.
   The Old Farmer’s Almanac adroitly          business environment with fewer                    “Labour is an ongoing global issue,”        Pillitteri explains that they are taking
predicted a hot, dry summer for eastern       workers. There is no alternative for hand       says Joe Pillitteri, owner of Lakeview         videos of specific environments so that
Canada but failed to forecast a once-in-a-    pruning or tying vines in the spring, so        Vineyard Equipment, Niagara-on-the-            there’s a record of how machines
century phenomenon: a global                  already, applications have been filed for       Lake, Ontario. “Growers are looking at         perform by grape varietal, trellis type,
pandemic. No matter, says Ernie Wiens         24 seasonal workers in 2021 with the            the costs of production per tonne and per      crop load and weather conditions.
who’s taking baseline brix tests in his       assumption that a 14-day quarantine will        acre. And they’re pushing towards more             “There is no blanket approach when
400 acres of Niagara-on-the-Lake,             be required. He is thankful for                 mechanization.”                                it comes to grapes,” says Pillitteri.
Ontario vineyards. This is his 45th year      government funding so far that has                 The newest technology in Gregoire               Videos as well as invitation-only
of growing grapes and he has yet to see       supported housing and personal                  grape harvesters, for example, offers          demonstrations are the new way of
one year mimic another.                       protective equipment.                           on-board sorting and weighing and on-          technology transfer. These are intimate
   “The quality is expected to be                As of October 1, 2020, Ontario’s             the-go, yield-mapping technology. Like         gatherings of six to 10 qualified buyers –
exceptional, but with many days of plus       minimum wage rises to $14.25 per hour.          grain harvesters, these machines offer         no entertainment on offer.
30°C temperatures, volumes will be            Ever-rising labour costs and uncertain          live read-outs on yield in the field.          Continued on page 3

  Farmland values up a bit            PG 5                             Retailer bullying       PG 8                               Storage, containers & packaging PG 12

Volume 70 Number 10      P.M. 40012319       $3.00 CDN        @growernews
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
PAGE 2 –– OCTOBER 2020
                                                                               tHE GROWER

At PRESS tIME…                                                                                                            NEWSMAKERS
Wage rates increase                    Minimum wage rates from the highest to the lowest                 Congratulations to Mike Ecker,
                                                                                                         president of the Vineland Growers’
                                                             Minimum wage                                Co-operative, based in Jordan
   On October 1, wage rates go            Province                                  Effective date
                                                                 rate/hr                                 Station, Ontario. He’s the 2020
up in four provinces. Employers
                                                                                                         Lifetime Achievement Award
in Newfoundland, Ontario,          Alberta                       $15.00            October 1, 2018
                                                                                                         winner honoured by the Canadian
Manitoba and Saskatchewan          British Columbia              $14.60             June 1, 2020         Produce Marketing Association.
must pay increases in minimum
                                   Ontario                       $14.25            October 1, 2020       His entire 45-year career has been
wage rates.
                                                                                                         pledged to the longest continually
                                   Quebec                        $13.10              May 1, 2020
                                                                                                         running co-operative in Ontario. In
                                   Prince Edward Island          $12.85             April 1, 2020        his role, he manages relationships
                                   Nova Scotia                   $12.55             April 1, 2020        with more than 300 grower
                                                                                                         members and has inspired many
                                   Newfoundland                  $12.15            October 1, 2020
                                                                                                         marketing innovations of tender
                                   Manitoba                      $11.90            October 1, 2020       fruit, and more recently, apples to
                                   New Brunswick                 $11.70             April 1, 2020        retail chains.
                                   Saskatchewan                  $11.45            October 1, 2020
                                                                                                         Erin O’Toole, the new leader of the federal Conservative party,
                                                                                                         has named his shadow cabinet. Ontario MP Lianne Rood

Dec 15 is registry
                                                                                                         (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex) becomes shadow minister for
                                                                                                         agriculture and agri-food. She grew up on a vegetable farm near

deadline for BC
                                   registration requirement for       employers who mistreat workers     Grand Bend, and still grows potatoes today. Peter Kent
                                   employers will help ensure         and level the playing field for

employers of seasonal
                                                                                                         (Thornhill) becomes shadow minister for employment, workforce
                                   foreign workers are fairly         law-abiding employers.             development and disability inclusion. Raquel Dancho

workers
                                   treated.”                             With this new process, BC       (Kildonan-St. Paul Manitoba) is responsible for following the file
                                      This employer registry is the   joins the provinces of Manitoba,   on immigration, refugees and citizenship. James Cumming
                                   final step in implementing the     Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia       (Edmonton Centre, Alberta) will be shadowing innovation,
                                   Temporary Foreign Worker           that have registration require-    science and industry. Luc Berthold (Mégantic-L’Érable, Quebec)
   Managing the arrival and        Protection Act, passed in fall     ments for employers of foreign     is on the treasury board file.
housing of foreign workers has     2018. Last year, B.C.              workers.
been challenging in British        established a licensing               The Mexican consulate in        Bill George Jr, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’
Columbia in the era of COVID-      requirement for recruiters of      Vancouver anticipates that         Association, becomes chair of Ontario’s President’s Council,
19. Looking ahead to next year,    foreign workers and launched       6,000 workers will have worked     effective October 1. The position is a one-year term with the
BC’s ministry of labour has        the recruiter registry.            in the province by the end of      option for re-election. Formed in 2004, the President’s Council
announced that all employers of    Approximately 150 recruiters in    the year.                          is a venue for the chairs and presidents of Ontario’s agricultural
foreign workers must register      B.C. are licensed and in good         A difficult year will be        organizations to discuss the broad issues and challenges facing
with the government by             standing.                          capped by an unexpected            the provincial sector. Membership currently represents 43
December 15, 2020.                    These actions, like the         provincial election called for     Ontario agricultural groups, the most recent addition being the
   “Temporary foreign workers      Temporary Foreign Worker           October 24. The minority NDP       Berry Growers of Ontario.
are integral to our agricultural   Protection Act, the recruiter      government led by John Horgan
sector and B.C. relies on them     registry and the employer          will face voters on how his        The Ontario Food Terminal has two new appointees to its board.
for important jobs like            registry provide transparency      government has managed the         Christy McMullen, co-owner Summerhill Market and a former
harvesting the crops we depend     into recruiting, hiring and        pandemic.                          chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, has
on for our daily meals and to      employing foreign nationals.                                          been appointed vice-chair. She replaces outgoing Mark Pearlman.
build our province’s food          These changes strengthen the                                          John Den Boer, an Otterville grower and president of the
security,” said Lana Popham,       protections government has put                                        Toronto Farmers’ Association, becomes a new director. He
agriculture minister. “The new     in place, make it easier to find                                      replaces Margaret Appleby. The terms are for three years. Ken
                                                                                                         Knox resigned his role as chair on August 31, several months
                                                                                                         short of the expiry of his term on January 16, 2021.

