ofvc 2015 show guide

FEBRUARY 18 — 19, 2015SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO

WWW.OFVC.CA

CONNECT ¬ SUCCESS

13TH EDITION

Canada’s Premier Horticultural Event

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Jarvis, ON519-587-2273

[email protected]

Vineland, [email protected]

Brantford, ON519-449-2500

[email protected]

Simcoe, ON519-426-1090

[email protected]

OFVC Executive & Committee Members 2015

PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT

Matt Peters HCO Brad Huisman NPF & VGA

SECRETARY TREASURER

Glenna Cairnie

DIRECTORS

Cathy Bartolic ONTARIO FARM FRESH, HCO

Robert Chorney FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO, HCO

Kelly Ciceran ONTARIO APPLE GROWERS, HCO

Bob Forrest OMAFRA

Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS, HCO

Tony Sgambelluri NPF & VGA

Torrie Warner NPF & VGA Tom Wiley NPF & VGA

CHAIR

Tony Sgambelluri NPF & VGA

CONVENTION COORDINATOR

Glenna Cairnie

FACILITIES

Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS, HCO

TRADE SHOW

Ross Parker NPF & VGA

SPEAKER PROGRAM

Deanna Nemeth OMAFRA

SPEAKER CO-ORDINATOR

Kathryn Hoshkiw-Tombs

ACCOMMODATIONS

Robert Chorney FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO, HCO

REGISTRATION, TRADE SHOW & SPONSORSHIP CO-ORDINATOR

Glenna Cairnie

FARMERS AND FRIENDS RECEPTION

Catherine Clark FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Brad Huisman NPF & VGA

POSTER SESSIONS

Hannah Fraser OMAFRA / Jason Deveau OMAFRA

MARKETING/ADVERTISING/WEBSITE

Steve Watt HARVEST ONTARIO, HCO

TRANSPORTATION

Cathy Bartolic ONTARIO FARM FRESH, HCO

COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT LARGE

Bob Forrest OMAFRA

Brad Huisman NPF & VGA

Ken Slingerland NPF & VGA

Torrie Warner NPF & VGA

Tom Wiley NPF & VGA

2015 SESSION CHAIRS

Alix Aitken FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Amanda Green OMAFRA

Andy Reynolds BROCK UNIVERSITY

Anne Marie Diotte OMAFRA

Brian Hugli HUGLI’S BLUEBERRY RANCH

Cheryl Lennox VINELAND RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE

Christine Scheer FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Christoph Kessel OMAFRA

Elaine Roddy OMAFRA

Evan Elford OMAFRA

Hannah Fraser OMAFRA

Jason Deveau OMAFRA

Kevin Montgomery OMAFRA

Kevin Schooley ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

Leslie Forsythe FORSYTHE FAMILY FARMS

Leslie Huffman OMAFRA

Margaret Appleb OMAFRA

Marion Paibomesai OMAFRA

Michael Celetti OMAFRA

Pam Fisher OMAFRA

Paul Kozak OMAFRA

Philip Powell FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Rebecca Shortt OMAFRA

Sarah Marshall ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS MARKETING BOARD

Sean Westerveld OMAFRA

Todd Leuty OMAFRA

Wendy McFadden-Smith OMAFRA

CONTENTS5 President’s Welcome

6 Thanks to Our Sponsors

8 Exhibitor List

9 Trade Show Map

10 Session Schedule

14 Speaker Biographies

30 Craft Brews and Ontario Hops: A Winning Combination

32 Ontario’s Bee Crisis Continues to Buzz

34 Meet the Minister

37 And the 2014 –15 Grape King is…

38 OFVC Roundup—Meet The Buyer and More

40 OFFMA Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year

42 Convention Centre Lunch Menus

43 NPF & VGA Award of Merit

44 The Growth of Food Tourism

45 OFVC Roundup Continues

46 Farmers & Friends Reception

46 2015 Innovation Award Submissions

CONVENTION PARTNERS

Interested in advertising in the 2016 Show Guide? Contact Steve Watt, [email protected]. The OFVC Show Guide is published by Bright Light Communications, www.brightlightcommunications.com. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from OFVC.

Copyright © 2015 by OFVC Inc. Printed in Canada.

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With funding support from various regional, provincial and federal agencies, students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty researchers to assist industry partners leap forward in the marketplace. We conduct many projects for local companies.

For example, we have been able to:

Solutions for Industry

APPLIED DREAMS.

Do you have an innovative idea but lack the resources to bring it to life? MEET WITH US. WORK WITH US.

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3D TECHNOLOGIES

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ofvc-nc-final.pdf 1 14/01/2015 3:29:41 PM

To the majority of you reading this – WELCOME BACK!

With funding support from various regional, provincial and federal agencies, students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty researchers to assist industry partners leap forward in the marketplace. We conduct many projects for local companies.

For example, we have been able to:

Solutions for Industry

APPLIED DREAMS.

Do you have an innovative idea but lack the resources to bring it to life? MEET WITH US. WORK WITH US.

t 905-735-2211 Ext. 7172 e [email protected] NiagaraCollege.ca/Research

BUSINES

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COMMERCIAL

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AGRICULTU

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INNOVATION

Develop a

ALCOHOL award-winning

craft lager for MADD VIRGIN DRINKS

Realize a

COST SAVINGS in time and labour for one company by using

3D TECHNOLOGIES

Reduce input costs by

FOR GROWERS,while maximizing yield,

using PRECISION AGRICULTURE TOOLS

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ofvc-nc-final.pdf 1 14/01/2015 3:29:41 PM

M AT T P E T E R S

To those making your first trip to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, welcome to the largest convention in North America that is dedicated to the science and business of producing outdoor fruits and vegetables!

Our diverse and dedicated group of volunteers from the horticulture community has once again come together to organize a great show! Besides the sun, water and soil, it’s the people and relationships we form that help drive our respective businesses. Our organizing team is well aware of this, so this year in addition to our diverse forums for industry personnel and producers to connect, we are happy to add our ‘Meet the Buyer’ event Thursday morning. Our always popular ‘Farmers and Friends’ event is again set for Wednesday night and is designed to celebrate the bounty of local Ontario food, wine, craft beer and cider while providing another great forum for connecting in a fun atmosphere. Don’t miss it!

Once again, with a little (read; a lot) of help from our friends at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, we have put together a world class speaker program. There is huge value in staying on the cutting edge of new developments and it only takes one small piece of new information found during one of our sessions to make a big difference in your business. Thanks to the speakers travelling from near and far and for sharing your hard-earned wealth of knowledge and experience! I challenge you to attend at least one talk that may not directly relate to your business – sometimes a little perspective goes a long way.

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

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

Regards,

M AT T P E T E R SPresident

O N TA R I O F R U I T A N D

V E G E TA B L E C O N V E N T I O N

OFVC PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

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FRIENDS OF THE CONVENTIONMACRO PLASTICS NIAGARA FRUIT & VEGETABLE GROWERS LTD. NORFOLK FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION

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JOB ID: 7913-1_SP

DATE: DEC. 2014

CLIENT:SYNGENTA CANADA

PROJECT:INSPIRE AD

PUBLICATION:ONT. FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONVENTION SHOW GUIDE

DESIGNER:CHRISTINE

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2015 CONVENTION EXHIBITORS608 A & L Canada Laboratories 912 A.M.A. Plastics Ltd.905 Abell Pest Control704 Adama Canada302 Adams County Nursery Inc.330 ADS Canada Inc.1013 AEF Global 724 Agricorp1104 Agriculture & AgriFood Canada1011 Agriculture Solutions533 Agri-Flex900 Agro-100 Ltee125 AgroHaitai Ltd.729 AgroSpray Limited317 AgroThermal Systems309 Allied Associates, LLP Chartered Accountants808 Anatis BioProtection1105 AP Material Handling, A Division of Agri-Plastics Manufacturing1007 Armtec Limited Partnership431 Arysta Life Science732 Axter AgroScience Inc.304 BASF – The Chemical Company— Baxter Kitchens Inc.914 Bayer Crop Science902 Ben Berg Farm & Industrial Equip. Ltd127 Bertie and Clinton Mutual Insurance1016 Besseling Group North America Inc.531 Boyle Tractor400 Brant Radiant Heaters Ltd.524 Burgess Baskets917 C. Frensch Ltd.909 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show1110 Carther Plants624 Central Fabricating & Welding/Raynox629 Cog-Veyor Systems Inc.525 Compac Sorting Equipment730 CP Industries Ltd.701 Crescent Oil/Fuels Inc.705 DeCloet Greenhouse Mfg. Ltd.927 Delaware Pump and Parts Ltd.1,121 DFK Equipment Sales415 Dominion and GrimmEquip Don Arthur Orchard Equipment1020 Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc.1005 Dragonfly IT Inc.921 DuBois Agrinovation Inc.402 DuPont Canada509 Durward Jones Barkwell & Co.409 Earth Alive Clean Technologies710 Eckert Machines313 ECO+1112 Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.502 Engage Agro708 Enza Zaden USA Inc.503 Evergreen Liquid Plant Food510 Farm Credit Canada123 Farm for Profit/Greencrop Agri Products Ltd.820 Farmers’ Markets Ontario807 FBC Canada’s Farm & Small Business Tax Specialist1108 Filmorganic

507 First Genesis Inc.Equip Flexo Products Ltd.500 Form Flex / Metazet321 Frontlink Inc.1118 Fruit & Vegetable Magazine632 Fruit ShieldEquip G.B. Equipements Inc.411 General Seed Company (2000) Ltd.1114 Georgia Pacific Corp.300 Gintec Shade Technologies Inc.911 Global Horticulture Inc.426 Gowan128 Grant Thornton826 Grape Growers of Ontario1009 Grindstone Creek Nursery Inc.829 Growers Mineral SolutionsEquip H & W Equipment607 Harris Moran Seed Co.1116 Harvest Goodies731 Heartnut Grove Inc.804 Highland Fresh Technologies802 Highland Packaging Solutions/ Cas Pack Corporation1004 Hillphoenix700 Hindle’s Clarksburg Hardware413 Horticolor810 IGSA Management1017 Industrial Bags Inc./Sacs Industriels Inc.1000 Informed Energy Solutions408 Janny MT CAEquip JCB/D&W Group513 Johnny’s Selected Seeds630 Kam’s Grower Supply625 KOOLJET Refrigeration Inc.310 Koppert CanadaEquip La Coop Federee – Dispro Machinery & Parts416 Lahave Natural Farms920 Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc. 1015 Lambert Peat Moss Inc.Equip Leading Edge Equipment Ltd.903 Lift Line Machinery Ltd.1001 Liftow Limited424 Lucas Liftruck Services401 Martins Family Farm1109 Meester Insurance Centre420 Meridian Credit Union812 Mori Essex Nurseries Inc.707 Mori Vines Inc.1106 MTX Fruit Ripening Systems NA320 N.M. Bartlett Inc.224 National Leasing

