Proposal to tax craft cider along the same lines as craft beer earns sweet accolades from Ontario apple growers Tuesday, November 10, 2015 by SUSAN MANNOntario apple growers are as juiced up as cider producers about a provincial government bill ensuring craft cider has the same tax treatment as craft beer.The bill, called growing Ontario’s craft cider industry, is making its way through the Ontario Legislature and received second reading Thursday. It was then referred to a standing committee for review.Ontario’s apple growers are very optimistic about the opportunities the craft cider industry has in using provincially grown apples, says Kelly Ciceran, general manager of the Ontario Apple Growers. The government’s bill will “help incubate the cider industry and help grow the Ontario industry. Ontario craft cider makers are committed to using 100 per cent Ontario-grown apples in their products.”According to an economic impact study commissioned by the apple growers and the Ontario Craft Cider Association, cider producers are poised to use 10 per cent of all apples grown in Ontario by 2018. That same year the craft cider industry is projected to hit $35 million in sales in Ontario. The study also notes there were 19 cideries in Ontario, as of last year, with more on the way.Thomas Wilson, craft cider association chair, says in a Nov. 6 press release the government’s craft cider bill will ensure the industry “receives the same incentives enjoyed by craft beer producers.” The bill ensures the tax or markup slapped on craft cider doesn’t exceed the tax or markup put on craft beer in Ontario.He adds that once the bill is fully implemented it will provide a level playing field for craft cider producers comparable to Ontario’s craft brewers and with that level playing field “the potential for expansion of this homegrown industry is immense.” The bill is an excellent first step to promoting rural and agricultural economics in Ontario, generating employment and business growth throughout the countryside, he says in the release. BF Alltech bid to buy Masterfeeds awaits Canadian regulatory approval Robotic milkers offer high throughput and precision recording
Bayer De Ruiter® Advances Tomato Innovation Monday, June 1, 2026 I mid-May,BayerDe Ruiter®hosted its Spring Demo Day in Leamington, Ontario, bringing together growers and industry partners. The event gave attendees a close look at the latest developments in greenhouse tomatoes and specialty crop production. The event was held in one of North America’s... Read this article online
Wet Spring Delays Ontario Field Crop Progress Sunday, May 31, 2026 Persistent rainfall across Ontario through late May temporarily stalled fieldwork, but improving weather conditions are now helping farmers regain momentum, according to the latest Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) Field Crop News report released May... Read this article online
Sunrise Farms Expanding National Footprint in Ontario Sunday, May 31, 2026 British Columbia-based poultry producer Sunrise Farms is building a new $100 million processing plant in Woodstock, Ontario, the development be for a 155,000-square-foot facility. Sunrise Farms is a large Canadian poultry processor based in British Columbia that acquired Sargent Farms... Read this article online
Saskatchewan Startup Unveils Portable Device to Detect Crop Diseases in the Field Friday, May 29, 2026 With global crop losses from pests and diseases reaching as high as 40 percent annually, a Saskatchewan-based startup is working to equip farmers with faster, more practical tools to protect their yields. PathoScan Technologies, founded in Saskatoon, has developed a portable... Read this article online
Falling Behind on Direct Alcohol Shipping Deadline Friday, May 29, 2026 Canada’s small alcohol producers are growing increasingly frustrated as a promised timeline for direct-to-consumer (DTC) alcohol shipping reforms approaches with little visible progress. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling out federal and provincial... Read this article online