Features Fruit Production
OFVGA welcomes safety net announcement

June 29, 2011, Guelph,
Ont – Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers are pleased with today’s provincial
government announcement of a new self-directed risk management program for the
edible horticulture sector.

June 29, 2011, Guelph,
Ont – Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers are pleased with today’s provincial
government announcement of a new self-directed risk management program for the
edible horticulture sector.

Farmers have long been
asking for a bankable, predictable and stable risk management program as the
fruit and vegetable sector has been suffering through a prolonged economic
downturn.

“We appreciate that the
Ontario government has recognized the need in horticulture for a stable,
bankable and predictable risk management program,” says Brian Gilroy, chair of
the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). “This new program
is important to our sector as it will help give farmers the increased stability
they need as they continue to struggle with low prices and rapidly escalating
costs.”

The OFVGA worked
collaboratively with fellow members of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability
Coalition (OASC) to develop a long term, permanent risk management solution for
farmers of non-supply managed commodities. The Self-Directed Risk Management
(SDRM) program for edible horticulture is based on financial contributions by
both farmers and the provincial government.

“We appreciate the
willingness of Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell to work with us to develop
and implement a risk management solution that will work for each sector,” says
Gilroy.

Details about the program
are available at www.ontario.ca/rmp, by
calling 1-877-424-1300, or by sending an email to rmpinfo@ontario.ca.