| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JUNE 8, 2007
OFVGA appreciates leadership actions
GUELPH, ON – The Ontario government listened to farm leadership and acted accordingly, contributing its 40 per cent share of the recently announced federal government $400-million Cost of Production program.
“This government has recognized that the cost of providing safe, quality, and nutritious food for its citizens has increased for the farmers with very little being returned back to them because greater input costs for fuel, fertilizer, and labour have eaten away any farmer profitability,” said Brenda Lammens, the Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). “This newly announced program will help off-set those increasing costs and help farmers continue to do what they do best – the business of farming.”
The Ontario government is contributing $55-million to the Cost of Production program – and is the first provincial government to do so. The new Ontario Cost Recognition Top-Up Program will be distributed as soon as the federal government releases their payment information details.
“Farmers need short-term and long-term solutions to an ever-growing list of obstacles, issues, and crisis’ taking place on the back roads – and this announcement shows that the government is paying attention to our concerns,” said Lammens.
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Lammens
Chair, OFVGA
519-875-4449
spearit@kwic.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JUNE 8, 2007
OFVGA appreciates leadership actions
GUELPH, ON – The Ontario government listened to farm leadership and acted accordingly, contributing its 40 per cent share of the recently announced federal government $400-million Cost of Production program.
“This government has recognized that the cost of providing safe, quality, and nutritious food for its citizens has increased for the farmers with very little being returned back to them because greater input costs for fuel, fertilizer, and labour have eaten away any farmer profitability,” said Brenda Lammens, the Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). “This newly announced program will help off-set those increasing costs and help farmers continue to do what they do best – the business of farming.”
The Ontario government is contributing $55-million to the Cost of Production program – and is the first provincial government to do so. The new Ontario Cost Recognition Top-Up Program will be distributed as soon as the federal government releases their payment information details.
“Farmers need short-term and long-term solutions to an ever-growing list of obstacles, issues, and crisis’ taking place on the back roads – and this announcement shows that the government is paying attention to our concerns,” said Lammens.
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Lammens
Chair, OFVGA
519-875-4449
spearit@kwic.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - APRIL 3, 2007
Vineland a model for future research in Ontario
GUELPH, ON – Today’s joint federal-provincial announcement regarding the Vineland Renaissance project bodes well for all of horticulture in Ontario.
That is the opinion of Brenda Lammens, the Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), who viewed the $26-million investment at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre as the beginning of research renewal in the province – and the OFVGA applauds the government’s initiative and financial contribution.
“Research and innovation are vital components in today’s agricultural industry as we strive at enhancing our competitiveness in the marketplace,” she said following the announcement. “Investment in innovation provides our farmers with new opportunities –for all fruit and vegetable farmers. Research is absolutely critical to our industry and research centers throughout this province are in desperate need of an injection of funds and world-class research staff to provide the service that the farmers of Ontario deserve and need immediately to move forward into a profitable and sustainable future.”
Lammens said the Vineland project will likely be used a model for the future investment in other research stations and/or projects, such as the Simcoe Innovation Centre – which has been proposed now for more than three years.
“We need to work with both the private and public sectors to ensure that our research and innovation is geared at improving our position within today’s marketplace,” she said. “Capturing markets means sustainability for our fruit and vegetable farmers in today’s ever-changing global marketplace – and both the federal and provincial government’s should be thanked for their vision and contributions.”
Today’s announcement shows that government is supportive of the idea that research and innovation is crucial to the success of Ontario’s agri-food sector, something that the OFVGA has been strongly recommending through its lobbying efforts.
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Contact:
Brenda Lammens
Chair, OFVGA
519-983-6396
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 30, 2007
OFVGA grateful for government support and recognition
GUELPH, ON – The Ontario government is boosting the efforts of fruit and vegetable farmers to market and promote their products through a one-time, $250,000 grant that will be utilized by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA).
“It is gratifying for our association to be recognized in this manner,” said Brenda Lammens, the OFVGA Chair. “Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky understands that marketing Ontario products is a priority with our organization and clearly the Ontario government has stepped forward to assist us with our efforts.”
In total, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs distributed $2.5-million to 10 organizations so that this province’s food products would enjoy greater consumer exposure.
“Our organization, through the Minister herself, just received word of this funding, Lammens continued. “Because of our past work in partnership with the Minister, she is very cognizant of our efforts to brand and market Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers as this province’s locally growing, health care providers.