                                                                                                         Dr. Nancy Tout, most recently head of research and
                                                                                                         development, Syngenta Canada has left after a 21-year career.
                                                                                                         She is taking on the role of interim executive director at
                                                                                                         AgScapeOntario.

                                                                                                         The Ontario Produce Marketing Association elected two new
                                                                                                         board members at its September 2 virtual annual general
                                                                                                         meeting. Elected for three-year terms are Fiona McLean,
                                                                                                         marketing manager at Del Fresco Produce and Michael Wexler,
                                                                                                         sales representative at the Oppenheimer Group. Houman
                                                                                                         Madani, Metro Ontario Inc., remains chair of the board.

                                                                                                         Congrats to Dr. Jim Willwerth on his new position at Brock
                                                                                                         University. He has joined the faculty of mathematics and science
                                                                                                         as an assistant professor, specializing in grapevine physiology.
                                                                                                         While he’s no longer working with the Cool Climate Oenology
                                                                                                         and Viticulture Institute, he will continue with his critical
                                                                                                         research in grapevine cold hardiness.

                                                                                                         Best wishes to Amanda Green, OMAFRA tree fruit specialist,
                                                                                                         who left her position in early September. Since July 2015, she
                                                                                                         made many contributions to the Ontario apple industry on labour
                                                                                                         efficiency, podcasts and other outreach programs. For the next
                                                                                                         six months, Cassandra Russell will be acting tree fruit specialist
                                                                                                         while a permanent replacement is found.

                                                                                                         St. David’s grape grower John Fedorkow has graciously accepted
                                                                                                         a second year as Grape King due to the pandemic. The Grape
                                                                                                         Growers of Ontario have held the ceremony since 1956.

                                                                                                         Jan VanderHout is the new chair of Ontario’s ECO-Ag coalition.
                                                                                                         He is a past chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’
                                                                                                         Association. The initiative has been on hold since COVID-19.
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
OCTOBER 2020 –– PAGE 3
                                                                                  tHE GROWER

COVER StORy

Grape expectations:
up and down
Growth in Ontario sales rolling 13 periods to June 20, 2020

                                                                                                                            “
                                                                         Growers are looking at the costs of production per tonne and per acre.
                                                                         And they’re pushing towards more mechanization.”

                                                                                                                   ~ JOE PILLIttERI, OWNER OF LAKEVIEW VINEyARD
                                                                                                                   EquIPMENt AND SuPPLIER tO WIENS VINEyARDS.
                                                                                                                            “
This is the first quarter (Q1) report for the 2020-2021 fiscal year
end. All statistics are reported for the 12 months (13 rolling
periods) ending June 20, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

Total sales of wine in Ontario, including imports increased +3.8%
in volume (litres) and increased at +4.2% in value (dol- lars) in the
rolling 13 periods.

VQA sales were down -1.5% by volume and -1.0% in value.
Non-VQA/IDB sales are up +5.1% in volume (litres) and value
(dollars).

Quarter 1 is from April 1 to June 20, 2020 and includes the COVID
lock-down. Wine sales overall are up +5.1% litres with non-
VQA/IDB leading the way at +18.4%, imports are down -0.7% and
VQA -6.5% in litres.

                                     workers and 50 domestic
Continued from page 1                workers. During the chaotic
                                     COVID-spring, his team
   Lakeview Vineyard                 created family units, keeping
Equipment has had an                 workers separate in housing and
extremely busy summer, says          physically distanced in             Brothers Tim and Daniel Wiens operate twin grape harvesters in this Chardonnay block.
Pillitteri who has logged            vineyards.
thousands of kilometres visiting        “One thing I learned from        buy local. The caveat is that         jurisdictions. Australia, for            Bets are that he’s referring to
customers on both Canadian           our Mexican workers was how         premium reserve varietals and         example, sells $176 million           more than the weather
and American sides of the            sensitive they were to the          ice wine are not enjoying the         worth of wine to Canada every         specifically but also the
border. So busy, in fact, that       negative publicity in main-         same level of devotion. In fact,      year, but accused British             business climate generally.
he’s looking to hire service         stream media about COVID            wineries have cancelled orders        Columbia and Ontario
technicians.                         outbreaks amongst seasonal          for the ice wine harvest for          governments of favouring local        The Grower goes “Behind the
   His customer Ernie Wiens          workers,” recounts                  2020/2021.                            wines through licensed grocers.       Scenes” with Joe Pillitteri,
totally understands that             Oppenlaender. “They highly             Most of these issues were          Its World Trade Organization          Lakeview Vineyard Equipment,
equipment breakdowns require         value and cherish their work        crystallized in the fifth year of a   challenge was partially resolved      for his experience in servicing
parts from out-of-country            and contributions to the            benchmarking study conducted          this past summer when the             the grape sector and how
suppliers. That’s why Wiens is       community. They felt blamed.”       by VQA and Deloitte. Released         Canadian government                   technology transfer is changing
evaluating improvements and             The pandemic revealed            in March 2020, the Ontario            announced a repeal of the             in the short term. This series is
upgrades to equipment for the        other fault lines. With the         Wine and Grape Industry               current excise tax of $0.665 per      sponsored by BASF Agricultural
2021 season because some             collapse of international tourism   Performance Study reported            litre on any wine that has as         Solutions.
factories are behind in              and in-house tastings, wineries     that the province’s 500 growers       little as one per cent of its juice
production.                          have turned to the domestic         had five major challenges: rising     from foreign grapes. All the
   All of this to say that growers   market. For those wineries          costs of inputs/labour/land;          more reason for Canadian wines
are facing hitches in both           without an online presence and      grape pricing; access to              to be derived from 100% locally
mechanical and hand labour. No       pre-COVID database of loyal         virus-free grape vines;               grown grapes when that tax
one understands that                 customers, it’s been a struggle.    government regulations and cost       structure changes in June, 2022.
conundrum better than                But for those wineries which        of compliance; and lack of                As a seasoned hand in the
Matthias Oppenlaender, chair,        could reallocate resources to       long-term grape contracts.            grape business, Ernie Wiens
Grape Growers of Ontario. He         fulfilling online orders, the          It’s certain that these issues     dips his refractometer into a bin
manages 250 acres of his own         results have been heartwarming.     will dominate in the years            of Chardonnay grapes. It’s from
Huebel Estates vineyards with           During the COVID                 ahead, as the grape sector            the first row of a block that’s
mechanical harvesters and does       lockdown, Ontario wine sales        grapples with a quickly               just been opened up. He’s an
custom work for another 500          were up 5.1 per cent in volume      changing business environment         optimist by nature, but says,
acres – a size that employs 10       and value. Consumers have           domestically along with the           “There’s still a lot of weather
full-time workers, 23 seasonal       demonstrated a willingness to       buffeting winds of foreign            ahead of us.”
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
PAGE 4 –– OCTOBER 2020
                                                                                   tHE GROWER