422 Natural Insect Control1006 Niagara College - Research & Innovation809 Niagara North Federation of Agriculture901 Noco Lubricants414 Norseco Inc.801 Northern Equipment Solutions403 Nourse Farms827 NOVC – Niagara Grape & Tender Fruit825 NOVC – Niagara Orchard & Vineyard Corp. 628 NSF GFTC929 Nufarm913 NutriAg Ltd.406 Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)126 OMAFRA122 OMAFRA – Agriculture Development 227 OMAFRA – Agmaps124 OMAFRA – Food Safety & Traceability Programs225 OMAFRA – Horticulture Technology223 OMAFRA – Foodland Ontario1129 O’Neils Farm Equipment417 Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association915 Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association – The Grower1102 Ontario Institute of Agrologists831 Ontario Produce Marketing Assoc.609 Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association1008 Ontariofresh.ca (The Greenbelt Fund)306 Outfront Portable Solutions523 Penn Refrigeration Ltd— Phillips Farm Supplies316 Phytocultures Ltd.506 Pic’s Motor Clinic1111 Plant A Row529 Plant Products Co. Ltd.606 Prairie Forest Products312 Premier Containers (1983) Inc.1022 Premier Equipment Ltd.725 Princeton Wood Preservers Ltd.421 Provide Agro226 Quantum Biotek 627 R.E. Mann Brokers Ltd.1113 R.W. Equipment Ltd.601 Recoltech Inc.Equip Redtrac International Ltd.1002 Robert H. Laning & Sons Ltd.906 Rockford Package Supply626 Rupp Seeds1010 Scholten’s Machinery

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Speaker Sessions Exhibit Booths Cafe / Food Court Registration Poster Display

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE

800 Scigiene Corporation833 Seedway505 Seminova405 Seydaco Packaging Corp.428 SGS Canada703 Shur Farms Frost Protection811 Siegers Seed CompanyEquip Slimline Manufacturing Ltd. (Turbomist)824 St. Catharines New Holland Ltd.633 Sterling Marking Products603 Stokes Seeds Ltd.511 Storage Control Systems315 Strawberry Tyme Farms Inc.907 Structural Panels Inc.129 Summerland Varieties Corp.

727 Sunpack Agro-Plastics Canada Ltd.600 Sunshine Pickles908 Superior PetroFuels1003 Supply Rite Steel706 Syfilco Ltd.430 Sylvite Agri-Services611 Syngenta311 Talk Wireless Inc.702 The Cider KegEquip Tirecraft602 UAP Canada Inc.733 Universal Field Supplies327 University of Guelph – Laboratory Services Division308 UPI

307 V. Kraus Nurseries Ltd.1124 Vailmont Vineyards Ltd.220 Vanden Bussche Irrigation407 Vegetolab Inc.709 Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd.515 Vineland Research and Innovation Centre319 Vinetech Canada Inc.806 VirtualOne Software 828 Warwick Orchards & Nursery Ltd.728 Weather INnovations Consulting LP910 Weening Brothers MFG822 Wellington Wood Products803 Willsie Equipment Sales432 Wilson’s Fresh Blueberries Inc.1107 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

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

SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 9:30 AMSESSIONS DAY 1: MORNING (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

ROOM 201 & 202 ROOM 203 ROOM 204

VEGETABLES CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

ORGANIC WEED CONTROL CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

FIRE BLIGHT CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA

9:30 am Bacterial Leaf Spot Pumpkins/SquashElaine Roddy, OMAFRA

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

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

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

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

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

10:30 am Using Sheep to Manage Weeds and Cover Crops in Horticultural Systems Fabian Menalled, Montana State University

11:00 am Taking Advantage of Weeds Weaknesses Kristen Obeid, OMAFRA

11:30 am EOrganic, An Online ResourceFabian Menalled, Montana State University

Chair: Michael Celetti, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF

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

9:30 am Fire Blight Management Begins with PreventionGeorge Sundin, Michigan State University

10:00 am Fire Blight in My Orchard: Now What? David Rosenberger, Cornell University

10:30 am Alternative and Novel Products for Managing Fire Blight Antonet Svircev, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

11:00 am Grower Perspective: My Experience Managing Fire Blight Cathy McKay, Apple Grower/Consultant; Lindsay Pink, Consultant; Paul Frankis, Apple Grower

11:40 am Q & A Grower/Expert PanelG. Sundin, D. Rosenberger, A. Svircev, C. McKay, M. Porteous, L. Pink, P. Frankis

ROOM 205 ROOM 206 ROOM 207-208

WINERYAPPLE CIDER WORKSHOP

(SWEET AND HARD CIDER)TENDER FRUIT

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Kevin Montgomery, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Wine Council of Ontario

9:30 am Climate Change Adaptation: Updates from the Ontario Grapevine and Wine Research Network

Methoxypyrazine Remediation Andreea Botezatu, Brock University

Optimizing Yeast for Sparkling Wine Production George van der Merwe, University of Guelph

Appassimento-style Wines Debbie Inglis, CCOVI, Brock University

10:45 am Water and Wineries: Mitigating the Risks, Capitalizing on the Opportunities Kevin Jones, BLOOM; Jay Mullin, BLOOM; Jean-Laurent Groux, Stratus Vineyards

Chair: Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA

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

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

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

11:00 am Quality Factors in Cider MakingClaude Jolicoeur, Author, The New Cider Maker’s Handbook

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

9:30 am The Consumer “pear”spective Amy Bowen, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

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

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

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

BALLROOM A BALLROOM B BALLROOM D

BERRIESCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

OFFMA SUMMIT FARMERS’ MARKETS ONTARIO

Chair: Kevin Schooley, Ontario Berry Growers’ Association

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

10:00 am Irrigation and Other Trends in Berry Production in QuebecChristian Houle, Dubois Agrinovation

10:30 am Frost Management: Sprinklers and CoversBarclay Poling, North Carolina State University

11:00 am Water, Nutrients and FertigationDonna Speranzini, AAFC

11:30 am 4 Corners Farm in Vermont, A Farm ProfileBob Gray, 4 Corners Farm

Chair: Leslie Forsythe, Forsythe Family Farms

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

10:30 am Nuggets from the November Study TourStephanie Maynard, Quinn Farm

11:15 am – 11:45 am OFFMA’s Annual General Meeting

Chair: Philip Powell, FMO

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

10:00 am There’s a Fly in My Soup!Lesley Stoyan, Appletree Markets

11:00 am Keep the Health Unit HappyAtul Jain, The Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors of Ontario; Tony Amalfa, Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care

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

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

ROOM 201 & 202 ROOM 203 ROOM 204

SWEET CORNCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

CHANGING POLICIES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOUR FARM

SOILS & SOIL FERTILITYCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Stokes Seeds

2:00 pm New Research on Rust Cheryl Trueman, University of Guelph, Ridgetown

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

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

Chair: Anne Marie Diotte, OMAFRA

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

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

3:10 pm Ag Trade Agreements and What They Mean for Ontario’s FarmersBasia Florio, OMAFRA

3:45 pm Taking a New Approach to Agribusiness ManagementRyan Koeslag, Agriculture Management Institution

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

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

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

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

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


WINERY GRAPE CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

TENDER FRUITCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Kevin Montgomery, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Constellation Brands

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

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

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

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

Chair: Andy Reynolds, Brock University Sponsored by: BASF

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

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

3:00 pm Viticultural Practices and Their Impacton Cold Hardiness: Optimizing Grapevine WinterHardinessJim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University

3:30 pm Development of Plants and Markers to Breed for Winter HardinessAnnette Nassuth, University of Guelph

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

2:00 pm Stone Fruit Game-Changers: Fruiting Wall Training Systems and High TunnelsGreg Lang, Michigan State University

2:30 pm Interventions to Enhance the Microbiological Safety and Shelf-stability of Tender Fruit Keith Warriner, University of Guelph

3:00 pm Serpentine Forced Air Cooling in Bins Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA

3:30 pm Titan Farms, Keys to Our Growth and Success in Peach ProductionChalmers Carrs, Titan Farms, South Carolina

BALLROOM A BALLROOM B BALLROOM D PORT COLBORNE LOUNGE

BERRIESCCA CREDITS AVAILABLE

OFFMA SUMMITFARMERS’ MARKETS

ONTARIOTASTING COMPETITIONS

Chair: Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

2:00 pm Ontario Berry Growers Marketing Board Initiative Jennifer VanDeVelde, President OBGA

2:30 pm Crown Borer and Cane Borers on RaspberriesDoug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech

3:00 pm Using Sandea, Chateau, Goal, Prism, Lontrel and Other Berry Herbicides: What’s Working for Growers in Michigan Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University

3:30 pm Renovating Strawberries — Panel Discussion (45 minutes)Kevin Schooley, OBGA; David Phillips, Avonmore Berry Farm; Kevin Howe, Howe Family Farms

Chair: Leslie Forsythe, Forsythe Family Farms

2:00 pm How to Create a Successful Exit PlanPanel: Steve Smith, Smith’s Apple and Farm Market; Dyann Birtch, formerly of Birtch Farms and Estate Winery; Kathryn Ferretti, Nokara Farms

3:00 pm Coming Back to the FarmMarianne den Haan, Sheldon Creek Dairy

3:30 pm Round Table Talks1) Making Money 101 (Best Business Ideas of 2014); 2) Menu Pricing for Profit; 3) Hosting Profitable Events; 4) New Ideas in Customer Service; Coordinated by Jesse Lauzon, Springridge Farm

Chair: Philip Powell, FMO

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

1:30 pm Annual General Meeting

2:00 pm Good Things Growing! Denise Zaborowski, Barb Smith, Foodland Ontario

2:30 pm The Global Food EconomyTony Weis, Western University

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 2:00 PM

STUDENT POSTER SESSION 8:30 AM TO NOON

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 9:30 AMROOM 201 & 202 ROOM 203 ROOM 204

VEGCONNECT SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILACEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

POLLINATORS IN HORTICULTURECEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

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

9:30 am An Information Tradeshow for All Vegetable Businesses • Drop in to speak with researchers, OMAFRA

specialists and other key industry resources throughout the morning.

