By Shawn Brenn and Alison Robertson

In Ontario, fruit and vegetable growers are fortunate to have a strong, unified voice in the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). Through decades of work, OFVGA has become a powerful advocate for our sector, bringing grower concerns on labour, crop protection, safety nets, environment and property issues to decision-makers – and getting that voice heard. 

As the industry grows, the complexity of our issues grows with it — and so does the need for strong, sustained advocacy for growers.

We’re very proud of the work we do on behalf of growers and the successes we’ve achieved in recent years, and none of it would be possible without a stable funding mechanism for the OFVGA. 

We have that in the form of the Ontario Farm Products Containers Act (FPCA), and the container licence fee growers pay through that legislation to support the activities of our organization, which directly benefit the entire sector. This licence fee – also often referred to as a container toll, although this is misleading – is tied to packaging for fresh produce and is collected under the authority of the FPCA. Fruit and vegetable growers, packers, wholesalers and packaging suppliers have a responsibility to ensure the fee is paid. 

OFVGA conducts routine audits to ensure that container licence fees are being applied fairly and correctly. These audits aren't punitive; in fact, sometimes we’ve even refunded growers who were found to be paying fees on non-applicable packaging. The audits are part of ensuring a level playing field — that everyone is contributing to the system that benefits us all. After all, the outcomes and benefits of OFVGA lobbying, advocacy and outreach activities benefit all growers, not just those who remit their licence fees. 

Simply put, these funds allow us to build — and maintain — the people and resources we need to protect and advance Ontario horticulture. Whether you grow one acre or one thousand, your operation benefits from OFVGA’s work. 

So where do those fees go?

The container licence fee supports OFVGA’s operations. We’ve significantly expanded our capacity over the last decade because we’ve had to. Government has become more complex. Issues move faster. And more ministries than ever have a say in how we farm. 

We’ve built a talented policy team with expertise in government relations, labour, safety nets, crop protection, and municipal issues. This team supports the board in all our lobbying activities, letting us effectively analyze and respond quickly to emerging issues and be the voice of growers with provincial, federal and even at times municipal governments. 

We work directly with many different provincial ministries, from agriculture to labour, environment, municipal affairs and housing and more. OFVGA is also active on many federal files, engaging directly or working together with Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada or the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, for example, on issues such as trade, business risk management, crop protection, and labour. 

We’ve also expanded our communications activities significantly, adding consumer-facing messaging, campaigns and projects to our work. Our most impactful initiative to date has been the highly successful More than a Migrant Worker (MTAMW) project, which we work on in partnership with Farm and Food Care Ontario, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, and Ontario Apple Growers.

MTAMW has grabbed the attention of provincial ministries, federal departments, consumers, media and even governments from workers’ home countries for the innovative work it does to tell the worker and grower side of Canada’s foreign labour programs for agriculture. 

We also run digital marketing campaigns, post ads on GO trains, and place articles with major news outlets such as Postmedia in support of the fruit and vegetable sector – in addition to longstanding activities such as engaging consumers at shows like the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair or Breakfast on the Farm events. 

The container licence fee matters: it’s an investment into having someone in your corner and being your voice when the sector needs to speak up. As your advocacy organization, OFVGA is in the room — often the only farm voice in the room — making sure edible horticulture is heard.

When OFVGA wins, we all do.

For more information on the container fees, visit ofvga.org/container-act-and-tolls or contact Dan Tukendorf at dtukendorf@ofvga.org or 519-763-6160, ext 121.