CROSS COuNtRy DIGESt
BRItISH COLuMBIA

BC tree fruit growers need pickers
   British Columbia’s cherry        the situation, only 6,400             begin picking as soon as apples
season was tough due to a           temporary foreign workers             and pears are ready. With less
dearth of workers. That same        arrived in the province from          labour, there won’t be much
scenario is playing out for the     Mexico and the Caribbean this         opportunity to catch up on s
apple industry in the Okanagan      year compared to about 10,000 a       econd picks as each variety
Valley.                             year ago.                             matures.
   The Kelowna Daily Courier           The BC Tree Fruits                    “Overall, apple tonnage is in
reports that challenges are         Cooperative has 350 grower            a good spot, though the average
ongoing for the valuable apple      members, explains Laurel Van          size of each piece of fruit looks
sector which harvested 104,000      Dam, director of sales. “Each         to be smaller than normal
tonnes a year ago. Traditionally,   farm employs their own labour,        years,” adds Van Dam.
about 1,500 to 2,000 young          so it’s hard to say how short
Quebeckers journey to the           things are. Some farms are            Source: Kelowna Daily Courier
picturesque area each year, but     better off than others.”              September 2, 2020
only about half that number            The cooperative is
came in 2020. Compounding           encouraging its members to

NEW BRuNSWICK
New Brunswick farmers oppose proposed
ban on glyphosate
   In advance of the New            crown land. The sector has a          (PMRA), along with other
Brunswick September 14              farmgate value of more than $38       regulatory authorities such as
election, the Agricultural          million and supports 700 jobs in      the U.S. Environmental
Alliance of New Brunswick           the province.                         Protection Agency, the
(AANB) stated that it supports         AANB also buttressed that          European Food Safety
the science behind responsible      position, opposing the Liberal        Authority have all thoroughly
glyphosate use. There are 200       party, Green party, and People’s      studied glyphosate and come to
wild blueberry growers, for         Alliance of NB’s stance on            the same conclusion: glyphosate
example, who need the               banning glyphosate usage.             use does not increase cancer
herbicide.                          Future restrictions on use of the     risk, when used according to
   In a September 2 news            herbicide had appeared in             label specifications.
release of the Bluets New           campaign literature.                     “We urge government to use
Brunswick Blueberries, chair           An AANB September 2 news           a science-based decision
René Chiasson said that a ban       release stated: If the next elect-    approach when considering any
on the use of glyphosate on         ed government takes the course        changes to the use of glyphosate
crown land and eventually the       toward banning glyphosate, this       in the province,” wrote Lisa        labelling.                          Conservative majority
entire province would greatly       decision will deeply affect a         Ashworth, president, AANB.             For farmers to remain            government in place for four
harm the wild blueberry             wide variety of New Brunswick            She noted that any individual    competitive in the world market     years, we are looking forward to
industry which uses the             farmers who grow crops such as        handling a non-domestic             and support the local economy,      working on many of the issues
herbicide to manage production.     fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulse,   pesticide must obtain a             Ashworth said that access is        brought forth by our member-
   To add context, Chiasson         corn, canola and soybeans.            Pesticide Applicator Certificate    needed for the most effective       ship,” says Lisa Ashworth,
explained that in 2019, about          Products such as glyphosate        through a comprehensive course      tools to manage weed, insect,       executive director, AANB.
35,000 acres of New Brunswick       are some of the most important        and exam that covers pesticide      and disease problems that can
land was used to grow wild          and safest tools available to         legislation, pest management,       threaten the quality, value, and    Source: Bluets NB Blueberries/
blueberries of which 24,000         growers today for crop                environmental impacts,              quantity of crops.                  Agricultural Alliance of New
acres are on crown land. Most of    management. The Canadian              application technology, safety,        “Now that the election is        Brunswick September 2, 2020 news
the sector’s expansion is on        Pest Management Regulatory            emergency responses and             done and we have a                  release

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Cavendish Farms has opened new research
centre in New Annan
    Cavendish Farms’ new               The new research facility          continue to grow high-quality
Research Centre in New              will have six state-of-the-art        products that Prince Edward
Annan, Prince Edward Island,        greenhouses and will allow            Island is known for. I commend
officially opened September 17      Cavendish Farms to conduct            Cavendish Farms for not only
with the province’s premier,        important research year-round.        working with Island farmers
Dennis King, in attendance.         Different lines of potatoes with      towards a common goal, but for
The $12.5 million facility is a     promising traits such as superior     also taking on a project that
commitment to the long-term         yields, size characteristics, and a   brings jobs to the agriculture
sustainability of the potato        reduced environmental foot-           industry and contributes to the
industry.                           print specific to soil, climatic      Island economy,” said Premier       crops at risk. The Cavendish        “Cavendish Farms’ investment
    “This is another step to help   and seasonal conditions on            Dennis King.                        Farms Research Centre will          in this important research will
support potato growers and the      Prince Edward Island will be             As witnessed over the last       study different potato varieties.   benefit all potato growers and
potato industry on the Island,”     evaluated.                            several summers, the growing        The Plant Breeding Program          the entire industry. It will help
said Robert K. Irving, president       “Island farmers and                season is changing with hotter      will cross various combinations     ensure the sustainability of our
of Cavendish Farms. “Our goal       producers have always been at         temperatures and less               to breed and select a variety       potato crops,” said Greg
is to help address the specific     the forefront of innovation and       precipitation at critical times.    that is suitable to the             Donald, general manager of the
challenges faced by growers         research, developing new              This is a real challenge for PEI    challenging conditions currently    Prince Edward Island Potato
here on Prince Edward Island.”      practices to ensure they can          growers and places the potato       faced on PEI.                       Board.
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
OCTOBER 2020 –– PAGE 5
                                                                                      tHE GROWER

CROSS COuNtRy DIGESt
CANADA

Farmland values increase modestly

                                                    “
Given the global economic situation during the first half of 2020, Canada’s
farmland market is showing remarkable resilience in the face of adversity and
uncertain times.
                                                                   ~ J.P. GERVAIS
                                                    “
    Average farmland values in        agricultural economist.              exception being New