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

Chair: Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

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

10:00 am Monitoring for SWD Pam Fisher, OMAFRA

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

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

11:30 am Grower Perspective — How We Manage SWD with Pick-your-own Berry Crops Nate Nourse, Nourse Farms

11:45 am Q&A Guest Speaker Panel

Chair: Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA

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

9:50 am Honeybees in AgricultureErnesto Guzman, University of Guelph

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

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

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


GET RICH QUICK? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW A SPECIALTY CROP

CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

TENDER FRUITCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

GRAPECEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Sean Westerveld, OMAFRA

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

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

10:30 am Pest ManagementMelanie Filotas, OMAFRA; Brian Collins, Collins Farm Produce

11:00 am Grower PanelLaurie Thatcher Craig, Clear Valley Hops; Remi Van De Slyke, King Lake Farms Ltd.; Brian Collins, Collins Farm Produce

Chair: Amanda Green, OMAFRA

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

10:00 am New Varieties, Specialty Varieties and Organics: What do Consumers Want? Crystal Cottrill, Loblaws; Rob Periera, Sobey’s; Greg Maffey, WalMart; Moderator: Mike Ecker, Vineland Growers

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

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

11:45 am – 1:15 pm Fresh Grape AGM

Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Constellation Brands

9:30 am Bird Repellant Research Project; New Zealand Polarized Light System and Predator KestrelsJim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University; Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA

10:00 am Irrigate? Calculate! John A. Anderson, Collins Barrow WCM LLP

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

11:00 am Assessing Botrytis Risk: Should We Do ‘More or Less’ This Season? Kathy Evans, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture


APPLESCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE


Chair: Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF

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

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

10:30 am Cultivar Trial UpdateNick Ibuki, Summerland Varieties

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

Chair: Brian Hugli, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch

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

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

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

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

MARKET LEADERS DAY (for members only)

8:45 am Registration

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

MEET THE BUYER 7:30 AM – 9:15 AM

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 2:00 PMSESSIONS DAY 2: AFTERNOON (All sessions and speakers subject to change)

ROOM 201 & 202 ROOM 203 ROOM 204

HORT ENGINEERINGCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR FARM

POLLINATORS IN HORTICULTURECEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Rebecca Shortt, OMAFRA

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

2:30 pm Spend Cents, but Save Dollars Around Your Cold Storage and Packing FacilityHugh Fraser, OMAFRA

3:00 pm Smartfresh Alternative Application MethodsGeorge Burkholder, SmartFresh

3:30 pm Horticulture Robotics: Where We Are, and Gaps that Need Addressing Medhat Moussa, University of Guelph

Chair: Anne Marie Diotte, OMAFRA

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

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

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

Chair: Paul Kozak, OMAFRA

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

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

2:40 pm Linking Pollinator Services to Northern Blueberry Production Les Eccles, Ontario Beekeepers’ Association

3:00 pm Expert Panel Pollination in Ontario — Your Questions AnsweredN. Raine, E. Guzman, S. Chan, L. Eccles

3:30 pm IPM and PollinatorsHannah Fraser, OMAFRA

3:45 pm Apiculture in Ontario UpdatePaul Kozak, OMAFRA


SPECIALTY TREE CROPSCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

RESEARCH UPDATES GRAPECEU CREDITS AVAILABLE

Chair: Todd Leuty, OMAFRA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2:40 pm Your Short and Long-term Tender Fruit FutureMichael Kauzlaric, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

3:00 pm Long Live Sovereign Coronation: Extending Postharvest StorabilityKimberley Cathline, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

3:20 pm Creating Disease Resistance and Valuable Traits in Greenhouse Vegetables Travis Banks, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

3:40 pm Consumer Science Targets the Sweet Spot for ApplesAmy Bowen, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Chair: Amanda Green, OMAFRA Sponsored by: Engage Agro

2:00 pm Tasmania - An Island with LatitudeKathy Evans, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

2:30 pm Spotted Wing Drosophila in Winegrapes: A Bigger Issue for Eastern Growers than Previously SuspectedDoug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech

3:00 pm Grapevine Red Blotch-Associated Virus: Understanding an Old Virus that was Newly DiscoveredMonica Cooper, UC Coop Extension, Napa CA

3:30 pm Protecting Grapevines from Freeze Injury Using Geotextiles Jim Willwerth, CCOVI, Brock University


APPLESCEU CREDITS AVAILABLE


Chair: Margaret Appleby, OMAFRA Sponsored by: BASF

2:00 pm Modern Pruning Concepts for Precision Cropload ManagementTerence Robinson, Cornell University

2:30 pm Moving Towards Ecologically-Based IPM in Eastern Apple Orchards Dave Biddinger, Pennsylvania State University

3:00 pm Labour Efficiency with Platforms John Molenhuis, OMAFRA

3:30 pm Orchards of the FutureTerence Robinson, Cornell University

Chair: Brian Hugli, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch

1:30 pm Making Money with Your POS System Larry Wolfe, Armagh POS Solutions

2:00 pm Getting Your Message Across with VideosAllyson Reid, Chockablock

3:00 pm Exploring Value Added OpportunitiesAdrienne De Schutter, OMAFRA; Jessica Kelly, OMAFRA; Peter Coughler, OMAFRA; Jason Persall, Pristine Gourmet; Brent Preston, Gillian Flies, The New Farm

1:00 pm A Chef’s PerspectiveChef Cindy Bircham, Elgin Harvest

2:00 pm Market Insurance 101Robert Chorney, FMO

2:30 pm Get Energized! An Organized Sharing of Ideas & Experiences with Your Colleagues! Facilitators: Tom Neufeld, Vineland; Ted Smith, Manitoulin Island; Jenny Groenheide, Thunder Bay; Matthew Bulmer, Aberfoyle

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

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

TRAVIS BANKSTravis joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009. As the Research Scientist, Bioinformatics, he is a core member of the Applied Genomics section helping to

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

DAVID BIDDINGERDavid is a 5th generation Michigan farm kid who received a BS and MS in entomology at Michigan State University and PhD in entomology at Penn State University. He put himself through college as an IPM scout

and consultant in field crops and vegetables and worked R&D for Rohm & Haas Chemical Company for 8 years before returning to Penn State in 2002. Currently he is an associate professor in Entomology and has worked for 12 years as the tree fruit research entomologist at the remote Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center near Gettysburg, PA.

DAVE BILYEADavid is a graduate of Ridgetown College and is employed in weed control studies since 1979. He is a weed science technician involved with horticulture crops and other related weed science

projects and has been teaching weed identification seminars for over 20 years.

CINDY BIRCHAMChef Cindy grew up in Aylmer, an agriculturally rich and diverse area of southwestern Ontario. She began her culinary career, graduating from the Stratford Chefs School (2002), and

obtained her red seal certification. Landing back in Elgin County ten years later after working in restau-rants throughout the province, she was amazed at the abundance of producers and products that dotted the community. She began her own food producing business called Elgin Harvest.

DYANN BIRTCHDyann and Bob owned Birtch Farms for 35 years and the farm evolved from wholesale apple farming to retail and adventure farming including a bakery, winery, playground, school

tours and much more up until December 2012. They began thinking about an exit strategy in the late 90’s with a 5–10 year plan. Bob is currently employed part time with Agricorp as a crop insurance adjuster and Dyann works part time consulting with a local farm.

MANUS BOONZAIERManus works in a management position at Algoma Orchards in Newcastle, Ontario. He grew up on a citrus farm in South Africa and earned a degree in Pomoloy and started working as a farm

manager on a Wine and Olive farm. He has worked as a Crop Protection manager overseeing all aspects of crop protection, BRC and Global Gap audits and started working at Algoma in October 2013.

GERBE BOTDENGerbe is a second-generation apple grower in the southern Georgian Bay area of Ontario. His parents started Botden Orchards in 2001, with the first orchard being planted in 2004.

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

LOUISE AGIUSLouise attended the University of Guelph, graduating with a BSc in Biochemistry. Following her undergraduate education, she worked in industry for three years, holding various roles in

food safety and quality assurance in several food processing environments. Her industry experience led her to return to academia where she obtained a MSc in Food Safety and Quality Assurance plus Toxicology. Louise joined OMAFRA in March 2014 as a Risk Management Specialist. In this role, she has particularly focused on cider production and has been helping industry professionals improve the food safety of their cider products and achieve effective cleaning and sanitation.

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

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

TONY AMALFATony joined the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in September of 2007 after thirty years of public health experience at the local public health unit level. In his current

position with the ministry, he is responsible for lead-ing and supporting provincial policy decisions and the development, implementation of environmental health programs. Tony works very closely with key stakeholders including public health units, provincial and federal ministries, agencies, and industry in the areas of Safe Drinking Water, Recreational Water, Food Safety and Environmental Health.

JOHN ANDERSONJohn is a consultant to Collins Barrow WCM LLP and provides Agricultural Business Management and Farm Succession Advisory services to their Agri-Business

and Family Farm Succession suite of programs. He has extensive experience in Business Management Planning, Succession Planning, Scenario Planning, Computerized Analysis Services, and Facilitation

SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIESONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION 2015

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AMY BOWENAmy joined the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009 as a member of the Consumer Insights team. Using an integrated approach, the Consumer Insights group

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

ANDREEA BOTEZATUDr. Botezatu has graduated from the University of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine in Lasi, Romania with an Honours Degree in Horticulture, major-ing in Oenology. She has a

Masters Degree in Agricultural Business Management and a PhD in Biological Sciences. She currently works as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Brock University investigating remediation options for wines with elevated alky-methoxypyrazine levels.

ASTRID BRUMMERJoining the LCBO team in 2001, Astrid has had extensive experi-ence sharing her passion for the world of wine, beer and spirits. She is an expert on the local wine scene and thoroughly

enjoys her role helping consumers discover great local wines and ensuring that Ontario wineries find success at the LCBO.

MATTHEW BULMERMatthew farms in Wellington County and is the Executive Director and Manager of the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market. Matthew’s involvement as a member of his local municipal

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

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

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

CHALMERS R. CARR IIIChalmers is the owner/operator and president of Titan Farms, the premier grower and packer of peaches and vegetables in the Eastern United States. He is involved in daily farm op-

erations overseeing everything from harvesting and food safety to sales and marketing. He is a member of the South Carolina Agriculture Commission and is also treasurer of the South Carolina Peach Council, chairman of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Labor Committee and past chairman of the American Farm Bureau Labor Committee. Over the years Chalmers has received many professional accolades, including South Carolina Farmer of the Year and most re-cently being awarded the Timothy Vaux Outstanding Alumni Leadership Award from United Fresh Produce Association.

KIMBERLEY CATHLINEKimberley joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2013 as Senior Research Technician, Postharvest Science. She is involved in research which investigates the

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

MIKE CELETTIMichael is the Plant Pathologist, Program Lead for Horticulture Crops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Plant Science

at the University of Guelph. After obtaining his gradu-ate degrees in Plant Pathology from the University of Guelph, he researched disease management at the Agriculture University in The Netherlands. Upon returning to Canada, Mike worked for the Prince Edward Island Potato Marketing Board researching disease and nematode management in rotation crops with potatoes. His interests in chemical control lead him to a position with an international pesticide manufacturing company in western Canada. Prior to joining OMAFRA in 1998, he was the Provincial Plant Pathologist for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

CHAWANA CHAMPAGNE Chawana is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience working with various fortune 500 companies and many lo-cal non-profits. Her work can be found around the Mohawk

College Campus, The Bridal Guide and most recently, at the Megalomaniac Winery — John Howards Cellars of Distinction. In her current role at Aulward Graphics, she has become a valuable source for creative ideas and concepts and has developed many unique market-ing materials that produce results. She is also a pro-vincial member of the RGD, Association of Registered Graphic Designers.

