Fruit/Vegetables & Production Tips

Ontario tomato processors cancel orders for spring

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News December 22, 2016

Retaliating in a dispute with what they call a “growers’ cartel,” two of Ontario’s major commercial tomato processors say they won’t contract with tomato seedling producers for this spring’s crop. Sun-Brite Foods and Highbury Canco, which describe themselves as two of the three biggest tomato processors in the province, said Wednesday their cutback in orders […] Read more

Crops, Grapes

Dan Aykroyd’s winemaker raises funds for expansion

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News December 17, 2016

The Niagara-area maker of actor Dan Aykroyd’s wine line is set to sell up to $8.8 million in shares to expand its main wine production site. Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits on Dec. 2 announced an agreement with Paradigm Capital and GMP Securities to sell up to 22.73 million common shares at 22 cents per […] Read more

Unveiling a rendering of Cavendish Farms’ planned new Lethbridge plant (close-up below) are (l-r) 48-year Cavendish employee Gerry Patterson; Cavendish’s Lethbridge director of operations, Lee Gleim; Cavendish’s senior vice-president Ron Clow, Cavendish president Robert Irving; Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier; Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman; Trevor Lewington, CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge; and potato grower Greg Nakamura. (Photo and graphic courtesy Cavendish Farms)

Crops, Potatoes

Irving’s potato arm plans new plant for Lethbridge

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News December 12, 2016

Cavendish Farms, the potato arm of J.D. Irving Ltd., is set to build a $350 million frozen potato processing plant at Lethbridge to double its local capacity and replace the old York Farms plant it owns there. Moncton-based Cavendish announced Monday it has picked up Lethbridge city hall’s approval to buy a new plant site […] Read more

Atlantic region Outstanding Young Farmer nominees Andrew and Jennifer Lovell and their children Robert, 11, and Elise, four.

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, News

Outstanding Young Farmers Atlantic: Andrew and Jennifer Lovell

Marketing is key for Andrew and Jennifer Lovell’s orchard operation

By Angela Lovell December 2, 2016

Andrew and Jennifer Lovell have a flair for marketing, and it’s helped them diversify and grow their first generation farm at Keswick Bridge, N.B. And it also helped them achieve the title of 2016 Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for the Atlantic Region. The Lovells own and operate River View Orchards, which includes a U-pick operation for apples, […] Read more

A view from the community of Frelighsburg. (TourismeBrome-Missisquoi.ca)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

Federal research farm to reopen in Quebec

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News December 2, 2016

A federal experimental farm shuttered by budget cuts in 2012 is poised to reopen next year in Quebec’s Monteregie, for joint research work with other ag sector stakeholders. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Frelighsburg Experimental Farm, about 80 km southeast of Montreal, will reopen in the spring, taking on […] Read more

Saskatchewan OYF regional nominees, Dan and Chelsea Erlandson and their children Calla, 4, and Raulan, 2.

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, News, Potatoes

Outstanding Young Farmers Saskatchewan: Dan and Chelsea Erlandson

Growing vegetables for the local market is the key to success for Can and Chelsea Erlandson

By Shirley Byers November 25, 2016

Weather wise, October had a dreadful start in Saskatchewan. There was rain and there was snow. And on October 11, forecasters were predicting night time temperatures to plummet to -7 C within days. Dan and Chelsea Erlandson, Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2016, confessed they were a little worried about five acres of potato fingerlings still in […] Read more

Fruit/Vegetables, Livestock, Reuters

Loblaw reports better-than-expected profit

By Reuters, GFM Network News November 16, 2016

Reuters — Canadian grocery and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, as expenses fell and discounting attracted more shoppers. Profit at Loblaw’s main retail unit was helped by lower selling, general and administrative costs, and an increase in same-store sales in the quarter ending Oct. 8, the company said. […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

Feds fund tomato and apple research

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 3, 2016

An Ontario research station is getting nearly a million dollars from the Federal government to develop new disease-resistant apple and greenhouse tomato varieties. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, located in Lincoln, Ont., will build on work done earlier by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists, who will continue to be heavily involved in the research. […] Read more

Crops, Potatoes

Thailand to accept Alberta seed potatoes

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 1, 2016

Alberta is now the third Canadian province from which seed potato growers are eligible to export to Thailand. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced a new export agreement by which Thailand will accept imports of seed potatoes produced in Alberta. “Alberta has a very innovative and progressive seed potato industry and is looking […] Read more

Crops, Grapes, Reuters, Weather

World wine output seen at four-year low

By Reuters, GFM Network News October 21, 2016

Paris | Reuters –– Worldwide wine production is expected to fall this year to its lowest since 2012, chiefly due to adverse weather that sharply cut output in France and South America, wine body OIV estimated on Thursday. Global wine output is set to decrease by five per cent compared with last year to 259.5 […] 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