                                                                                                                                             Average increase in farmland values
Canada are once again showing         “Changes to production and           Brunswick.
modest increases for the first        marketing plans induced by the           Low interest rates, the
half of 2020, although the full       pandemic have had a definite         limited supply of farmland in
impact of the COVID-19                influence on profitability, yet      the market and confidence
pandemic has yet to be                the demand for farmland              among producers in the                                          January 2020 -              July 2019 -            January 2019 -
weighed, according to Farm            remained robust.”                    farmland market appear to be                                      June 2020                 June 2020              December 2019
Credit Canada.                           FCC’s review showed lower         the main drivers behind the                                      (six months)              (12 months)              (12 months)
    The national average for          12-month increases in average        2020 mid-year increase.
farmland values increased an          farmland values for most                 Farm operators should                        BC                     3.0%                    3.2%                       5.4%
average of 3.7 per cent for the       provinces over the last 12           continue to exercise caution,                    AB                     4.9%                    8.5%                       3.3%
first half this year. This increase   months compared to last year’s       says Gervais, especially in
                                                                                                                            SK                     4.2%                    7.9%                       6.2%
is in line with mid-year results      average, with the exception          regions where the growth rate
over the past five years, which       being in Alberta (8.5 per cent       of farmland values significantly                 MN                     2.3%                    3.6%                       4.0%
showed single-digit increases         compared to 3.3 per cent) and        exceeded that of farm income                     ON                     0.4%                    3.7%                       6.7%
for the full year.                    Saskatchewan (7.9 per cent           in recent years. He also                         QC                     2.6%                    6.3%                       6.4%
    “Given the global economic        compared to 6.2 per cent). In        recommends operators maintain
situation during the first half of    general, the pace of farmland        a risk management plan to                        NB                     6.5%                    8.3%                      17.2%
2020, Canada’s farmland market        value increases over the past six    protect their business from                      NS                     0.0%                    0.3%                       1.2%
is showing remarkable                 months was slightly higher in        unpredictable circumstances.                     PEI                    0.4%                   22.1%                      22.6%
resilience in the face of             western provinces and slightly
                                                                                                                            NL                     N/A                     N/A                        N/A
adversity and uncertain times,”       lower in central and eastern         Source: Farm Credit Canada
said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief        parts of the country, with the       September 14, 2020 news release                  Canada                 3.7%                    7.1%                       5.2%

CANADA

Processing potato crop could be smallest since 2011
    As of September 21, the           processing.
Canadian potato crop is in               Table production is
varying stages of growth and/or       prominent in the four eastern
harvest says Kevin MacIsaac,          provinces of Canada. Promising
general manager of the United         crops in the central region of
Potato Growers of Canada. He          Quebec and Ontario will not
reports that the production           likely be able to cover off the
outlook is mixed after parts of       expected decreases out of
eastern Canada experienced            Prince Edward Island and New
one of their driest seasons on        Brunswick.
record while growers in western          Processors also will likely see
Canada work feverishly to             tightened supply to meet their
harvest their crop.                   needs of recently expanded
    Based on current                  plants in Alberta and Manitoba,
information, it is expected that      with an overall crop projected
Canadian production could be          to be one of the lowest going
off by at least six million           back to 2011. In addition, fryers
hundred weight. If yields do          were already playing catch up
not continue to add weight in         to a market demand radically
                                                                                  Stokes Seeds Trial Evaluation: Researching the best for our customers since 1881.
late-maturing varieties and the       reduced by COVID-19 in the                W                                  W
last harvested fields, production     spring and then coming back             NE                                 NE
decreases could approach              sooner than expected this
8,500,000 hundred weight              summer. Unfortunately, this
below last year’s crop. These         occurred after raw product had
estimates assume and hope that        moved to other channels and
all of Canada’s 363,470 planted       contracted volume for the 2020
acres will get harvested. In          crop was reduced across North                      SAILFISH                          TARPON                          CATSKILL                         LASALLE
2019, growers were unable to          America.                                   Early maturing high quality         Main season hybrid with         110 day. Attractive large      103 days. Excellent firmness
harvest 20,230 acres in the              Province-by-province details             blocky red, smooth fruits.        high yield potential. Dark     round bulb with small neck.        and skin retention after
country due to cold and wet           are here:                                  Fruit can ripen on plant for      green, smooth blocky fruits.      High yield potential with           8 months storage.
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weather.                              https://bit.ly/2FNmuDo                         high quality harvest.
    Nothing is for certain until                                            Paul Banks      Alexandre Bisson Laura Caralampides    Leah Erickson   Rob Hovius     Marc André Laberge Henry Zomer      Bridget Visser
the last potato is in the bin,        Source: United Potato Growers of      ON, NS          QC               QC, ON                AB, BC          ON, PEI, NB    QC                 ON, MB, SK       ON, MB

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sectors of the industry
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Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
PAGE 6 –– OCTOBER 2020
                                                                                 tHE GROWER

ONtARIO FRuIt AND VEGEtABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIAtION

Ontario’s Farm Products
Containers Act benefits the
fruit and vegetable industry
                                    OFVGA to advocate for the
DAN TUKENDORF                       industry in several key areas
                                    such as crop protection, safety
    The Ontario Farm Products       net programs and labour to
Containers Act (FPCA) is            ensure farmers have the tools
managed by the Ontario Fruit        and programs they need to
and Vegetable Growers’              remain competitive and
Association (OFVGA) on behalf       sustainable. The work the
of the fruit and vegetable          OFVGA does on crop
industry. It’s a vital funding      protection and labour not only
mechanism that allows the           benefits Ontario farmers but
industry to address major issues,   also makes an impact across
policies and programs to ensure     Canada. OFVGA board
its viability. The COVID-19         members and staff are leaders in
pandemic has highlighted more       the industry and sit on national
than ever how vital is the          crop protection and labour
advocacy work of the OFVGA          committees that engage with            The FPCA applies to most          and would not be sent to           annual third-party audits to
and its member organizations on     key government policy makers.       packaging from both domestic         market or sold directly to         ensure the regulations are being
behalf of growers and the              The FPCA also directly           and international suppliers that     consumers.                         adhered to and applied
industry. Recent advocacy work      benefits each Ontario fruit and     is used to market Ontario-grown          If packaging buyers are not    equitably across the industry.
during the pandemic has             vegetable commodity marketing       fruits and vegetables.               being charged the FPCA                For more detailed
resulted in the continued safe      organization for apples, berries,   Applicable packaging includes        container fee directly on          information about the FPCA
access to seasonal agricultural     grapes, tender fruit, asparagus,    items such as master shipping        invoices for domestically or       please visit www.ofvga.org/
workers, multi-million dollar       field and greenhouse                cartons, baskets and containers      internationally sourced            container-tolls or contact Dan
enhancements of key safety net      vegetables, potatoes, ginseng       used for product sold through        packaging they must self-remit     Tukendorf at 519-763-6160
programs and the establishment      and processing vegetables by        wholesale or direct to consumer.     the applicable container fee to    extension 121 or
of COVID-related funding            financially supporting research     A few exemptions apply such as       the OFVGA directly. To ensure      dtukendorf@ofvga.org org
programs that are critical for      priorities and promotional          field boxes or hampers, bulk         all stakeholders in the industry
growers.                            activities as a direct result of    bins, reusable plastic containers,   are following their                Dan Tukendorf is program
    The container fees collected    their grower’s support of the       shopping bags or any containers      responsibilities under the         manager, OFVGA.

                                                                                                                                                        WIN
through the FPCA allows the         FPCA.                               that are only for on-farm use        FPCA, the OFVGA coordinates

the First Canadian Honeycrisp Apple Contest
                                                                                                                                                       A GRO
                                                                                                                                                            W
                                                                                                                                                       BALL ER
   We’re taking up the challenge from Gail Ardiel, Apple Springs        Also email us at editor@thegrower.org with your mailing address.