SUSAN CHANSusan is a pollination biologist (MSc Guelph) with a back-ground in agriculture (BSc McGill) and education (BEd UWO). She has a long-standing special interest in the native pol-

linator, Peponapis pruinosa, commonly known as the squash bee. Susan researches the ecology of the pol-lination system of Cucurbita crops (pumpkin, squash, summer squash), especially as it relates to nesting habits, foraging efficiency, and reproductive efficiency of that crop’s pollinators. She also manages the Native Pollinator Program for Farms at Work, a not-for-profit charitable project of Tides Canada located in central Ontario. Through Farms at Work, Susan has a special interest in designing pollinator habitat that fits within a broad range of productive farming systems.

BOB CHORNEYBob has served as the Executive Director of Farmers’ Markets Ontario since its inception over twenty years ago. He has provided leadership for this provincial association to sup-

port Farmers’ Markets across the province and led innovative branding programs for bonafide farmers to distinguish their product for the benefit of consumers. During his time in contributing to the renaissance of Farmers’ Markets in Ontario, Bob has helped orga-nize 100 new Farmers’ Markets. Bob is passionate about Farmers’ Markets and understands how they contribute to the soul of a community. His inspiration continues to motivate community leaders to take the necessary steps to strengthen the role of Farmers’ Markets in the community.

DAN CLARKEDan was born and raised on a beef farm in northern Ontario. He attended the University of Guelph receiving an Associate Diploma in Agriculture as well as a Bachelor of Science

in Agriculture. Upon graduation, Dan worked in Australia on a dairy farm. When he returned to Canada, Dan worked for a major fertilizer company and a global crop protection company before joining A&L Laboratories in 2013. Dan obtained his CCA

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

DR. JOHN CLINEDr. Cline is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph where he conducts tree fruit physiology research. John is also involved in teach-

ing graduate and undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, and provides extension ser-vices to the industry, growers and stakeholders. He holds a BSc in soil science (University of Guelph), MSc in horticulture (Michigan State University), and a PhD in Horticulture (University of London, Wye College, UK).

BRIAN COLLINSBrian is a 5th generation veg-etable farmer who is currently finishing his masters at the University of Guelph in veg-etable pathology. Brian grows bunched leafy green vegetables

along side his parents (Ken and Caroll) on their farm in Hamilton.

MONICA COOPERSince April 2009, Dr. Cooper has held a farm Advisor – Viticulture position with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Napa County. She holds a BSc in Biology

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

CRYSTAL COTTRILLWith over 23 years’ experience in the produce industry, Crystal has worked many facets of the business including foodservice, wholesale, and retail. Starting as an Administrative Assistant

at the Ontario Food Terminal, she progressed to vari-ous category manager roles through her time at 4 dif-ferent companies. For the past 9 years, Crystal works as the Senior Category Manager at Loblaw Companies managing grapes, soft fruit, and seasonal fruits.

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

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

Brighton. He has a variety of work experiences, includ-ing teaching farm management courses at Macdonald Campus—McGill University, manager within govern-ment and operating a dairy farm.

ADRIENNE DE SCHUTTERAdrienne is a Training and Skills Advisor in OMAFRA’s Business Management Unit. In this role, Adrienne coordinates develop-ment of new training materials and played a key role in the

creation of the Ministry’s Exploring Value Added Opportunities (EVAO) course.

MARIANNE DEN HAANMarianne was raised on a dairy farm in Loretto, Ontario. In 2012, her family opened an on-farm dairy processing facil-ity, Sheldon Creek Dairy. They currently farm 400 acres, milk

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

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

COURTNEY DOBIASCourtney graduated from Brock University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Business Communications. While at Brock she started working for Pillitteri Estates Winery in

their retail store. In the spring of 2007 Courtney was promoted to Domestic Sales Manager. Going into her 9th year with Pillitteri, Courtney currently heads up the Domestic Sales channels that include: interpro-vincial sales, duty free, LCBO, licensees and farmers’ markets. In 2010 Courtney and her partner, Tim Lamb, started Infusion Tea – a local organic loose-leaf tea company based out of Fort Erie.

LES ECCLESLes is the new Tech-Transfer Program Lead and started his agricultural career on a dairy and beef operation, managing a 125 head dairy and beef herd, which included crop management, nu-

trition, and a genetic program. Les’s educational back-ground includes both a diploma in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Les returned to Ontario after spending two years in Mexico working with beekeepers and development organizations to transfer beekeeping technology into the field, and certify beekeeping operations for honey exportation to European markets.

MICHAEL (MIKE) ECKERMichael is the President of Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd., the leading marketer of stone fruit in Canada. He is currently a Director of the Canadian Produce Marketing

Association and chairs the Canadian Government Issues Management Committee. He is a past ap-pointee of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Stakeholders Committee and sits on the Advisory Committee to the Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board and the Fresh Fruit Marketing Advisory Committee. He is a past President of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association and served as a Director for several years as well as a past Director of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) who served on the AAC’s Marketing & Communications Committee and on the Food and Beverage Industry Innovation Fund Committee.

EVAN ELFORDEvan is the New Crop Development Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) based in Simcoe, Ontario. He works on

developing information related to specialty crop pro-duction and marketing for a range of crops including ethno-cultural vegetables, specialty berries, specialty grains, and other crops such as hops. Evan grew up on a hog farm in Cannington, Ontario and prior to joining the ministry, he worked for the University of Guelph, industry associations and a horticultural farm operation.

DR. KATHY EVANSDr. Evans is a Senior Research Fellow and Convenor of Industry Development and Extension for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania. She

is focussing on people and processes within TIA to ensure effective integration of research and exten-sion, including partnerships to accelerate agricultural innovation. Her work on wine-grape disease epidemi-ology and management has been extended through Australia’s Grape and Wine Innovator’s Network,

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

BASIA FLORIOBasia is currently the Manager of the Strategy, Intergovernmental Relations and Trade Unit in the Strategic Policy Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She has

been with the Ministry since 2006 and has acted as a key negotiator for Ontario with the federal govern-ment on the GF2 bilateral agreement and previous to that spent time acting as a Senior Policy Advisor focused on FPT and Trade. In addition to these more recent experiences, she has worked as a policy analyst in policy shops focused on trade and intergovern-mental relations with both the Federal and Provincial governments. Her post-secondary education was also focused on trade and intergovernmental relations at both the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto.

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

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

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

closed in 2008, the cling stone peach acres were converted to grapes. Currently they grow 4 varieties of grapes for Henry of Pelham Winery in St. Catharines. An on-farm market was started in 1998 and has ex-perienced steady growth primarily due to the bakery featuring homemade pies and tarts. The farm also has 5 lakefront cottages on the property. While Joe continues to run the farm, Kathryn is more involved in managing the on-farm guest cottages situated along their lakefront property. With no family members tak-ing over the business, and Kathryn reaching her 60th birthday, exit planning is a key issue.

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

responsible for identifying pests and pest manage-ment solutions for specialty crops in Ontario, including sweet potatoes, lavender, herbs, tree nuts, hops and low acreage fruits and vegetables. Dr. Filotas has a BSc in environmental science from Carleton University and a PhD in entomology from Cornell University. Prior to joining OMAFRA in 2006, she worked as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture looking at the use of biopesticides, natural enemies and other reduced risk products to control insects in commercial greenhouses.

PAM FISHERPam is the Berry Crop Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Simcoe. She and the OMAFRA berry team teach grow-ers and scouts about berry crop pest management and work with growers to solve problems in the field. Recent projects have been focussed on spotted wing drosophila, nematode management, strawberry virus diseases and day-neutral strawberry production.

REGINA FOISEYRegina is a Senior Marketing Manager with the Ontario Wine Council and started in the wine industry in 1995. She has worked in a retail setting at a wine kiosk, then moving to a winery where

she managed a tasting bar and executed tours for visitors. She also assisted with harvest and vineyard management to gain a full 360 degree view of the industry. She moved to the Wine Council of Ontario

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

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

HANNAH FRASERHannah is the provincial Entomology Program Lead (Horticulture) with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She spends most of her time working with

colleagues on new pest issues, including invasive insects that have made their way to Ontario, and on potential pest management solutions. She is the co-editor of Hort Matters, published weekly during the growing season. When she isn’t in the field looking for things with six (or eight) legs, you can find her at the Vineland campus.

HUGH FRASERHugh is an Extension Agricultural Engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at Vineland. He grew up on a dairy farm and has worked with

horticultural growers across the province for over 25 years on post-harvest cooling, handling and storage of horticultural produce, crop protection with wind machines and bird control techniques and mediation between neighbours and growers on nuisance noise.

MORRIS GERVAISMorris is a second-generation farmer, who owns and operates Barrie Hill Farms, just outside of Barrie, Ontario. Originally a tobacco farm, the farm exited the tobacco industry by begin-

ning to grow “pick your own” (PYO) strawberries in the late seventies. Throughout the eighties, the farm expanded its offerings to include asparagus as well as PYO raspberries and PYO blueberries. Morris gradu-ated from the University of Guelph with a degree in agriculture in 1989 and after four years of full time employment, he realized big corporate life was not for him, and began farming full time alongside his parents in 1993. The farm now produces over 150 acres of fruits and vegetables, the majority of which is sold either PYO, or at its on-farm market.

ROBERT GRAYFor more than three decades, Bob and Kim Gray have suc-cessfully navigated their way to a diversified growing operation in West Newbury, Vt. Their 225-acre farm called 4 Corners Farm

is located in the Connecticut River Valley, overlooking the White Mountains. The farm grows a wide variety of vegetables along with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, many of which can be found under more than a dozen greenhouses and high tunnels located throughout the sprawling property. The farm also has a herd of Jersey milk cows. A busy farm stand within the massive, 200-year-old original barn is one outlet for 4 Corners’ produce, with other farmers’ markets in the region also being lucrative. They specialize in strawberries (5 acres) and greenhouse tomatoes as well as a variety of other fruits and vegetables.

JENNY GROENHEIDEJenny is a beef farmer in South Gillies, in north-western Ontario. Understanding the importance to her business of selling product locally, her farm has gotten involved with

the local farmers’ market. Her focus is to help move agriculture and farmers’ markets forward. She is cur-rently finishing her term on the Board of Directors with Farmers’ Markets Ontario. In addition to FMO, she has spent two terms on the board at The Thunder Bay Country Market and has been on the Board of Directors for the Hymers Agricultural Society where she continues to work as a volunteer.

