2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006

Grape Growers of Ontario - Niagara Region

(Left to right: Bill George Jr.; Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi; Debbie Zimmerman)

Technology is helping grow better vineyards in Ontario's Niagara region. The VITIS Vine Management System is a grower-driven, farm management resource that intertwines several tools, including geographical information and global positioning systems. VITIS helps producers match the correct viticulture practices in a given location to maximize quality and determine where varieties perform the best. What started as a web-based farming tool has evolved into a robust crop traceability system. Ontario's grape industry moved into a leadership role in Canada as the first commodity organization to offer growers a web-based vine management system tool that can also address information needs of other value chain participants.