                                                                                                                                                           CAP
Orchard, Clarksburg, Ontario. Who’s got the biggest Honeycrisp          Everyone is a winner! Each entrant will be mailed a Grower cap.
apple in Canada? Her entry is 4.25 inches in diameter with a 13-           The contest ends October 22. We’ll publish photos of provincial
inch circumference.                                                     winners of the biggest diameter Honeycrisp apple in the November

                                                                                                                             @growernews
   To enter, post your Honeycrisp photo to Twitter showing the          issue of The Grower.
apple size and tag The Grower’s Twitter handle @growernews.                Wishing everyone a safe apple harvest!

Thanks to Shane, Gail and Kyle Ardiel at Apple Springs Orchard for launching this challenge.

                                           Planting the seed for November edition
                                                      The November edition of The Grower will feature our focus on
                                                      Seed and Rootstock. Stay tuned for our new variety showcase.
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
OCTOBER 2020 –– PAGE 7
                                     tHE GROWER

TOGETHER,
WE WILL
LEAVE NO GRAPE
                                    BEHIND.
Lakeview Vineyard Equipment is your homegrown
provider of new and used vineyard mechanization
solutions for every scale of operation.

•   Grape Harvesters                 •   Sprayers
•   Undervine Care Equipment         •   Frost Protection
•   Canopy Maintenance               •   Parts and Service

TEL: 905.646.8085 | TF: 1.866.677.4717 | LAKEVIEWVINEYARDEQUIPMENT.COM

          40 LAKESHORE ROAD, R.R. #5 | NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON | L0S 1J0
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
PAGE 8 –– OCTOBER 2020
                                                                                                                           tHE GROWER

CHAIR’S PERSPECtIVE

Fighting back against retailer bullying
                                                           suppliers. Walmart specifically                   such as extending payment                        vegetables, retailers will simply                   Supply Code of Practice in the
                                                           announced a 1.25 per cent fee                     terms to more than 60 days and                   replace local produce with                          United Kingdom that would
                                                           for products sold in-store to                     charging fines for shipping                      imported products. What that                        extend that kind of protection
                                                           help pay for their investments                    delays while forcing trucks to sit               means for Ontario is lost tax                       to growers.
                                                           into distribution centres and                     idle for hours waiting to unload.                revenue, fewer jobs, and decline                       Our industry is incredibly
                                                           store renovations, as well as a                       Fruit and vegetable growers                  of our rural economy.                               vulnerable to the devastating
                                                           further five per cent for                         are particularly vulnerable to                       OFVGA has raised this issue                     impacts industry consolidation
                                                           products sold on-line.                            the impacts of the pending                       with the provincial government,                     can have, leaving growers with
                                                              Their argument is financial                    additional fees as they already                  including OMAFRA’s                                  few alternatives when the
                                                           need to help them fund                            operate on very slim margins, in                 agriculture minister Ernie                          marketplace consists of only a
                                                           improvements to their                             some cases less or not much                      Hardeman and the minister of                        few buyers.
                                                           operations caused by pandemic-                    more than the announced fee                      government and consumer                                Throughout this pandemic,

            BILL GEORGE JR.
                                                           related changes in consumer                       increases.                                       services Lisa Thompson to                           Ontario fruit and vegetable

             CHAIR, OFVGA
                                                           buying habits, such as enhanced                       In fact, according to the                    make them aware of the                              growers have taken their
                                                           online services. This is despite                  Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,                 significant negative economic                       responsibility to produce food
                                                           record revenues during COVID-                     Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario                  impact this will have on our                        seriously and have worked hard
                                                           19, which has taken an                            agriculture recorded an average                  sector.                                             to keep their families and work-
    Since the middle of March,                             economic toll on virtually all                    net profit margin of just over                       It was also one of the main                     ers safe and their businesses
our organization has primarily                             sectors of the economy but has                    three per cent in 2019 - so it                   topics of conversation during a                     viable. And we’ve consistently
been focused on dealing with                               overall been a boon to retailers’                 quickly becomes clear that a fee                 meeting OFVGA and some of                           invested in our own businesses
the COVID-19 pandemic and                                  bottom lines.                                     hike of 6.25 per cent will spell                 its member organizations had                        and our own industry to meet
all of its impacts on fruit and                               I should note that these new                   disaster for growers, especially                 with Premier Doug Ford in                           changing consumer demands
vegetable growers and our wider                            fees are on top of the existing                   in a year where the pandemic                     early September. Minister                           and respond to new challenges,
supply chain.                                              marketing fees we already have                    has already hit the sector hard.                 Hardeman and new OMAFRA                             such as COVID-19.
    This fall, we’re now faced                             to pay to retailers just for the                      Although these fees apply to                 deputy minister John Kelly                             Now, we need our provincial
with an issue that is not related                          ability to market our products,                   all suppliers not just farmers,                  were also part of that meeting.                     government to take action to
to the pandemic and although                               fees that many fruit and                          this issue is a real and growing                     We made it clear that fruit                     help ensure domestic food
some might see that as a                                   vegetable growers feel are set in                 threat to the agriculture sector                 and vegetable growers - and                         security and to protect the
positive sign of a return to                               an arbitrary and predatory way.                   in particular, a key driver of                   indeed other food and beverage                      almost 100,000 jobs associated
normalcy, it’s anything but.                                  As well, large retailers are                   Ontario’s economic engine.                       suppliers - need protection                         with our sector by safeguarding
    Several large retailers, led by                        increasingly taking advantage of                      Growers need the large retail                against bully tactics by large                      the sustainability and competi-
Walmart, have announced plans                              growers - small or at best                        outlets in order to market crops                 retailers. This includes support-                   tiveness of Ontario’s edible
to move ahead with new fees of                             medium-sized businesses and                       to a large segment of Ontario’s                  ing the implementation of a                         horticulture growers and offer-
up to 6.25 per cent that they are                          mostly family-owned and run -                     consumers. If we can no longer                   supplier code of practice for                       ing protection against unfair,
going to levy on all of their                              with a series of other actions,                   viably grow fruits and                           retailers, similar to the Groceries                 predatory retailer practices.

