The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) held its annual general meeting March 30, 2026.

“Our 2025 farmgate sales were up over last year to $161 million from $150 million due in part to a good year and higher yields,” reports Keith Robbins, general manager (OPVG).  

These gross figures do not reflect profitability. Negotiations for 2026 have settled mostly on the negative side. 

• Hand cucumber agreements were reached at – 3.5%. Machine harvest settled at 2%.
• Green pea agreement was reached at -4.5%
• Green and wax beans were settled at – 1.5% on all categories except small whole bean prices which stayed flat
• Sweet corn prices settled at -2.7%
• A lima bean agreement was reached at -2.2%
• Squash agreement was settled at flat
• Carrot agreement was flat 

For tomatoes, agreements were reached with all processors for the 2026 crop. 

“It’s our information that prices were down approximately 5-6% from last year’s price,” reports Robbins. 

The OPVG board and staff recently completed the next five-year strategic plan with new strategic intents to guide the organization from 2026 to 2030.

1. Improving communication & relationships

2. Encouraging long‑term growth in the industry. “We want consumers to feel confident choosing Ontario‑grown, processing vegetables, and we want them to recognize our products,” says Robbins.

3. Improve capacity to urge governments to adopt policies and programs to support long-term growth of our industry. “We’ll be advocating for better research infrastructure, and consider hiring or contracting researchers to fill gaps in the industry,” says Robbins.

4. Continue to improve the negotiating process and contract implementation. “Our last strategic intent focuses on negotiations — something that affects every grower directly,” says Robbins.

Over the years, OPVG has awarded more than $205,000 in bursaries to support individuals pursuing a career related to the processing vegetable industry. 

“It’s one way to help ensure there are people with the interest, skills and abilities to continue to develop and grow this sector of Ontario agriculture,” says Robbins.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

Sonia Lassard, Industry Bursary Award

Avery Cooper, Jim Whitson Bursary Award

Mikayla Eisess, Ken Epp Bursary Award

Source:  Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers March 31, 2026