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New Ontario berry grower marketing board

November 24, 2017  By Press release



November 24, 2017, Toronto, Ont – The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission recently announced the establishment of a new Berry Growers of Ontario (BGO) marketing board under Ontario Regulation 383/17 (Berries – Plan) of the Farm Products Marketing Act.

The new organization will represent Ontario blueberry, raspberry and strawberry growers.

Under the regulation, the commission was required to appoint members to serve on BGO’s first board of directors. The appointed directors include:

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Blueberry Growers
 
Kerry Copestake
Brambleberry Farm
Wooler, ON
 
Steve Kustermans
Kustermans Berry Farms
Mt. Brydges, ON

Dusty Zamecnik
EZ Grow Farms
Langton, ON  

Strawberry Growers

Kevin Howe
G & M Howe & Sons Ltd.
Aylmer, ON

Graham Shaw
Taylor Strawberry Farm
Windermere, ON

Matt Tigchelaar
Tigchelaar Berry Farm
Jordan, ON
 
Raspberry Growers

Alex McKay
Willowtree Farm
Port Perry, ON

Tom Heeman
Heeman Strawberry Farm
Thames Centre, ON

Brian Rijke
Dentz Orchards & Berry Farm
Iroquois, ON

Member terms began on November 15, 2017, and will end upon the first meeting of a newly elected board in 2018. In 2018, all directors will be elected by producer members.

While Ontario Regulation 383/17 establishes BGO and defines its governance framework, Ontario Regulation 428/17: Berries – Marketing delegates BGO powers to regulate the production and marketing of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in Ontario. The proposed marketing regulation would give BGO the powers to license berry growers; set and collect licence fees; require berry growers to provide information and establish an industry advisory committee.


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