WEAtHER VANE

the Ontario Food terminal has operated under extreme pressures for the 2020 season, fulfilling its critical role in handling fresh produce. At thanksgiving time, the industry is
appreciative of those extraordinary efforts to keep employees, farmers, truckers, buyers and sellers safe. Here, operations manager Gary DaSilva (R) visits with a grower when times
were less stressful. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

STAFF                                                                  OFFICE                                                         ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’                        OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS
Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association            355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105                                ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020
Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, editor@thegrower.org             Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA                                                                                             Crop Protection                    Charles Stevens
Advertising: Carlie Melara 519-763-8728, advertising@thegrower.org                                                                    MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
                                                                       Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604                           Chair                    Bill George Jr., Beamsville        Environment and Conservation       Jan VanderHout
                                                                       The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all          Vice-chair               Charles Stevens, Newcastle         Labour                             Ken Forth
                                                                       members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’            Fruit                    Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin       Safety Nets                        Mike Chromczak
The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any           Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for    Vegetable                Kenny Forth, Lynden                Energy, Property, Infrastructure
                                                                                                                                      Director                 Mike Chromczak, Brownsville        and Food Safety                    Brian Gilroy
errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compen-        the paper through their commodity group or container fees.     BOARD OF DIRECTORS
sated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue.    Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:      Apples                   Charles Stevens, Newcastle
No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad.                                                                      Fresh Veg other          Kenny Forth, Lynden
Client signature is required before insertion.                             $30.00 (+ HST) /year in Canada                             Tender Fruit             Fred Meyers, Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole           $40.00/year International                                  Asparagus                Mike Chromczak, Brownsville
owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in                                                                         Fresh Grape              Bill George Jr., Beamsville
                                                                       Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within      Fresh Veg muck           John Hambly, Bradford
The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or         four months. If the issue is claimed within four months, but   Potato                   Shawn Brenn, Waterdown
contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the associa-   not available, The Grower will extend the subscription by      Small Fruit              Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin
tion.                                                                                                                                 Ginseng                  Glen Gilvesy, Tillsonburg
                                                                       one month. No refunds on subscriptions.
     All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may                                                                        Greenhouse               Jan VanderHout, Waterdown
not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior                                                                           Greenhouse               George Gilvesy, Tillsonburg
written consent of the publisher.                                      P.M. 40012319                                                  Processing Vegetables    Ron Van Damme, Wallaceburg
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
OCTOBER 2020 –– PAGE 9
                                                                                     tHE GROWER

uRBAN COWBOy

Growers deserve
special credit for their
disease prevention role
                                      training, attracting investment,
                                      strengthening communities, and
                                      fortifying the front lines of the
                                      province's health care system.”
                                          That’s right-headed. By all
                                      means, let’s do all we can to
                                      support front-line workers.
                                          And let’s start by doing all
                                      we can to stay healthy, so these
                                      workers have the time and
                                      space to deal with the second
                                      wave of COVID-19 virus

        OWEN ROBERtS
                                      victims that are now starting to      This mother and two children are enjoying their fruit picks at The Red Barn market near Jordan,
                                      appear.                               Ontario. Photo by Glenn Lowson.
         u OF GuELPH                      It’s a fact that healthy people
                                      are better equipped to fight          as many as 20 per cent of             Listening to the news of the         designed to help families
                                      disease. But the government’s         consumers say they are eating         second wave’s arrival, my wife       improve their health through
   Whenever you see or hear a         plan doesn’t include efforts to       healthier.                            wondered aloud if the pandemic       better food, activity, leisure and
government voicing concern            help people eat better. So, we’d          “I believe anybody in the         will likely turn the next            sleep.
about the health of its citizens –    better do it ourselves.               food space who is not                 generation into germophobes.            It’s making progress.
and vowing to do something                Encouraging signs exist.          identifying health as an                  I wouldn’t be surprised. And     Working with families,
about it – it’s usually some kind     Registered dietitian Jane             emerging key investment is            if their fear of disease is          researchers have determined
of reactive measure related to        Dummer of Kitchener says the          losing opportunities,” she says.      accompanied by an elevated           that those who received in-
problems with human resources.        first round of COVID-19 drove             Fruit and vegetable               awareness of their personal          home health education and
   Doctor shortages, for              consumers towards so-called           producers, take note. For ages,       health and the advantages of         keep food intake records had a
example. Or hospital staffing         comfort food. Suddenly, they          it’s been nearly impossible to        eating well, then once again,        significantly higher fruit and
issues. Or burnout among per-         were home all day. They could         get Canadians to eat the              fruit and vegetable growers          fibre intake than those receiving
sonal service workers. Chronic        bake and cook (and eat) like          recommended amount of                 have an opportunity to reach         only monthly email topics about
and severe problems, for sure.        they hadn’t in years.                 healthy fruit and vegetables.         new consumers and help them          the topic. And that supports
   And indeed, when the                   And with the second wave          Even Canada’s food guide tried,       in their lifelong quest to stay      better health.
Ontario government returned to        knocking on the door, they’re         suggesting more “green” be on         healthy.                                Such findings point to the
the legislature on September          still at home. Except now,            consumers’ plates than ever               Kids will – or can -- learn      fact that fruit and vegetables
14, saying it was ready to            they’re saddled with the weight       before.                               good food habits at home from        have a new place of prominence
continue implementing its             they’ve added because of too              Maybe now it won’t be so          their parents. And that’s where      in our lives, and that growers
made-in-Ontario plan for              many poor food choices.               tough to sell the idea. And the       efforts such as the University of    deserve recognition and support
growth, renewal and long-term             So, they’ve started shopping      focus should be much easier –         Guelph’s 20-year Guelph              for their vital role in producing
recovery, it stated its fall agenda   with health in mind. A new            stay healthy and stay out of the      Family Health Study come in.         them.
would “build on the work              report from the International         hospital.                                 Started back in 2014, it’s one      This kind of healthcare is
undertaken over the summer,           Food Information Council says             It’s also a great time to reach   of the longest-term studies ever     worth investing in too.
focusing on job creation, skills      that as a result of the pandemic,     kids, via their parents.              undertaken by the institution,

Canada’s Ecoation wins World in 2050’s Olympics of Innovation
   After receiving 100-plus nominations
and applications, Diplomatic Courier has
announced the World in 2050 Olympics
of Innovation winners, naming Ecoation
Innovative Solutions Inc. as a Society
category winner in response to the
company’s commitment to supporting
growers through Artificial Intelligence
(AI) advancements. Ecoation shares the
stage with 34 prestigious innovators
across seven categories in the first cohort
of 2020 challenge winners.
   “Winning this award puts us on the
global stage next to well-known
innovators such as Elon Musk, founder
of SpaceX and Anousheh Ansari, founder
of XPrize,” says Dr. Saber Miresmailli,

                                                                                                            “
CEO and founder of Ecoation. “We are

                                               We are incredibly proud of being one of the few Canadian companies who are acknowledged for
incredibly proud of being one of the few
Canadian companies who are acknowl-

                                               their work and the difference their innovations can make in future.
edged for their work and the difference
their innovations can make in future.”

                                                                                                                                                   ~ DR. SABER MIRESMAILLI,
   Looking decades into the future, the
Olympics of Innovation is an annual

                                                                                                                                                CEO & FOuNDER OF ECOAtION
challenge established in Davos,
Switzerland, and presented by the
Diplomatic Courier’s digital think tank,
                                                                                                            “
World in 2050. The challenge aims to
champion the best innovative solutions
to change our collective future with each      Society, Humanity, Energy, Health,              for its Human Knowledge + Machine             CEO and founder, Dr. Saber Miresmailli
award cluster representing a major trend       Travel, Off-World, and Artistic Visions.        Precision approach to food production.        in August 2020. Go here:
that forecasts the future for our world:       Ecoation is honoured to be recognized              The Grower recorded a podcast with         https://bit.ly/2FCsGhh
Grape expectations: up and down - GROWING FORWARD - Grower
PAGE 10 –– OCTOBER 2020
                                                                                   tHE GROWER
OPINION EDItORIAL

Workers just like all others                                                                                              2021 OFVC CANCELLED
                                                                                                               The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, traditionally held
                                                                                                               in Niagara Falls in February, has been cancelled for 2021 due to
                                                                                                               COVID-19 concerns. Save your seat for February 23 and 24,
                                                                                                               2022.

