Fruit/Vegetables & Production Tips

Jill Ebbett and Robert Anderson, OYF Atlantic Canada regional finalists, produce quality seed potatoes.

Canada’s OYF: Atlantic nominees

Robert Anderson and Jill Ebbett rely on technology to produce quality seed potatoes

By Angela Lovell November 23, 2018

Since taking over the fifth-generation New Brunswick family farm from his parents in 2000, Robert Anderson and his wife, Jill Ebbett, have focused on technological advancements to help them improve the quality of seed potatoes and other crops, increase productivity and improve soil health. These investments have helped them gain recognition as innovators in their […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters

Abstain from romaine: Canada, U.S. warn on E. coli in lettuce

By Reuters, GFM Network News November 20, 2018

Reuters — Public health officials in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday warned against eating romaine lettuce while they investigate an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened 50 people in the two countries, including 13 who were hospitalized. The alerts, issued as millions of Americans plan their Thanksgiving Day menus, covered all forms of […] Read more

Jordan and Alex McKay of Port Perry, Ontario and families produce fruit, vegetables and meat for direct-to-consumer sales.

Fruit/Vegetables, News

Canada’s OYF: Ontario nominees

Brothers Jordan and Alex McKay embrace change and diversification

By Angela Lovell November 20, 2018

Diversification has been key to the success of Jordan and Alex McKay’s family farm at Port Perry, Ontario and is a big reason the brothers have been named as Ontario’s 2018 Outstanding Young Farmers (OFY). Willowtree Farm is a third-generation farm that started out as a dairy operation until 1979 when the McKay’s parents grew […] Read more

Zenabis’ CEO Rick Brar and chief growing officer Leo Benne in a Bevo facility at Langley, B.C. (CNW Group/Bevo Agro)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

Vegetable seedling grower, cannabis grower to merge

By GFM Network News October 8, 2018

A B.C. company that raises seedlings for greenhouse vegetable growers is set to devote its existing square footage to weed, following a takeover by a B.C. cannabis grower and processor. Langley-based, publicly-traded Bevo Agro on Thursday announced a reverse takeover deal with Surrey-based, privately-held cannabis firm Sun Pharm Investments, which will see Sun Pharm shareholders […] Read more

Crops, Potatoes

Prairie potatoes not expected to hit record yields again

By GFM Network News September 7, 2018

CNS Canada – The potato acreage may have increased this year in Western Canada, but it doesn’t look like it will be the same story for yields. “I think overall it’s too early to tell because we haven’t started the main harvest, but we are not expecting as big of yield as the last couple […] Read more

Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters

U.S. appeals court orders EPA to ban pesticide said to harm children

By GFM Network News August 9, 2018

New York | Reuters – A divided federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban a widely-used pesticide that critics say can endanger children and farmers. The 2-1 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle overturned former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s March 2017 denial of a petition by […] Read more

Crops, Grapes, Reuters

WTO panel to examine U.S. complaint on B.C. wine sale rules

By Reuters, GFM Network News July 20, 2018

Geneva | Reuters — The World Trade Organization set up a dispute panel on Friday to rule on a U.S. complaint against restrictions in British Columbia on wine sales in grocery stores, a WTO official said. In line with WTO rules, the decision was taken after Canada made its second request at a closed-door meeting […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

Ontario backs frozen vegetable plant upgrades

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News May 9, 2018

The Canadian arm of French vegetable processor Bonduelle will put up almost $80 million to upgrade and expand three of its frozen vegetable plants in southwestern Ontario, with provincial government backing. The province on Tuesday announced it will invest up to $8.5 million in Bonduelle Canada’s upgrades for its processing plants at Tecumseh, Ingersoll and […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters

China customs expanding checks on U.S. fruit imports

By GFM Network News May 5, 2018

Beijing/Chicago | Reuters –– China’s major ports of entry have ramped up checks on fresh fruit imports from the U.S., five Chinese industry sources said, which could delay shipments from U.S. growers already dealing with higher tariffs as Sino-U.S. trade ties worsen. Fruits were among 128 U.S. goods that China slapped with more expensive import […] Read more

Seed potatoes loaded for planting. (File photo by Ralph Pearce)

Crops, Potatoes, Weather

Prairie potato planting slightly behind schedule

By GFM Network News April 30, 2018

CNS Canada — After a delayed start due to the long winter and spring flooding, western Canadian potato growers are out in the fields. “We’re probably only a couple of days behind… we had farmers out on the fields last week and I think quite a few more will be moving along this week,” said […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on first WASDE since September

U.S. export sales include only small soybean business to China

U.S. corn and soybean yields revised down by USDA

Fruit/Vegetables