For release: May 14, 2004

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT IMPROVES COMPETITIVENESS
OF APPLE INDUSTRY
New board will enable growers to plan for the future

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is helping improve the competitiveness of Ontario's apple industry by providing for the creation of a new marketing board.

The Ontario Apple Growers will be established by a new regulation under the Farm Products Marketing Act.

"Commercial apple growers will be able to design an effective organization that allows them to speak with a single voice, provide for the future through research and education and increase markets," said Steve Peters, Minister of Agriculture and Food. "We are committed to a sustainable apple industry that is able to compete and win in the global marketplace."

In the spring of 2003, almost 72 per cent of eligible apple producers voted in favour of developing a new, regulated marketing plan in a vote conducted by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. More than 65 per cent of eligible growers took part in the vote.

"The apple growers of Ontario welcome this announcement," said Brian Gilroy, Chair of the Ontario Apple Growers' Steering Committee. "By working together through this new marketing board, we will help the Ontario apple industry meet the many challenges we face - at home and internationally. It'll be one of the keys to our future success."

"The Ontario government appreciates the commitment of this province's apple growers to the future of their industry," said Peters. "We will work with them to establish the kind of organization they require."

New Marketing Board for Ontario Apple Growers

Ontario Apple Growers, a new marketing board established by regulation under the Farm Products Marketing Act will help apple growers plan for the future.

The new board will have:

• authority to negotiate the price of apples for juice with processors;
  
• leadership responsibility for activities related to research, promotion and education;
  
• a board of directors comprised of 10 elected producers;
  
• authority over all producers who own or rent 10 or more acres of apple trees; and
  
• the ability to assess and collect an annual licence fee of $20 per acre.

Apple marketers and processors will not be regulated under the marketing regulation, but will be required to co-operate with the new board by providing information on the industry and, if necessary, deduct outstanding acreage fees for the board. As well, while not covered by the board, growers with less than 10 acres of apple orchard will be able to access and benefit from board activities.

With an annual budget of approximately $320,000 to support its activities, Ontario Apple Growers will be responsible for the collection of acreage fees and any enforcement that might be required to collect these fees. The activities of the new board will be supervised by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.

Media Contact:
Mary Devorski
Minister's Office
416-326-3077
416-606-8303 (mobile)

Program Contact:
Rod Stork, Chair
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
519-826-3406

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