VINELAND – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, released his report entitled Where Do We Grow From Here: A Way Forward for Niagara’s Tender Fruit and Grape Growers locally on July 4 at the Peach Country Farm Market in Vineland.
Tim Hudak presents his report on the tender fruit and grape industry at Peach Country Farm Market on July 4The report provides a detailed overview of the challenges the industry is facing, takes a look at programs implemented by the federal and other provincial governments, and makes recommendation to help revitalize Ontario's cherished tender fruit and grape industries.
When the Ontario Government passed the Greenbelt Act in 2005, it effectively locked in Niagara’s tender fruit and grape lands into agriculture protection. The Province has an obligation to see that greenbelt farmers have a market for their product at a good price.
“Since 2005, tender fruit and grape farmers have been hit hard by closures of three major value-added processors affecting hundreds of growers and left approximately 6000 acres of prime agricultural land without a market meaning roughly 22 per cent of the total market for grapes and tender fruit in Ontario will have to find a new home or effectively remain an agricultural Brownfield,” said Hudak. “This report addresses the challenges facing these growers by providing viable solutions.”
The report offers several suggestions on how the Provincial and Federal governments can see tender fruit and grape growers through this tough time. After obtaining helpful advice provided by local farmers, industry organizations, municipal leaders and concerned residents in the Greenbelt, the following recommendations were included in the report:
• Buy Ontario Policy to open the marketplace up to local growers;
• Ontario VQA Wine Stores to set aggressive targets and allow for a parallel system of private retail stores that specialize in Ontario VQA wine to open up in Ontario;
• Tender fruit and grape replant program to renew renew orchards and vineyards with varieties and rootstocks that will allow Ontario farmers to deliver higher quality fruits and grape varieties that are in higher demand in the marketplace;
• Irrigation system to help with the drought conditions in Niagara;
• Value added incentives to promote on-farm businesses.
“When it comes to the greenbelt, Premier McGuinty has become an absentee landlord because anyone can draw a line on a map and call it a Greenbelt,” Hudak said. “Hopefully this report will force the provincial government to take these recommendations into consideration instead of walking away from tender fruit and grape growers in Niagara.”
For a full version of the report, call 905-563-1755 or email timhudak@niagara.net [1]. Or click on:
http://media.hamiltonspectator.com/acrobat/ea/3b/0a6379df4f9dbcab88feff8... [2]