“Our message, moving forward with this grant, will not change. Buy Local, Buy Ontario resonates with today’s consumers and they need to know that this province’s horticultural farmers will continue to produce healthy, nutritious, and safe fruit and vegetable products for decades to come.”
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Lammens
Chair, OFVGA
519-983-6396
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 23, 2007
Farmers employing labour are budget losers
GUELPH, ON – Farmers, particularly growers of fruits and vegetables, are facing uncertain economic times because of the Ontario government’s decision to increase the minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010.
“This is a huge increase in labour costs for our labour-intensive industry,” said Brenda Lammens, the Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). “We, as an industry, cannot stress the point strongly enough that farmers are price takers and not price setters. A company, for example, like MacDonald’s, can increase the price of their burgers by a quarter to offset the labour costs, but farmers have no recourse in this matter. We cannot demand more for our product because of the limited selling power we possess through the highly consolidated retail level.”
The 25 per cent increase in wages is cause for concern because of the very nature of the fruit and vegetable sector – with its perishability and on-time demand for product during the harvest period.
“While I fully empathize with those already working at minimum wage, we, as farmers, cannot recoup our losses through normal business practices like other companies will be able to do,” she continued. “We are already exceptionally efficient in our operations because of years of agricultural budget cutbacks and an unwritten cheap food policy that seems in place within Canada.
“Our only recourse is for the government to recognize the unique demands that their actions have placed upon our industry and deal with the realities placed upon the backs of farmers as they are the ones providing healthy, safe, and nutritious products to the citizens of this province.”
The OFVGA is seeking a meeting with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour, and the Premier in order to address their concerns with this latest round of wage increases.
“Labour will increase the cost of production from 30 per cent to well over 40 per cent for an industry already struggling with depressed pricing,” said Kristen Callow, the General Manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). “We can no longer compete with the wages being offered in other countries now that we are a globally-based economy. Other nations, like Mexico or Peru, are paying their employees in a day what we will have to pay ours in an hour – which leads to a huge competitive advantage for those not concerned with the well-being of their employees and citizens.
“It is a grave day for the fruit and vegetable sector as a whole.”
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Contact information:
Brenda Lammens Kristen Callow
Chair, OFVGA General Manager, OGVG
519-983-6396 1-800-265-6926
spearit@kwic.com callow@ontariogreenhouse.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 18, 2007
Leadership change at OFVGA
GUELPH, ON – Brenda Lammens is the newly appointed Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) – and indicated that she would continue the strong lobbying efforts of her predecessors.
Lammens, from the Langton area just outside of Tillsonburg and the Vice-Chair of the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board, was named the Chair of the OFVGA – replacing two-term outgoing Chair Len Troup.
“I am proud to be a farmer,” she said in accepting the new position. “Throughout my life, I have held leadership positions with political, educational, volunteer, and church organizations. I know the physical, not so fashionable farm work, and I know the pride of producing some of the best produce in the world. I know the hard work that goes into trying to keep our industries viable.”
“I have every confidence in Brenda’s abilities,” said Troup. “She has been my confidant, my right hand, and my friend during these past two years. She will do a great job for the association and its membership because she is very passionate, very determined, and very informed about the key issues within our sector.”
Lammens, who will also represent the asparagus growers’ association, will be joined on the Board of Directors by:
• Troup (representing tender fruit )
• Jim Rickard (apple)
• Doug Bradley (ginseng)
• James Neven (greenhouse)
• Mac James (potato)
• Ray Duc (grape)
• Jason Ryder (fresh vegetable – other)
• Bill Parks (small fruits/berries)
• Mark Srokesz (fresh vegetable – muck)
At the Board’s ex-officio level, the following were appointed:
• Ken Forth (Chair, Labour Section)
• Mark Wales (Chair, Safety Net Section)
• Charles Stevens (Chair, Crop Protection Section)
• Brian Gilroy (Chair, Property Section)
• Murray Porteous (Chair, Research Section)
“It has been an interesting four years since I came on as a director at the OFVGA,” said Lammens. “As we move forward, we should be thankful for such individuals as Len, who stepped up to provide leadership that was solid, reliable, and confidant. I truly believe that integrity is the best legacy you can leave – and Len has left that legacy.”
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Lammens Art Smith
Chair, OFVGA CEO, OFVGA
519-983-6396 519-763-6160 ext. 115
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