ERNESTO GUZMANDr. Guzman is a Professor and Director of the Honey Bee Research Centre in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph. He has ample beekeeping, academic

and research experience. He started to keep bees in 1978, has taught courses in Apiculture and Genetics and has conducted multiple research projects. His research has been focused on the genetics, behav-iour, and parasitic mites of honey bees. His studies have contributed to the understanding of foraging behaviour, defensive behaviour, and the mechanisms that confer resistance to honey bees against parasitic mites, which is a critical area that addresses the most serious problem beekeepers face worldwide.

DR. CAROLINE HALDEDr. Halde grew up on an or-ganic dairy and grain farm near Montreal, QC. She received a BSc in Agronomy from Université Laval, a MSc in Agriculture from Dalhousie University, and a PhD

in Plant Science from the University of Manitoba. Her PhD research focused on the use of cover crop mulch-es for weed control and reducing tillage in organic farming systems. She has also worked as an organic inspector in Québec. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in sustainable agriculture at Cornell University,

working on weed control in organic farming systems. Caroline’s research interests include agronomy, weed ecology, soil fertility, and soil ecology.

CHRIS HAWORTH West Avenue Cider was found-ed by British born cider maker Chris Haworth in 2012. Chris’ cultural roots have inspired West Avenue’s year-round staple “Heritage Dry”. As a

former chef in top U.K. restaurants, his culinary roots have inspired his limited release barrel-aged and cask conditioned ciders. When he’s not harvesting fruit in countryside orchards, Chris can be found in the city collaborating with the finest restaurants and brewer-ies to produce one-off, experimental ciders. West Avenue Cider won the prestigious Golden Tap award in 2014 for Best Cider in Ontario.

ADAM HAYESAdam has a long history with the ministry beginning with soil conservation work and time as a soil and crop specialist. The second half of his career has been spent as a soil manage-

ment specialist promoting soil management best management practices. He initiated the Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days at Ridgetown and has chaired the Southwest Agricultural Conference for the last 6 years. His current focus is on promoting and measur-ing soil health. In 2014, Adam was the inaugural recipient of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s Soil Champion Award.

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

BEN HINDMARSHBen has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Guelph. He has a variety of experience in deer management including six years with the Ministry of Natural

Resources as a Management Biologist and Fish and Wildlife Specialist. He is currently an Environmental Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, based in the Woodstock office.

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CHRIS HIEMSTRAChris and his wife, Christy, purchased his parent’s bee operation in 2000. They have expanded the apiary, and now ship three transport loads of honeybees to the Maritimes

for blueberry pollination. Chris has a passion for people and bees. Each season, they educate over 5,000 school children with bee tours. The beekeep-ing farm is a tourist destination and welcomes over 30,000 visitors, each summer, to explore the world of honeybees and have a family adventure. Chris previously worked in the greenhouse industry as technician in bumblebee pollination and Biological Control and is a recipient of multiple awards such as Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer, Farm Marketer of the year, Innovation in AgriFood, and Chamber Of Commerce Business of the Year.

CHRISTIAN HOULEWith an education in indus-trial design, Christian joined PlastiTech in 1996, as an ir-rigation and machinery advisor, which in 2005 became Dubois Agrinovation. Over the years,

his passion for irrigation has allowed him to introduce new irrigation products and techniques with the aim of helping growers to be more efficient.

NICK IBUKINick is a horticulturalist with Summerland Varieties Corp., (SVC) for the last 11 years and is the current Operations Manager. He has a science de-gree from UBC and now works

with the national testing program for apples, cher-ries and berries in Canada, responsible for managing global Plant Breeders Rights, patents and IP work, overseeing Budwood operations horticultural team and liaising with growers and partners nationally and internationally.

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

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

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

ATUL JAINAtul has worked as a Certified Public Health Inspector/Public Health Professional for the past 20 years. He has worked at five different Public Health Units in Ontario, at the Ministry of

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

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

A mechanical engineer by profession, Claude first developed his passion for apples and cider after acquiring a piece of land on which there were four rows of old abandoned apple trees. He started making cider in 1988 using a “no-compromise” approach, stubbornly searching for the highest possible quality. Since then, his ciders have earned many awards and medals at competitions, including a Best of Show at the prestigious Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP).

KEVIN A. JONESKevin is a business executive with more than 25 years of diversified experience in the private and public sector. He is the President and CEO of The BLOOM Centre of Sustainability

where he provides the vision and strategic direction for the organization. Currently, he is leading strategic initiatives to drive change and advance adoption of innovative water and water related solutions in Ontario’s wine industry and other food and beverage processing sectors. A key aspect and success factor of these initiatives is making the connection between water, food sector profitability, risk management, infrastructure optimization, economic develop-ment and environmental protection. Kevin has an Executive MBA from Athabasca University, a MSc in Environmental Planning from the University of Toronto and an Honours BA from McMaster University.

MICHAEL KAUZLARICMichael joined the Business Development team at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009 as Technology Scout & Grower Outreach. In this role, Michael scouts for new tech-

nologies, including various tree fruit varieties to fill gaps in the existing pipelines and to improve the over-all profitability of the Canadian horticulture sector. He is also Vineland’s liaison to various grower networks across the country. Ultimately, Michael searches for new ways to reduce labour, increase yields and improve the profit picture for the horticulture industry. Michael is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a BSc (Horticulture Major) and is actively involved with his family tender fruit and grape operation in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

JESSICA KELLYJessica is the Direct Farm Marketing Program Lead within the Business Management Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Based in Elora, she

provides business related support to farmers’ markets and direct farm marketers throughout the province. She studied business administration at the Richard Ivey School of Business and agricultural economics at the University of Guelph.

CHRISTOPH KESSELChristoph is the Nutrition (Horticulture) Program Lead with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He works with industry associations, researchers and

ministry colleagues to improve crop fertility management in horticultural crops through research projects, dem-onstrations and workshops. After graduating from the University of Guelph, he worked in the nursery industry before joining OMAFRA as the Nursery Crops Specialist. He is a Certified Crop Advisor, an honourary member of the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, and a recipient of the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association Past Presidents’ Award.

RYAN KEOSLAGRyan has been involved with AMI since its formation and in 2009 was named its Executive Director. He regularly travels throughout Ontario, Canada, and abroad to conduct presen-

tations regarding AMI’s business and research. Ryan continues to be actively involved with his family’s dairy operation in addition to his cash crop farm in Wellington County. Ryan’s agribusiness education comes from both the University of Guelph and Olds College in Alberta.

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PAUL KOZAKPaul is the Provincial Apiarist for Ontario, based in Guelph, with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in

Entomology, both the University of Manitoba. For graduate work, Paul worked under the guidance of Dr. Rob Currie, researching the winter biology of honey bees and varroa mites and various management strat-egies for varroa in enclosed systems, including formic acid fumigation in indoor wintering buildings. Paul worked as a research associate for the University of Manitoba, studying the use of oxalic fumigation for the management of varroa in packages and as a bee inspector for the province of Manitoba. More recently, Paul worked as the Associate Extension Apiculturist through the Dyce Lab for honey bee studies, Cornell University and New York State Integrated Pest Management.

TREVOR AND TRACY LAINGThe Laing’s founded Algoma Highlands in Wawa, Ontario, where they reside with their four children. In 2006, 605 acres of lands adjacent to the community were purchased

along with a long-term lease of a vacant tree nursery. Development has progressed with over 350 acres of land being converted into viable blueberry fields. In

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

TRACY LAMBTracy has been promoting local food, farmers and agriculture for over 25 years. She is pas-sionate about the connection between food and health, the need to appreciate and under-

stand where our food comes from and the vital role that farmers’ markets play in that connection. Tracy and her team develop and implement provincial and national programs to raise awareness, motivate shifts in attitudes and behaviours and increase produc-tion and consumption of locally-produced food. An expert in marketing communications in agri-food, Tracy has extensive knowledge of all parts of the value chain, from producer to retailer and from influencer to consumer.

GREGORY LANGGregory earned his BS at University of Georgia and his graduate degrees at University of California-Davis, and has served on the horticulture fac-ulties at Louisiana, Washington,

and Michigan State Universities. Greg has conducted research in tree fruit production and environmental stress physiology, variety and rootstock evaluation, and innovative fruit production systems, with special emphasis on sweet cherries. His laboratory teams have been instrumental in advancing and adopt-ing dwarfing precocious rootstocks and protective orchard covering technologies as well as the devel-opment of new cherry varieties and high efficiency canopy training systems.

JOHN LAUZONJohn has been a soil science professor at the University of Guelph since 2000. He cur-rently teaches introductory soil science courses, 4th year courses in soil and nutrient

management as well as graduate level instruction in soil nutrient management. Research interests focus on crop nutrient management strategies to maximize the agronomic use of plant nutrients and minimize losses.

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

CAROL LEPAGE Carol has been involved in the Niagara wine industry for the past 15 years. A certified Sommelier, she is the Director of Sales at Reif Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A fre-

quent presenter at wine events and trade shows, her true passion is in creating the ultimate dining experi-ence by finding the perfect match of wine and food.

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

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

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

ERIN LIZOTTEErin is the state wide Integrated Pest Management Educator with Michigan State University Extension and is affiliated with the MSU IPM Program Office in East Lansing. Erin received

her Bachelors of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan Technological University and her Masters of Plant Pathology from Michigan State University. She is responsible for developing and conducting re-search and programming to address the priority needs of Michigan agricultural industries. Specific areas of research and outreach include pesticide resistance, reduced input production systems, Christmas trees and minor emerging crops of interest including hops and chestnuts.

MARYSE LEBLANCMaryse holds a PhD and MSc degrees in weed science from McGill University. She joined the MAPAQ (Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) in 1992 and has been loaned to

IRDA (Research and Development Institute for the Agri-environment) as a research scientist since 1998. She is currently working on physical and cultural weed man-agement (flaming, mechanical weed control, mulching, biofumigation). Her research interests include biology and ecology of weeds and collaborates with numerous government, university and industry groups.

TERENCE LEE ROBINSONTerence is a Professor of Horticulture at Cornell University’s Geneva Experiment Station with a 40% Research and a 60% Extension appoint-ment. His research program is

aimed at developing improved orchard management practices to improve yield, fruit quality and profit-ability of apple, cherry, peach and pear orchards. His areas of specialization are high density orchard planting systems, rootstocks, pruning and training, thinning, and fertigation and is the co-leader of Cornell’s apple rootstock program. Over the last 30 years he has worked to develop new more productive and profitable orchard systems and new rootstocks

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GREG LOEBDr. Loeb received his PhD in Entomology from the University of California at Davis in 1989. He began working at the Geneva campus of Cornell University in the Department of Entomology

as an Assistant Professor in 1995 with research and extension responsibilities for grapes and small fruit crops. Broadly speaking, his research expertise is in applied insect ecology with particularly interest in plant-insect interactions, biological control and integrated pest management. A significant amount of his effort in the past two years has focused on the biology and management of spotted wing drosophila.

