Organization relieves Ontario's hot banana pepper growers from marketing constraints Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by SUSAN MANNThe Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers have set the province’s four hot banana pepper growers free of their processing contract obligations, enabling them to sell their crop wherever they want.The board decision to make an exemption to the organization’s marketing regulations follows Strubs Food Corp.’s abrupt announcement that it was discontinuing operations. The company was the main buyer of hot banana peppers in Ontario. It made the announcement just before the growing season.Al Krueger, executive assistant to the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, explains that the organization’s regulations stipulate farmers must sell their product to the Ontario processor who contracted their peppers. “They were not able to sell to anyone who would sell into the United States or to a pepper shipper.”The board did negotiate prices for hot banana peppers this year “because at that time Strubs was still around,” Krueger says. But now those negotiated prices don’t apply.Krueger says most pepper processors don’t use hot banana peppers. Instead they use sweet banana peppers and then add the heat, so the market for hot banana peppers is really limited. “By throwing it open, we thought it would give these guys a chance to market what they’re stuck with.”The exemption to the regulation is for this year but the board will review it at the end of the year to determine if it should be permanent. BF New dairy trade show planned for Stratford End to fertilizer effectiveness testing surprises agribusiness group
Potato industry on PEI to save up to $7 million because of cuts to bridge tolls Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Effective August 1, 2025, tolls on the Confederation Bridge will drop dramatically, with personal vehicle tolls falling from $50.25 to $20. Commercial vehicles will also benefit from these reductions. In addition, ferry tolls in Newfoundland and Labrador and other regions will see... Read this article online
Soil Compaction Challenges Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Ontario’s spring planting faced challenges from soil compaction, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Despite some areas experiencing rapid planting under ideal conditions, other regions, even those with lighter soils, struggled due to excessive rainfall. The team at OMAFA –on... Read this article online
2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online
Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026 Monday, July 28, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online
Sowing the Seeds of the Future -- A Fresh Look at Farm Succession in Canada Monday, July 28, 2025 “You’ve worked the land for decades—through changing seasons, shifting markets, and long days that begin before sunrise," says Jason Castellan, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Skyline when he spoke with Farms.com. “You know every acre, every decision, every responsibility that... Read this article online