The governments of Ontario and Canada are supporting 128 apple, tender fruit, and table grape producers across the province to grow new, popular, and resilient varieties of fruit. The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative (GFOI), with funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), is supporting these projects through a $4.4 million investment. In Oxford, a local apple producer is being supported through an investment of $50,000.
Growers are replanting more than 94 acres of apples and more than 60 acres of tender fruit and table grapes. The range of new fruit varieties being planted has greater appeal with changing consumer tastes, are more resilient, and have enhanced resistance to pests and diseases. These varieties include Coral Star and Summer Serenade peaches and Gala and Honeycrisp apples.
"This funding is an important investment in Ontario's agriculture industry," said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. "We are providing funding to local apple producers to help them adapt to shifting consumer preferences and stay competitive in the marketplace."
"This initiative is just one way our government is supporting Ontario fruit growers, reinforcing their long-term competitiveness, and enhancing agritourism," said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. "Since 2018, we've created almost 30,000 new agri-food jobs, nearly $3 billion in added agri-food GDP, and boosted agricultural exports by 65% to $26.2 billion because of strategic sector supports like the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative."
The GFOI is a three-year, $8 million initiative providing eligible fruit producers with cost-share funding to purchase vines or trees of popular fruit varieties. Applications are still being accepted for tender fruit and table grapes. Under the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, eligible producers can receive 75 per cent of cost-share funding for plants.
The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada's agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
For more information:
Ernie Hardeman
Tel. +1 519-537-5222
Email: [email protected]
www.erniehardemanmpp.com