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

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

RICH MARINIRich is head of the Plant Science Department at Penn State University. He received a BS from the University of Massachusetts and a MS from the University of Vermont in

Plant Science. After receiving a PhD in Horticulture at Virginia Tech he served 4 years as an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University as a fruit tree physiolo-gist working primarily with peaches as well as teaching courses in fruit science. He returned to Virginia Tech and was the tree fruit extension specialist for 19 years before joining Penn State. His research interests include crop load management, pruning, rootstock and variety evalu-ation and canopy management of peach and apple trees.

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

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

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

MARGARET MAY Margaret has been involved with program delivery with OSCIA since 1987. She is an outstanding presenter, skilled communicator and is highly re-spected in the farm community

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

STEPHANIE MAYNARDStephanie is co-owner with her husband Phil Quinn of Quinn Farm in Ile-Perrot, Quebec. Together they grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins

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

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

SAM MCLEANSam began farming in 1991 on a small farm in Buckhorn, Ontario, growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. His farm, McLean Berry Farm, has continued to grow and expand

over the years and along with his children, they now have two farms with PYO and pre-picked fruits and vegetables, attend various farmers markets and sell to a wide variety of wholesale markets.

MARY LYNN MCPHERSONMary Lynn is a member of strive!, a company focussed on helping boards and senior management of organizations lead well. Whether facilitating strategic planning, coaching

teams, or consulting with boards, she is keen to provide fuel for forward momentum and positive change. Mary Lynn is a former farm girl, agriculture account manager, and agrologist with Royal Bank. She has chaired several boards and her community service work has been recognized by the University of Guelph’s Alumni Association Volunteer award. Mary Lynn is a Myers-Briggs personality type indicator (MBTI) practitioner and is qualified to facilitate all of Patrick Lencioni’s content, including The Advantage and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

FABIAN MENALLEDDr. Menalled is a Professor of Agroecology and Intergraded Weed Management at Montana State University (MSU). He re-ceived his BS from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina,

and a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, USA. Prior to his appointment at MSU, Dr. Menalled conducted research on weed ecology and manage-ment at Iowa State University and Michigan State University. Dr. Menalled’s research and extension focuses on understanding the mechanisms condition-ing the abundance and distribution of annual and perennial weeds in agricultural systems. His interests include weed population and community dynamics, crop-weed competition and weed management in conventional and alternative cropping systems.

JOHN MOLENHUISJohn has been with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as the Business Analysis and Cost of Production Program Lead for the past 14 years. In this role

he leads projects in the area of cost of production and financial benchmarking. John has been involved with the Apple Cost of Production study and the Platform Labour Savings Study with the Ontario Apple Growers. John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Guelph and grew up on a farrow-to-finish hog operation outside of Strathroy, Ontario.

KEVIN MONTGOMERYKevin helps connect businesses with resources and knowledge to enhance competitiveness and capture new opportuni-ties. His career began with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,

Food and Rural Affairs in 1991. Currently, he covers south-western Ontario working with food, beverage and bio-based companies. Kevin is currently the wine sector lead for the Business and Development Unit.

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MEDHAT MOUSSADr. Moussa has considerable ex-pertise in the areas of intelligent robotics, computer vision, arti-ficial intelligence and computer systems. He has been working in these fields for over 17 years

and has published many articles in premier journals like the IEEE Transactions on Robotics. Dr. Moussa’s robotics related research focuses on developing in-telligent robots for traditional industrial applications like automotive as well as non-traditional applications like agriculture. His team has recently field-tested a robotics system for automating vegetable greenhouse operations which was developed in close collabora-tion with growers and other stakeholders. He has a PhD in Systems Design Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.

JAY MULLIN Jay has extensive experience as-sessing innovative technologies, evaluating industrial processes, and quantifying environmental, economic and social impacts. As a Technical Project Manager

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

ANNETTE NASSUTHAnnette obtained her BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in molecular biology and biochemistry in The Netherlands. This was followed by post-doctoral positions at the Max-Planck-Institute at Munich

and at the University of Ottawa before joining the University of Guelph as a faculty member. She has been working on the coping mechanisms of plants with stress for many years, with an emphasis on the molecular basis of low temperature tolerance in grapes for the last 15 years. This included a collabora-tion with grape breeder Helen Fisher to develop more frost hardy wine grapes. To encourage exchange of information between as many people related to the wine grape Industry as possible, she is a CCOVI fellow since 2010, and as such, has participated in the CCOVI seminar series and in projects that span research from field to the bottle.

TOM NEUFELDTom owns 350 acres of land that he farms near Vineland in the Niagara area. The farm consists of cash crop wheat, corn and soy beans along with raising beef cattle. Around 15 acres

of the operation is concentrated on market garden vegetables that are sold on 5 different markets in the Niagara area. They grow a variety of vegetables, with the primary ones being potatoes, sweet corn, beans, peas, and tomatoes. The Neufeld family has been associated with the St. Catharines market since 1932 making them the longest serving vendors there.

NATE NOURSENate is a Berry Production Specialist and past positions include past President North American Strawberry Growers Association, past President North American Raspberry

Blackberry Growers Association, Production Committee Chair National Berry Crops Initiative, Executive Board Member New England Vegetable Growers Association as well as Executive Board Member National Clean Plant Network Berries.

KRISTEN OBEIDKristen has a Master’s degree in weed science from the University of Manitoba and an honours bachelor of science degree from the University of Guelph. As the Ontario

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

CHERYL PECKCheryl, known as “The Cider Boss”, lives and works on the 4th generation family farm op-eration near Vittoria, Ontario. Along with her husband Scott, Director of Planning and

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

ROB PERIERARob is the region director for produce in Ontario for Sobey’s. He has over 15 years of experi-ence starting as a part time produce clerk in a Toronto

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

JASON PERSALLA fourth generation family farmer, Jason is well recognized as an advocate for local food and value added. Ten years ago, Jason vertically integrated the 1,000 acre family cash crop farm

in Norfolk County to include virgin cold pressed oils (canola, sunflower and soybean oils) made from a cold press mill he designed himself. This remains a core part of the Pristine Gourmet business with other products including edible beans, pulses and by-products. Their gourmet products are sold to hundreds of restaurants and retail stores across Ontario, Quebec and western Canada.

DOUG PFEIFFERDoug has belonged to the faculty of the Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, since December 1981. His re-search and extension programs emphasize vineyard, small fruit

and orchard crops. Important insects in recent years have been Japanese beetle, grape root borer, grape berry moth, and the sharpshooter vectors of Pierce’s disease. However, current attention has largely shifted to spotted wing drosophila and brown marmorated stink bug. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in integrated pest management, and a graduate course in insect morphology. He co-directs the college’s Online Masters in Agricultural and Life Sciences degree program.

LINDSAY PINKLindsay is an independent con-sultant that works primarily for the commercial apple growers in the southern Georgian Bay region of Ontario.

BARCLAY POLINGIn his three decades devoted to extension and research at N.C. State, Dr. Poling has been di-rectly involved with introducing and implementing plasticulture production methods in North

Carolina. He also helped develop plug technology for strawberries and has championed the use of floating row covers. He retired from NC State in December, 2010, after 31 years of service but re-mains active in the strawberry industry and recently completed his tenure as interim executive director of the North Carolina Strawberry Association from January – November 2014.

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Shortly after graduating, Valerio accepted a Post Doc position with the Genomics Integration group at Pioneer Hi Bred headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, where he identified and developed genome wide genetic markers in soybean. In 2007, he accepted a Research Scientist position with Pioneer Hi Bred in Caledon, Ontario, as a molecular breeder for several crops including canola, sunflower, sorghum and rice. Valerio received his BSc in Biochemistry from McGill University and his MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Guelph. In 2004, Valerio com-pleted his PhD at the University of Guelph where he identified genetic regions associated with isoflavone content in soybean seed.

NIGEL RAINENigel, a leader in pollination conservation and ecol-ogy from Britain, joined the University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences (SES) in May 2014 as the Rebanks Family

Chair in Pollinator Conservation. He was previously a faculty member in the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway University of London. Raine studies the impacts of pesticides on bees, insect behaviour and pollination ecology. At Guelph, he will raise awareness of the importance and plight of pollinators, inform public policy, and help train highly qualified conservationists and agriculturalists, all critical to the health of pollinators and food systems. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Entomological Society and the Linnean Society of London, has held academic posi-tions at Sheffield University, the Zoological Society of London and Queen Mary University of London and has studied zoology and biological sciences at Magdalen College, University of Oxford.

ALLYSON REIDAllyson is an urban gal with a rural heart. She grew up on a farm north of Belleville, Ontario and received a degree in film and theatre from Queen’s University in Kingston. Telling

stories is her passion and it has her shooting biz own-ers, animals, car chases, explosions, farmers, actors, CEOs, CFO’s, products, organizations, corporations, and big ideas. Chockablock Media Inc., is her Toronto-based digital content creator that runs on heart and a sense of humour. She believes everyone can hit their marketing goals via video on YouTube, Intranet sites,

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

DAVID ROSENBERGERDave grew up on a dairy farm in eastern Pennsylvania, spent summers during high school and college working on a diversified fruit/vegetable/greenhouse op-eration, and completed his doc-

torate in Plant Pathology at Michigan State University in 1977. He spent 36 years doing applied research and extension programming for tree fruits while working at Cornell University’s Hudson Valley Lab, which is located in the fruit-growing region 90 miles north of Manhattan. Although he retired a year ago, Dave has continued some of his research and extension activi-ties in his new role as Professor Emeritus.

BRIAN RIDEOUTBrian graduated from Lambton College in 1994 as an Environmental Technologist, then moved to northern Manitoba to work as a Water Quality Specialist for a Mining

Company. Before moving to Manitoba, he married the Farmers Daughter, Robin. They returned to the Robin’s family farm in 1998 where Brian started to learn how to grow quality produce from his father-in-law, Rusty Smith. Since moving back, Brian has become the manager of the IPM program, assisting in converting the farm from overhead irrigation to drip irrigation and moving apple production from standard trees to dwarfing stock orchards.

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

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

Murray has represented the agricultural industry at the local, provincial, national and international levels on the topics of human resource management, research and innovation, safety nets, crop protection and integrated pest management. He has served as the Chairman of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Agricultural Adaptation Council, Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council and is the Past President of the Canadian Horticultural Council. As a member of the Ontario Research and Innovation Council, he helped develop Ontario’s Research and Innovation Strategy for the Premier. As Chairman of the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Labour Committee, Murray deals with horticultural labour issues and represents Canada when negotiating con-tracts for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

PHILIP POWELLPhilip was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. For the past 25 years, he has managed Ottawa’s famous ByWard & Parkdale Markets. Philip was a founding member of Farmers’

Markets Ontario, the association that represents the provinces 171 farmers’ markets, and is presently serving as its chair. He was also involved in getting Savour Ottawa, the Capital areas “buy local” culinary initiative off the ground in 2006. He continues to sit on the Savour Ottawa steering committee. In 2009 he assumed responsibility for the city’s business licensing and enforcement sections in addition to the markets program.

