The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) has honoured a Member of Parliament and a grower with a special partnership award for their support of the fruit and vegetable industry. Scot Davidson, Member of Parliament for York Simcoe, and Streef Produce Ltd. of Princeton were each presented with an Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Industry Partnership Award at the annual OFVGA industry banquet in Niagara Falls on February 18. 

Davidson is receiving the award for his work in bringing Bill C-280, Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, into law, legislation that ensures growers are paid should a produce buyer become insolvent. Streef Produce was honoured for their long-time commitment as a partner in the OFVGA’s Fresh from the Farm school fundraising program. 

“We are really lucky to have many dedicated and passionate stakeholders, partners and volunteers in our industry who show us what is possible when we work together for common goals,” says Alison Robertson, executive director of OFVGA. “With this special award we wanted to shine the spotlight on two particular partners – MP Scot Davidson and Streef Produce – who have gone to extraordinary lengths on behalf of our sector and whose efforts will have a lasting impact on all of us.” 

For more than a decade, the Canadian produce industry pushed for federal legislation like the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) that would ensure fresh fruit and vegetable growers get paid in the event of a buyer bankruptcy. Until 2014, Canadian produce sellers had this kind of protection when exporting to the United States through PACA, but this preferential status was revoked due to a lack of reciprocal protection for American produce sellers in Canada. 

It was Davidson who introduced a private member’s bill to that effect in June 2022 and who was a tireless advocate for the fruit and vegetable sector and the bill to ensure its successful passage into law, which became a reality in December 2024. 

When OFVGA first began looking for a partner to help run its new Fresh from the Farm school fundraising program 12 years ago, Streef Produce was an immediate volunteer to help get the initiative off the ground. Since then, they’ve been a committed and dedicated partner, going above and beyond in managing procurement and logistics for the program, including through the very challenging COVID-19 pandemic years. In 2024, the program saw more than 400 schools participate.

Since 2013, more than 3,000 schools and childcare centres across the province have sold over five million pounds of Ontario grown fruits and vegetables while raising over $2.2 million for their schools. The program has increased food literacy in Ontario schools and created an alternate market for Ontario farmers, with more than $3.5 million returned to Ontario farmers and distributors.

Source: Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association February 19, 2025 news release