Nature Fresh Farms, one of Canada’s largest vegetable greenhouses, is dealing with the...
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A Mexican temporary worker succumbed to COVID-19 on May 30, reports the Windsor-Essex Health Unit in southwestern Ontario. The news comes on the heels of a weekend outbreak in Norfolk County with 125 positive cases from the Scotlynn Group based in Vittoria. Seven were hospitalized, with four released.
The complex issue of plastics has been analyzed by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and a cross-industry working group. Its most up-to-date guidance defines three categories: preferred, minimize and unfavourable.
The Canadian government released a new guide for temporary workers on May 28 with more details on employer responsibilities and worker rights. It’s available in English, French and Spanish.
On June 9, the Greenbelt Foundation will release a report on opportunities to grow southern Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector. Six crops are identified, including fresh grapes, pears, strawberries, garlic, eggplant and sweet potatoes.
Global produce association leaders look to the future at United Fresh LIVE! closing session on June 19. CPMA’s president Ron Lemaire and chair Davis Yung will be on deck.
Favourable weather has helped potato growers plant the 2020 crop, with most acres across the country 70 to 90 per cent seeded, according to United Potato Growers of Canada. British Columbia growers will start digging the early-planted Warba variety in early June.
Highlighting the Canadian food system is the aim of a new campaign launched by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. It’s called: It’s Good, Canada.
Ontario’s celebration of Local Food Week goes online for June 1 to 7. One of the events is a Facebook Live farm tour with asparagus grower Rebecca Compton.
There’s a downside to reducing pumpkin acreage this year. Squash bees are reliant on the crop for survival. Plant at least one acre to protect future generations, says Susan Willis Chan.
A “Growing Stronger” project is launching between the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute and the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute to shape future research and discussion in the post-COVID era.
PMRA has granted label expansion of Pylon miticide-insecticide for chili and onion thrips in greenhouse ornamentals. The product also suppresses pests in greenhouse fruiting crops/cucumbers.
The Pest Management Centre is in final stages of identifying 10 priority ‘A’ projects says executive director Dr. Marcos Alvarez. That’s a tough exercise to winnow from the current list of 47 projects, given the diversity of Canada’s horticultural industry.
This biological mycoinsecticide label has been expanded via the Minor Use Program for management of whiteflies, aphids and thrips on additional greenhouse-grown crops in Canada. These include eggplant, lettuce, mint, onion and Brassica transplants, Asian water spinach and strawberries.
Multinational Syngenta organizes crop protection and seed units in Switzerland, Israel, United States and China.
Canadians won two of the six booth awards at the United Fresh LIVE! show. Best Overall Booth was won by greenhouse grower Sunset/Mastronardi Produce Ltd., Kingsville, Ontario. Best FreshMKT Booth was won by Pure Flavor – Pure Hothouse Foods, Inc. Leamington, Ontario.
Davis Yung, the new chair of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), has hit the ground running, spearheading a new initiative to deliver produce to frontline workers. 500 shopping bags, brimming with produce, recognize their thankless work throughout the pandemic thus far.
Just like the industry itself, Davis Yung brings a dynamic leadership style to the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. Its diverse membership is comprised of every segment of the produce industry supply chain which is responsible for 90 per cent of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada.
The Virtual New Product Showcase honours four product categories: the organic product award, packaging innovation award, best snackable product and best new product award. The Little Potato Company’s Easy Sides won best new product.
Michelle Cortens, Nova Scotia tree fruit specialist, and team have launched a new app for orchard management. She’s with Perennia Food & Agriculture based in Kentville.
Parent company AgroFresh Solutions has expanded post-harvest application of its SmartFresh technology to include tomatoes in Canada.
A new Eco-Lok closure offers the same safety, quality and rigidity as former plastic closures with lower carbon footprint.
United Fresh 2019 offers a glimpse into the future with a TEC Zone featuring 24 top ag tech start-up companies. One of those is Montreal-based Motorleaf, which uses artificial intelligence to automate harvest yield estimates and disease scouting in tomato and pepper greenhouses.
