It’s an honour to step into the role of chair of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). I’m grateful for the confidence of the board and our members, and I look forward to working together at a time when the issues facing our sector have never been more important.

My own farm is near Tillsonburg, where I’m the owner and operator of M&J Chromczak
Farms Inc. I’ve been growing asparagus, watermelon and row crops there since 2011, thanks to the incredible support of my family and the generations that came before me.

Like many fruit and vegetable farms in Ontario, our farm also relies on seasonal labour. We employ about 30 Jamaican workers every year, who are an integral part of our farm business and our community.

Over the past 10 years, since I first joined the OFVGA board, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in all five of OFVGA’s policy committees, each focused on key areas of our industry. Those committees are one of OFVGA’s core strengths. They bring together growers with deep experience in their sectors and connect them with staff, government and other stakeholders to tackle the greatest risks and opportunities facing our industry.

Sometimes those issues arise one at a time — but more often they arrive all at once. Whether it’s labour, environmental regulation, business risk management or market challenges, OFVGA’s ability to identify experts and engage decision-makers is critical to helping guide the best policy and actions for our sector.

For many years, much of that work has focused on provincial policy, and this continues to be a priority for us. Increasingly, however, we are seeing the need to engage at the municipal level as well. Decisions around worker housing, health unit regulations, stormwater management and local by-laws can all have a direct impact on farm businesses. Helping municipalities better understand agriculture is an area where OFVGA’s work continues to expand.

Our strong track record at the provincial level has also created opportunities to influence federal policy. That role will become even more important as discussions begin around the next national agricultural policy framework, which will come into effect in 2028. A key area is federal business risk management programs, which for too long have largely relied on the resilience and fortitude of farmers to make the system work. But today, many growers feel we are reaching a breaking point. 

Growing fruits and vegetables in Canada has become demonstrably more difficult. Input costs are rising, regulatory requirements continue to grow, and competitors in other jurisdictions often operate with lower costs. At the same time, growers are expected to deliver a safe, high-quality food supply running on very slim margins while also facing widening competitiveness gaps with other jurisdictions. 

As Canada proceeds down a path of nation-building, it’s important for agriculture to be part of that movement. Now is the time to implement programs and policies that will help Canada keep its food security strong. It will take resources and investment from all levels of government, like we’ve seen with environmental priorities. Over the past decade, Canadians have increasingly supported investments to protect the environment because they recognize the long-term benefits.

Agriculture should be viewed through a similar lens. Farmers care deeply about the land and the environment, but maintaining a strong domestic food production system is just as critical. In today’s geopolitical environment, food security is national security. Now is the time to ensure all political parties understand the challenges facing fruit and vegetable growers and the policy changes needed to address them.

Ontario growers have always demonstrated resilience and adaptability. With the right policies and investments in place, I’m confident our sector will continue to grow and play its vital role in feeding Canadians.