USDA now requires Canada to inspect tomato and pepper fruit to ensure it is free of disease symptoms prior to export to the United States. The federal order is effective Friday, November 22, 2019.

The 28th annual Ontario Produce Marketing Association Gala shone a light on four of the industry’s brightest and best on November 15. One of them was Steve Bamford who won the Cory Clack-Streef Produce Person of the Year Award.

Former farmer Blaine Pedersen is the new minister of agriculture and resource development.

Passionate and politic – that’s the best way to describe this year’s crop of Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture who competed at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on November 2. This year’s senior champion was Ellie Stauffer from Alberta. The junior champion was also an Albertan: Ryley Mappin.

A strategic communications professional, Christina Stroud has joined Syngenta Canada as the new head of corporate affairs.

A United States Court of Appeals has affirmed the validity of Houweling’s UltraClima Semi-Closed Greenhouse patent.

Global Plant Genetics has officially launched the Guelph Equinox asparagus variety in Europe. This is a milestone for Fox Seeds of Canada, incorporated in February 2012.

This column is to keep you informed about the key issues that OFVGA is tackling on behalf of Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers. 

 

Federal election

 

At the time of writing, Canadians are just days away from heading to the polls, so the outcome of the federal election is not yet known. If the polls are any indication, which party forms the next government will be uncertain until the ballot counts are tallied.

 

The spectrum of weeds in orchards and vineyards is changing says Kristen Obeid, OMAFRA weed management specialist – horticulture. She offers timely advice for post-harvest treatment.

Oleen Smethurst is known for her quest for flavour. As assistant vice-president, general merchandise manager for produce, Costco Canada, she jets all over the world from Berlin to Bogotá, meeting with growers and seed suppliers. While touring southern Ontario in late August 2019, she visited Martin’s Family Fruit Farm near Waterloo, Ontario.