Features Fruit Production
Nominations open for OFVGA Award of Merit

November 3, 2014, Guelph Ont – The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is now accepting nominations for its annual Award of Merit.

The award is presented to an individual or group who has made outstanding contributions to the fruit and vegetable industry. This can include strategic leadership, technical input, and/or the dedication shown by an individual or organization to Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector.

“Our objective is to recognize grass roots involvement and long-time advocates in our industry, or to acknowledge exemplary performance and commitment to Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector,” says executive vice president John Kelly. “There are many individuals and groups who have made tremendous contributions to edible horticulture in Ontario and they deserve to be recognized and honoured for their achievements.”

To be eligible, nominees must be a member farmer/producer, group of farmers, combination of agri-food businesses, or an agri-food related organization within the fruit and vegetable industry. They must also be resident in Ontario and be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status.

Nomination forms are available at www.ofvga.org or by contacting the OFVGA office. Completed forms are due by 5 p.m. on November 30 to Deanna Hutton at OFVGA and may be submitted via email to dhutton@ofvga.org, by fax to 519-763-6604, or mailed to 105-355 Elmira Rd. N, Guelph ON N1K 1S5.

The Award of Merit recipient will be announced at the OFVGA’s 156th Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls on January 13, and will be the subject of a feature article in the February 2015 issue of The Grower. Recent award winners have included Wayne Roberts (2014), FARMS (2013), Steve Peters (2012) and Adrian Huisman (2011).