                                                                                                                          COMING EVENtS 2020
                                                                                                                Oct 5 – 8   International Plant Health Conference, Helsinki,
                                                                                                                            Finland POSTPONED until June 28-July 1, 2021

                                                                                                                Oct 7-8     Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Scotiabank
                                                                                                                            Conference Centre, Niagara Falls, ON
                                                                                  Photo by Glenn Lowson                     VIRTUAL

                                                                                                                Oct 14-17   International Plowing Match, Lindsay ON

                                                   “
                                                                                                                            CANCELLED (Oct 13-16, 2021, Lindsay, ON

No one will be sent home if they have COVID-19. If you have to self-isolate,
                                                                                                                Oct 13-15   Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit,

you will be eligible for WSIB benefits.
                                                                                                                            Dallas, TX VIRTUAL

                                                       ~ PREMIER DOuG FORD
                                                   “                                                            Oct 27- 29 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers
                                                                                                                           GIC LIVE@HOME event

                                                                                                                Oct 29      Food & Beverage Ontario 2020 Conference,
                                                                                                                            Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto, ON (CHECK
                                                       Protection Act (AEPA) to the Agriculture, Food                       WEBSITE)
KEN FORTH                                              and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal amid a claim
                                                       of unfair labour practices against the parent            Nov 2-4     Fall Harvest Meetings on Parliament Hill,
    “Temporary foreign workers are entitled to the     company.                                                             Ottawa, ON VIRTUAL
same benefits and protections as any other                 After hearings last fall, the Tribunal issued a
worker in Ontario.”                                    two-part ruling this spring. The Tribunal first          Nov 6-15    Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON
    Those aren’t my words, although they are 100       outright dismissed union claims on intimidation                      CANCELLED
per cent true. They were pulled from a                 and unfair terminations while also noting that the
Government of Ontario media release dated June         union’s own actions had played a part in derailing       Nov 13      Ontario Produce Marketing Association Annual
24, 2020. To be clear, these benefits include          their organizational efforts. Second, the Tribunal                   Gala, Universal Event Space, Vaughan, ON
health care, worker’s compensation, protection         dismissed the Charter of Rights and Freedoms                         CANCELLED
under the Employment Standards Act, the                challenge against the AEPA, noting that the
provincial minimum wage and, like every other          AEPA does not prevent agricultural workers from          Nov 14      Farm and Food Care Ontario Annual Harvest
worker in Ontario during the pandemic, job             engaging in a union.                                                 Gala VIRTUAL
protection if they have to take an unpaid leave            We see the UFCW use similar tactics —
because of COVID-19.                                   spreading misconceptions and mistruths — to              Nov 17-19 Alberta Potato Conference and Trade Show,
    Supporting the media release from his              further its own objectives with seasonal workers.                  Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre Red
government, Premier Doug Ford, during his June         They rail against the living conditions of the                     Deer, AB CANCELLED
24 daily media briefing, stated: “No one will lose     workers. But they ignore the rigorous inspections
their job if they have COVID-19. No one will be        of bunkhouses from agencies such as Service              Nov 18      Potato Growers of Alberta Annual General
sent home if they have COVID-19. If you have to        Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Labour and local                     Meeting VIRTUAL
self-isolate, you will be eligible for WSIB benefits   public health departments.
and if you have a Social Insurance Number, you             They erroneously claim workers are paid less         Nov 18-20 Asia Fruit Logistica ON VIRTUAL
may be eligible for the CERB. We are here to           than minimum wage, do not have access to
support essential workers who help put food on         Employment Insurance or WSIB benefits. It                Nov 18-20 Arrell Food Summit VIRTUAL
all of our tables.”                                    cannot be made more clear that it is not in a
    It shouldn’t be necessary to point this out.       farmer’s interests to abuse its labour supply.           Nov 19-20 Wild Blueberry Producers’ Association of Nova
    It is common sense to understand that if you       Farmers depend on these workers to first keep                      Scotia Annual General Meeting, Best Western
are coming to Ontario, to Canada, to work, you         crops healthy and growing, and then to get them                    Glengarry Hotel and Convention Centre, Truro,
are protected just like every other worker in the      off the land and to market.                                        NS
province and country.                                       The latest salvo from critics is to question the
    But one of the most common misconceptions          residency status of seasonal workers. Again, this is     Nov 19-21 Interpoma, Bolzano, Italy VIRTUAL
— or, as they are, outright lies — being spread by     a diversion in an effort to paint farmers as the
opponents to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker          enemy. Farmers are not denying citizenship or            Nov 22-24 Interpom, Kortrijk, Belgium CHECK WEBSITE
Program is that our workers are somehow treated        permanent residency to seasonal workers.
as less than what they are: Important members of           Without question, there isn’t a worker in this       Dec 1-3     Grow Canada Conference, Westin Hotel, Ottawa,
our community who are doing the hard and               program who wouldn’t make a great Canadian                           ON CANCELLED
necessary tasks to protect and preserve Canada’s        citizen. They have a strong work ethic, value
food security.                                         their families and broader community and are             Dec 2-6     Outstanding Young Farmer National Event,
    What is important to understand is the             upstanding individuals. But that is a question for                   Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
underlying motivation behind those who are             Immigration Canada, not a farmer.                                    CANCELLED
frequently criticizing the seasonal worker                 The motivation in all of this is money. The
program. One of the most vocal critics of the          unions want the dues they would get from                 Dec 8-10    Great Lakes Expo, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids,
program is the Migrant Workers Alliance for            seasonal agricultural workers. They want control                     MI VIRTUAL
Change. Among the long list of groups it cites as      of family farms and, to be blunt, this will
its members or supporters, two stand out:              jeopardize Canada’s food supply.                         2021
UNIFOR and the United Food and Commercial                  And there is little they won’t say to get it,
Workers (UFCW).                                        truth be damned.                                         Jan 6-7     Ontario Agricultural Conference (SouthWest
    Without question, these are powerful unions.                                                                            Agricultural Conference, Guelph and Eastern
And they are anxious to unionize agricultural          Ken Forth is president of the Foreign Agricultural                   Ontario Crop Conferences combined)
labour — UFCW in particular.                           Resource Management Services, which administers the
    In an effort to organize workers at a medical      Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in Ontario.        Jan 6-7     Potato Expo, Gaylord Texan hotel, Grapevine,
cannabis farm, UFCW launched a constitutional          He is also a broccoli farmer in Flamborough, Ont.                    TX
challenge against the Agricultural Employees
OCTOBER 2020 –– PAGE 11
                                                                                  tHE GROWER
REtAIL NAVIGAtOR