VALERIO PRIMOMOIn 2011, Valerio joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre as a Research Scientist, Vegetable Breeding. His work is focused on developing greenhouse tomato varieties as

well as sweet potato varieties that perform well under Ontario’s environmental conditions using traditional breeding methods and current molecular technology.

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CHRISTINE SCHEERChristine is the farmers’ market manager at London’s Covent Garden Market and an advocate of local sustainable food. She is also a chef and a community food advisor, food writer, cooking class

teacher and is married to organic farmer John Wilson.

KEVIN SCHOOLEYAfter graduating from the University of Guelph in 1987, Kevin worked at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for 13 years as a pest management and

fruit and vegetable specialist. He also worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a commodity specialist in Ottawa for 3 years. For the past 15 years, Kevin has worked with fruit and vegetable growers in the Ottawa area as an independent on-farm con-sultant and since 2004 has acted as the Executive Director of the Ontario Berry Growers Association and since 2006, as the Executive Director of the North American Strawberry Growers Association.

DR. TONY B. SHAWDr. Shaw is a Professor in the Department of Geography and a Fellow of CCOVI (Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute) at Brock University. He teaches courses principally

in the areas related to meteorology, applied climatol-ogy, viticulture, and environmental sustainability. His research areas include wine terroirs, site selec-tion methods for new vineyards, freeze protection methods, renewable energy, building climatology and climate change and impacts. Current research projects include the demarcation of sub-appellations in Ontario’s main wine regions, assessment of new areas for wine production and the potential impacts of climate change on Ontario’s main wine appellations and the emerging regions.

ANTHONY SHELTONTony is a Professor of Entomology at Cornell University, based at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. His research responsibilities entail developing sound pest

management strategies for vegetables with spin-offs for other crops. He has worked on sweet corn pest management since 1981. Components of his program stress insect population ecology, biological control, plant resistance, agricultural biotechnology, insecticide resistance, insect movement, trap crop-ping, and plant productivity and marketability as a function of insect infestations. In the last 20 years, a considerable amount of his effort has been devoted to risk assessment of insect management strategies, especially insect-resistant genetically engineered crops. His program has a strong commitment to outreach education for the agricultural community and the general public.

BARBARA SMITHBarbara is the Retail Services Supervisor for the Foodland Ontario program. She works with Ontario’s retail groups, farmers’ markets and on-farm market groups to increase mar-

ket opportunities and prominence of Ontario grown foods. Barbara has been with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for over 15 years in various marketing and program roles.

STEVE SMITHSteve and family operate Smiths’ Apples and Farm Market near Port Elgin, Ontario. A science geek and enthusiastic teacher at heart, he enjoys learning, teaching,

growing and selling heritage and modern apple varieties.

TED SMITHTed grew up helping his parents work large market gardens in southern Ontario, and later on Manitoulin Island. After several years and a number of differ-ent careers, Ted returned to

Manitoulin Island and his love of gardening. His farm, Gypsy Family Farm, is a polycultural blend of plants and animals where organic principles come first. Currently, Ted is serving on the Board of Directors for Farmers’ Markets Ontario®. He also writes a weekly newspaper column where he advocates for family farms and ethical farming practices. Ted is also a MyPick® Verified Local Farmer®.

DONNA SPERANZINIDonna has a long history of working with soil, water and nutrient management across all field and horticultural crop production systems in Ontario. Her projects involve collecting

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

JOHN STANLEY John is a coach, consultant, author, speaker and trainer. He has been described as the ‘Retail Guru’ and he has also been described as the leading horticultural consultant in the

world today. His skills in perishable retailing, food, plants, flowers and pets, anything that cannot be put on a shelf and ignored, in fact, apply equally to all fields of retailing. His presentations are enthusiastic, charismatic and engaging.

JENNIFER STEVENSONAfter graduating from Concordia University with a BComm in Statistics, Jennifer held several positions within the finance sector before becoming the Vice-President and Director of Information Technology at a Bay Street bank. She left to begin a career as a derivatives trader and became Vice-President of Global Markets Derivatives Trading at Deutsche Bank New York. After leaving Deutsche Bank, Jennifer has bought and sold several businesses, including an on-farm production, marketing and processing business. She joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs in 2010 as Business Finance Lead and works to help small and medium sized businesses reach their growth potential.

LESLEY STOYANThe Daily Apple is a Toronto-based food and lifestyle solu-tions group with a reputation for making health a little more palatable. Founder, Lesley Stoyan, caters and teaches a

variety of fresh food cooking classes and workshops, designed to maximize taste, nutrition and most importantly, fun! Her “hip approach to a planet-friendly lifestyle” truly makes it easy living green. Lesley, along with her husband Chris Trussell, co-founded the non-profit organization, AppleTree Markets Group, dedicated to building community through sustainable food-based initiatives.

DR. JAYASANKAR SUBRAMANIAN Dr. Subramanian (Jay) is an Associate Professor with University of Guelph. He has over 25 years of experience in fruit crop improvement, biotechnology and post harvest

technology. He has worked with diverse crop species and for the past 12 years has been working with tender fruits, using both conventional and contemporary ap-proaches. He has been invited to deliver talks and key-note addresses in several countries and has published over 50 research papers and released 15 improved crop varieties. He is a member of the editorial board in three International Journals and reviews manuscripts for several journals in plant sciences and has mentored several graduate students, postdocs, and high school and secondary school students for their science fair projects.

GEORGE SUNDINGeorge is a Professor of Plant Pathology and runs the Tree Fruit Pathology Lab at Michigan State University. He has been at MSU since 2002 and has Extension responsibilities in

tree fruit disease control. His research includes field and lab studies covering management of fire blight, fungicide resistance in apple and cherry pathogens, and the evaluation of new bactericides and fungicides for disease management in apple, cherry (sweet and tart cherry) and peach. The main diseases covered include apple scab, bacterial canker, brown rot, cherry leaf spot and fire blight. The goals of Sundin’s

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

DR. ANTONET SVIRCEVDr. Svircev is a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Vineland, Ontario, specializing in the development of biological control agents for the control of pre- and post-

harvest pathogens. Current research involves the development of bacteriophages and their carrier bac-teria for the control of the fire blight pathogen in the orchard. This project is moving forward to large scale field trials. The second project focuses on discovering novel biologicals for the control of post-harvest and storage diseases of horticultural crops. Dr. Svircev’s ultimate goal is to promote the importance of using and implanting biologicals into Canadian agricultural systems.

TOKTAM TAGHAVIDr. Taghavi is a Research Associate with the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph, Simcoe Research Station. Her research interests include the develop-

ment of new cultivars of hazelnuts for the Ontario hazelnut industry. In January 2013, she was named Adjunct Professor at the University of Guelph. She has previous professional experience as an assistant professor at the University of Tehran in Iran as well as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida. She has experience in transferring research knowledge from the lab to growers, including multiple horticultural crops, fertilizers and crop protection, and post-harvest technologies.

CHERYL TRUEMANCheryl has been a College Professor at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus since 2009. Her duties include teaching and research in areas of crop protection and inte-

grated pest management (IPM) in field vegetables.

REMI VAN DE SLYKERemi is owner and president of King Lake Farms Inc., located east of Straffordville. The farm produces ginseng and hops. He has been farming this since graduating from the University

of Guelph with a Bachelor of Commerce in Agricultural Business in 1995. Remi is currently vice chairman of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association.

GEORGE VAN DER MERWEDr. van der Merwe received his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Hennie van Vuuren from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His PhD research on the nutrient adaptation of yeast was

performed at Stellenbosch University, the University of Memphis, Brock University (CCOVI) and the Wine Research Centre at UBC. As a Research Associate in the Wine Research Centre, he developed an interest in the responses of wine yeast to wine fermentation-related stresses. In 2002, he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph where he is cur-rently an Associate Professor. His research focuses on understanding the molecular responses of yeast to its environment using wine fermentations as a model system.

JENN VANDEVELDEJenn is the current President of the Ontario Berry Growers Association and owns Wholesome Pickins in Delhi, Ontario, with her husband David. Wholesome Pickins

produces strawberries and raspberries and has an on-farm market and bakery. Jenn has been on the OBGA board for 6 years.

ANNA K. WALLINGFORDAnna is currently working in Greg Loeb’s lab in Geneva, NY, as a post-doctoral associate investigating the biology and ecology of Drosophila suzukii, with a focus on improved moni-

toring and better understanding of its overwintering biology. Anna’s background includes work with insect

27

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

JIM WILLWERTHDr. Willwerth is the Senior Scientist in Viticulture at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) at Brock University. His responsi-bilities are to perform research

and outreach services in the field of viticulture and to address the research priorities of the Canadian grape and wine industry. His current research program is focused on grapevine cold hardiness and understand-ing how to maximize cold hardiness in V. vinifera. He also has numerous applied research projects ranging from new freeze protection methods to use of new bird deterrent methods. He spearheads large out-reach initiatives including the VineAlert Grapevine Cold Hardiness Database and the Grape Preharvest Monitoring program for the Ontario Grape and Wine Industry.

DENISE ZABOROWSKIDenise is the Manager of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Domestic Marketing’s Foodland Ontario program. She is a local food advocate who encourages the

public to ask for, purchase and care about all of the “good things that grow in Ontario”. She is also the 2011 recipient of the Visionary Award from the American Agri-Women Association for leadership. Denise has been in the Ontario public service for over 12 years and has held a number of roles including Client Services Officer, Executive Assistant to the ADM, Food Services Supervisor and Healthy Eating Team Lead. She holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Marketing Management from the University of Guelph and an undergraduate degree from Guelph in Consumer Studies.

VILIAM ZVALOViliam joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2014. In his role, he investigates field and greenhouse production of world crops and other new crop opportunities for Ontario

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

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

DR. SEAN WESTERVELDDr. Westerveld joined the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 2008 as the Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Specialist. He received BSc (Agr.), MSc, and PhD de-

grees in Horticulture from the University of Guelph from 1996 to 2005. After completing his education, Sean worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Muck Crops Research Station of the University of Guelph on the Holland Marsh. Sean also worked as a research as-sociate and interim leader of the Vegetable and Non-traditional Crops Research Program at the University of Guelph, Simcoe Research Station. His primary role in OMAFRA is to support the Ontario ginseng and herb industries through technology transfer and to provide input into provincial and federal policies that may affect the industry. Sean is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph.

