Federal money will help flower growers bloom at home and in export markets

Thursday, October 11, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

The federal government announced funding of  $382,000 Thursday for several projects designed to help the Canadian flower industry bloom in export markets and assist growers to control pests.

Flowers Canada Growers Inc. received $137,000 through the federal AgriMarketing program, $100,000 through the Canadian Adaptation program and $145,000 through the Agricultural Innovation program. The announcement was made in Niagara Falls by Niagara West-Glanbrook MP Dean Allison on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

Dean Shoemaker, executive director of Flowers Canada Growers and Flowers Canada (Ontario) says the national flower organization, which represents greenhouse growers plus others in the industry, is also contributing various amounts towards the projects, from 25 per cent to matching the government amount.

The $137,000 will enable Flowers Canada Growers to develop new and existing markets, boost sales internationally, update an export procedures manual, promote the use of Canadian online auction systems for American buyers, conduct a market research study and attend trade shows. Shoemaker says they’ll be attending a horticulture show in Holland at the end of this month.

The $100,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation program is being used to research potential new pest control practices for growers, while the $145,000 will be used to research the potential for biological pest control in the flower sector.

The projects are in various stages of development, he says. The pest control research is just getting started while biological pest control work has been done in the past and the work will now be expanded. There is already an export procedures manual and the update is “in the works,” he says. BF