Restructuring proposal on the table for fresh grape marketing board

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

by DAVE PINK

The Ontario Fresh Grape Growers Marketing Board is restructuring – amalgamating its four smallest growing districts into one.

“It’s just a matter of housecleaning,” says Sarah Marshall, manager of the Vineland Station-based board. “We want to equalize the districts, and allocate members more fairly.”

The marketing board has applied to Farm Products Marketing Commission to make the change, which will receive public comments up until Dec. 8. Once approved, the district that includes Niagara-on-the-Lake and its immediate vicinity will be unchanged. The new district will include all of the other growers throughout Niagara Region.

The marketing board does not represent the growers producing grapes for wine or processing. There are about 100 fresh grape growers, some with as little as one acre and others with larger commercial operations of two to three acres.

“Over time the number of producers has declined, although total acreage has remained about the same,” says Marshall, who is also the manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board.

The small, dark Coronation variety grapes grown in Niagara are available mostly at farm markets from mid August to late September. BF