Virtual Event
Canadian Fruit & Vegetable Summit
March 10, 2021 at
12:00pm EST
On DEMAND
Deep-dive: Apple production in Canada
It’s all about apples! This panel will focus on the biggest challenges and opportunities in Canadian apple production, what recent PMRA re-evaluations mean for growers, and the continuing impact of the pandemic on this sector.sponsored by:
Speakers: Michelle Cortens, Tree fruit specialist, Perennia (N.S.)
Brian Rideout, Vice-chair, Apple Growers of Ontario; apple producer
Michelle Cortens
Michelle supports the growth and development of the tree fruit industry in Nova Scotia. She is a resource to producers in all aspects of conventional and organic horticulture systems for tree fruit crops, including apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry and tree nut.
Michelle has a BSc. in agriculture and MSc.from the University of Guelph in Ontario, with a focus on plant agriculture and fruit crops. For her MSc., Michelle researched the chemical thinning of apple trees, including the use of new thinners to anticipate regulatory changes, and options for late thinning.
Her extension activities include responding to farm inquiries, conducting applied research, hosting production workshops and tours, publishing factsheets and podcasts and writing the Orchard Outlook newsletter. Michelle serves on local production, research and education-related committees and on the International Fruit Tree Association Research Committee.
Brian Rideout
Brian might not come from a farming background, but he’s passionate about apple growing. He started farming with his father-in-law in southern Ontario more than two decades ago.
Brian became an OAG director in 2014, and is currently a member of the research committee as well as representing apple growers at meetings related to crop protection. He was the inaugural chair of OAG’s Young Apple Grower group.