KAREN WHITTYKaren is a graduate of McMaster University where she obtained a degree in Biochemistry and pursued a career in research for 18 years. In 2007, Karen made the decision to focus 100% of

her time and energy on Whitty Farms and now directs operations at the farm’s seasonal market, 13th Street

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

KEITH WARRINERDr. Warriner is currently a Professor within the Department of Food Science at University of Guelph. He received his PhD from the University College of Wales Aberystwyth, UK. He un-

dertook post-doctoral research within the University of Manchester and University of Nottingham. He joined the Faculty of the University of Guelph in 2002. During the last fifteen years in the field of microbiology and food safety research, Dr. Warriner has published more than 100 papers, book chapters, patents and conference abstracts. He has broad research areas focusing on food safety initiatives in the area of fresh produce. Notable successes has been one of the first to identify the potential for pathogens internalize within growing plants, post-harvest decontamination methods based on UV:peroxide, method for sanitiz-ing seeds for sprout production and application of bacteriophages to control pathogens associated with produce. Current research is focused at risk assess-ment of manure amended soil, water recycling in wash operations and interactions of emerging pathogens with growing plants.

TONY WEISTony is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Western University in London, where he has worked for the past 10 years. His research is broadly located in the field of

political ecology and the intersection of agrarian political economy, environmental management, and

28

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NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, The Great Ontario Hopped Craft Beer Competition continues to create a platform for brewers and growers to forge connections that will strengthen the industry.

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

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

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

The 2014 winning entry was the result of a partnership between The Blue Elephant Craft Brew House and Carolinian Hop Yard, both located in Simcoe, Ontario. The two businesses came together specifically to create their award winning ale.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speaking on behalf of Carolinian Hop Yard, Doerksen

BY COURTNEY DENARD

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

A winning combination

Craft Brews and Ontario Hops:

30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why the bees in Ontario are experiencing more winter loss remains the big question but Eccles says one

thing is for sure, science has

proven a

BY COURTNEY DENARD

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

CON TINUE S T O

Bee crisisBuzz

ON TA R IO ’ S

PHOTO: P. KOZAK, OMAFRA32

matter, the original goal must be remembered at all times and that goal is finding ways

to protect pollinator health.“I think the issue has become

politicized and polarized to the point where there are a lot of

different people sitting in different corners,” says Hunter. “At this stage of the game, we need all groups to lower their arms and build a consensual plan for everyone involved.”

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

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

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

Food Canada, and countless industry stakeholders.

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

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

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

“There are beekeepers that have losses and those that do not. We need to focus on the latter and see their secrets. We need to know what they’re doing and adopt those practices,” he says.

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

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

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

PHOTO: P. KOZAK, OMAFRA



33

Meet the Minister

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

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

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

BY COURTNEY DENARD

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE HONOURABLE JEFF LEAL

34

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

A: Since 2003, our government has invested more than $140 million to support sales of Ontario foods. We have made it easier for consumers to purchase Ontario VQA wine made from 100 per cent local grapes by piloting the sale of VQA wine at farmers’ markets. We also created the food donation tax credit for farmers. The only one of its kind in Canada, this credit rewards the generosity of farmers, providing a 25 per cent tax refund for all agricultural products they donate to food banks and other local food programs.

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

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

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

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

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Find your freshmate. Looking for that perfect buyer? Ontariofresh.ca is theprofessional marketplace for local food, where supplierslike you can �nd eligible bulk buyers and wholesalersacross the province.

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

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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

THE HONOURABLEJEFF LEAL

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of its vineyards to a vertical divided trellis system in the mid-1990s. This was a very unconventional move at the time but Kevin says it paid off.

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME GGO has selected a Buis for its distinguished title. Kevin’s brother Peter was named Grape King in 1987.

Kevin grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the family farm that was started by his Dutch immigrant parents in 1957. Throughout this time, the operation was a mixed farm that produced a variety of fruit, potatoes and hogs.

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

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

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

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

In reference to this philosophy, Glenlake converted some

BY COURTNEY DENARD

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

KEVIN BUIS, GLENLAKE VINEYARDS

KingGrapeA n d t h e 2014–15

i s …

New tax credit supports local food sharingMeet the Buyer

THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO recently announced a new tax credit that aims to put nutritious, locally grown food on the plates of those who need it most.

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

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

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

Under the proclaimed legislation, farmers can claim the new tax credit for donations dating back to January 1, 2014. Producers can claim the credit when filing their annual income tax return.

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

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

OFVC Meet the BuyerThursday, February 19, 2015Scotiabank Convention Centre (public café area by the Stanley St. entrance)

7:45 am – 9:15 am

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

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

Sponsored by:

With support from Foodland Ontario.

OFVC ROUNDUP

BY COURTNEY DENARD

38

Ontario garlic going strong2014 Gary Ireland Scholarship Award

THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENT OF THE UNIVERSITY of Guelph’s Gary Ireland Horticultural Scholarship is Telesphore Marie, a third year student in the B.Sc. Agriculture program.

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

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

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

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

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

More than anything, though, Marie says he is grateful. “I appreciate this scholarship immensely,” he says.

BY COURTNEY DENARD BY COURTNEY DENARD

TELESPHORE MARIE RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP FROM OFVC COMMITTE MEMBER CATHY BARTOLIC

ONTARIO GARLIC HAS A LOT OF THINGS going for it!Gary Johnson, a long time garlic grower in Stouffville

and a director on the Garlic Growers of Ontario board, says the provincial garlic industry is currently going through a revival.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

39

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

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

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

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

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

BY COURTNEY DENARD

2014 O F FM A

Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year

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

SHOPPERS READY TO BUY AT WHITTY FARMS’ ROADSIDE MARKET.

CHEF LYNN CRAWFORD AND KAREN WHITTY

DOUG WHITTY

40

2014 O F FM A

Outstanding Farm Marketer of the Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHITTY FARMS’ ROADSIDE MARKET

LUNCH MENU SELECTIONS

DAY TWO RETAILHOUSE MADE MEAT PIES $6.50

Steak & Gravy Pie - Piccioni Bros Mushrooms, Ontario Squash

Organic Chicken Pie - Ont. Root Veggies, Daniel Herbs, Potato

LOCKE ST. MEAT SOUVLAKI SAUSAGE $6.50

Chicken Souvlaki - Ontario Hot House Cucumber Tzatziki, Shredded Lettuce,

Leamington Tomatoes, Red Onion

SIDES WITH YOUR SANDWICH ADD $2

Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad

Gwillimdale Farms Potato Salad

Creamy Coleslaw, Fresh Herbs

ENTRÉE SALADS $6.50

Iceberg Salad - G.H. Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onion, Feta, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken,

Roasted Shallot Dressing

SCCN Caesar - Our Own Ceasar Dressing, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Double Smoked

Bacon, House Made Croutons

WINTERY SOUPS* $4.50

Green Acres Farms Celery Root & Apple

Roasted Mushroom Bisque

Winter Vegetable Broth, White Bean & Kale

*Comes with Rolls and Butter.

CLASSIC COMBOS*Pasta with Tomato Sauce $10

Sausage with Drink $10

Hot Sandwich with Drink $10

Soup & Salad $10

Soup & Drink $8

Salad & Drink $8

*All Soups and Pasta Come with Rolls and Butter.

DAY ONE RETAILONTARIO PORK SANDWICH $6.50

Pork Schnitzel Style - Upper Canada Smoked Gouda, Hewitt’s Sour Cream, Shoot Boss

Mustard Greens, G.H. Tomatoes

LOCKE ST. MEAT SOUVLAKI SAUSAGE $6.50

Chicken Souvlaki - Ontario Hot House Cucumber Tzatziki, Shredded Lettuce,

Leamington Tomatoes, Red Onion

SIDES WITH YOUR SANDWICH ADD $2

Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad

Gwillimdale Farms Potato Salad

Creamy Coleslaw, Fresh Herbs

ENTRÉE SALADS $6.50

Iceberg Salad - G.H. Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onion, Feta, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken,

Roasted Shallot Dressing

SCCN Caesar - Our Own Ceasar Dressing, Bradford Bay Organic Chicken, Double Smoked

Bacon, House Made Croutons

WINTERY SOUPS* $4.50

Green Acres Farms Celery Root & Apple

Roasted Mushroom Bisque

Winter Vegetable Broth, White Bean & Kale

*Comes with Rolls and Butter.

CLASSIC COMBOS*Pasta with Tomato Sauce $10

Sausage with Drink $10

Hot Sandwich with Drink $10

Soup & Salad $10

Soup & Drink $8

Salad & Drink $8

*All Soups and Pasta Come with Rolls and Butter.

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

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

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

Larry was also active in the Ontario Fresh Grape Growers’ Marketing Board where he was a director for many years and eventually chairman. As part of this position, he was a director on the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association for six years.

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

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

LARRY HIPPLE OF BEAMSVILLE is being recognized for his outstanding contribution to Niagara’s horticulture sector.

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

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

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

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

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

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

NPF & VGA 2014 Industry Award of MeritBY COURTNEY DENARD

LARRY HIPPLE, HIPPLE FARMS

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

43

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

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

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

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

BY COURTNEY DENARD

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

THE GROWTH OF

Food TourismBACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, John Stanley returns to the OFVC this year to discuss his new book ‘Food Tourism: A Practical Marketing Guide.’

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

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

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

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

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

44

Ontario craft cider taking flight Ontario wines go to market

ONTARIO VINTNERS QUALITY ALLIANCE (VQA) wines can now be found at a farmers’ market near you!

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

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

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

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

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

BY COURTNEY DENARDBY COURTNEY DENARD

OFVC ROUNDUP CO N T I N U E D

ONTARIO MIGHT NOT BE the first place you’d think of when it comes to making cider but that’s about to change!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

45

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INNOVATION AWARD2 0 1 5 O N T A R I O F R U I T & V E G E T A B L E C O N V E N T I O N I N N O V A T I O N A W A R D S U B M I S S I O N S

THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

E V E N I N G R E C E P T I O N

Farmers& Friends JOIN US AT THE

Reception MenuOntario Wine, Craft Beer & Hard Cider Drinks will be available at 3 wine and 3 beer/hard cider stations located throughout the floor. To find them, please look for the gorgeous balloon displays.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, February 18th 5 – 7 pm

At the Convention Trade Show

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

Thanks to all participants!46

To be selected,

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

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

Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit exirel.dupont.ca

As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully.The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Exirel™ and Cyazypyr™

are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada.

© Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

OGILVY DIVISION PUB: Fruit & Vegetable OFVC Show Guide AD #: DUPCHE-15002-FRUIT-E

Print Production Contact: FORMAT: MAGAZINE FILE: 01-40501-DUPCHE-15002-FRUIT-E-SWOP.pdf

David Scanlon TRIM: 8.125" x 10.875" CLIENT: DuPont East

RedWorks Delivery/Technical Support: (416) 945-2388 JOB #: P.DUP.DUPCHE.15002.K.011

O G I LV Y O P E R AT O R

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they need to be protected.

S:7”S

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