Manage your costs, your selling price and your customer
                                     critical, however you need to       cost of goods.                       with your customers about            to manage your customers
                                     understand what it is costing                                            changes before they need to          please give me a call at (902)
                                     you to produce all these cases      Manage your selling price            happen. The best price change        489-2900 or send me an email at
                                     you are moving.                                                          is when your customer already        peter@skufood.com.
                                        Challenge the financial part        You should stay closer to         understands it and accepts it.
                                     of your business to compare         market pricing than ever, as         That happens when you com-           WHAT’S IN STORE?
                                     costs in 2020 to previous years.    fluctuations seem to happen          municate what is happening in
                                     You need this information to        quicker. This pandemic is            your business and tell them you      Plant-based milk alternatives in
                                     have fact-based conversations       impacting almost every country       anticipate packaging to be up a      the baking aisle
                                     with your customers. Many           in the world; supply can be          certain percentage or the fact
                                     things have changed in 2020         interrupted, which impacts           you had to quarantine your              In a local store, I discovered
                                     and retailers are experiencing      pricing.                             entire workforce of temporary        a four-foot section of plant-
                                     this in their operations as well.      Unfortunately, your selling       foreign workers. When you            based milk right in the middle

       PEtER CHAPMAN
                                     Focus on the facts. For             price does not always have a         understand your cost of goods        of the baking aisle. In the past,
                                     example, if your productivity       direct correlation to your cost of   you are in a better position to      canned milk was a fixture in the
                                     decreased 10 per cent due to        goods. When you see your costs       manage your selling price.           baking aisle and it is still there
    There have been so many          public health guidelines and        changing you have to be                 Communicate about more            but likely it does not have as
changes for producers in 2020; it    average hourly rates increased      proactive with your customers.       than price. Share your service       much space as it used to. These
is a real challenge to find the      four per cent, your cost of goods   You might not always get what        level results, upcoming market-      products were perceived to be
time to focus on your costs, your    changed. You can focus on           you want the first time, but you     ing programs to continue sales       ‘specialty items’ and
selling price and your               percentages without sharing too     have to stay focused on where        initiatives. Illustrate to them      merchandised in the natural
customers. You have had to           many details.                       you need to be.                      you are being proactive and          food section.
manage inconsistent supply of           The cost of doing business          You should consider adding a      focused on driving sales in their       Now, we see them in the
inputs, labour disruptions and       with each retailer can change       comment about cost of goods in       stores.                              grocery department. Retailers
challenging weather just to get      and you need to understand          any communication you have.                                               are very territorial about their
products produced and                these. If possible, review your     This does not have to be a cost      Generate the return for your         space so there must be
delivered to your customers.         margin by customer to assess        increase but you are sending a       hard work                            significant sales to double
One of the realities of the food     where you need to find              message it will have to change.                                           merchandise the items.
industry is in a year like this it   opportunities.                                                           When you manage your costs,
is more important than ever to          Remember your customers          Manage your customers                you can manage your selling          Peter Chapman is a retail
focus on the numbers and your        will also be watching inputs                                             price better and incorporate that    consultant, professional speaker
customers.                           such as fuel that might be down        Communication during              into managing your customers.        and the author of A la Cart -- a
    There is no doubt your           year over year. There are many      challenging times is more            2020 has been a challenging          suppliers’ guide to retailer’s
customers were more focused          other changes to cost of goods      valuable than when everything        year on many fronts. Make sure       priorities. Peter is based in
on their in-stock position than      in 2020. Retailers should           is working well. This is the best    you divide your focus across         Halifax, Nova Scotia where he is
they have been for a long time.      understand this is a challenging    time to build relationships.         your business to get the job         the principal at SKUFood. Peter
Consumers want to visit stores       year. The market has been           When you deliver solutions they      done in producing great              works with producers and
where there is inventory and in      volatile and you should             will remember.                       products to sell and selling the     processors to help them get their
many categories demand was           understand the positive and            Whenever possible be              great products you produce.          products on the shelf and into the
high. Service level has been         negative fluctuations to your       proactive and communicate               If you would like some help       shopping cart.

Walmart Canada announces new vendor fees
                                                                                                              other grocery retailers pass their   the site will handle general
                                                                                                              bills onto suppliers, too, food      merchandise and food products.
                                                                                                              and consumer goods                   CEO Horacio Barbeito says this
                                                                                                              manufacturers will be in a truly     centre will handle the highest
                                                                                                              impossible situation.”               volume of any Walmart facility
                                                                                                                 Walmart Canada, for its part,     in Canada.
                                                                                                              was undaunted by the negative           A new 300,000 square-foot
                                                                                                              publicity. A week later, August      distribution centre is currently
                                                                                                              12, executives turned the soil       under construction in Surrey,
                                                                                                              on a state-of-the-art, 550,000       British Columbia. And an
                                                                                                              square-foot distribution centre      existing distribution centre in
                                                                                                              in Vaughan, Ontario. When the        Cornwall, Ontario is getting a
                                                                                                              facility is operational in 2024,     makeover.

                                                                                                                                                           DREAM. GROW. THRIVE.
When this next-generation distribution centre becomes operational in 2024, the Vaughan, Ontario site
will handle the highest volume of any Walmart facility in Canada.

                                     expanded website platform for       of suppliers’ profits, at a time
KAREN DAVIDSON                       e-commerce.                         when many are still struggling

   The Toronto Star’s August 4
                                        The retailer is instituting a
                                     1.25 per cent “infrastructure
                                                                         with the profound impacts of
                                                                         the pandemic. Neither suppliers                                      Behind
headline pulled no punches:
Walmart Canada puts nation’s
                                     development fee” to the cost of
                                     goods that it purchases and a 5.0
                                                                         nor consumers will see tangible
                                                                         benefits from the fees Walmart                                       Canadian food?
food supply at risk with new         per cent “e-commerce                extracts.
fees. The guest opinion              development fee” for products          As a chorus of farmers,
                                                                                                                                               We’re behind you.
editorial was authored by            sold through its website. These     processors, and manufacturers
Michael Graydon, CEO for             fees are over and above existing    immediately warned, other                                            B.C. is known for its great food and wine.
Food and Consumer Products of        fees that cover the costs of        grocery retail giants are already                                    We’re known as the only lender 100%
Canada. He said that Walmart         in-store promotions or shelf        beginning to follow Walmart’s                                        invested in Canadian agriculture and food.

has set a precedent with its         placement.                          bad example. United Grocers                                          Looking to grow or expand? Let’s talk.
letter to 3,000 suppliers that as    Michael Graydon wrote:              came knocking less than a week
of September 14, new vendor             “Walmart’s mandatory fees        after Walmart issued its fiat,                                       1-800-387-3232    |   fcc.ca
fees will offset $3.5 billion in     could exceed typical margins        signalling the likely avalanche
investments, including an            and eat up as much as one-third     of similar demands to come. If
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