Fruit/Vegetables, Agriculture News & Resources

Canadian produce growers lose U.S. default protection

By Dave Bedard October 4, 2014

Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian fruit and vegetable growers shipping produce to the U.S. have just lost a key piece of insurance against U.S. buyers who skip out on their bills. The Fresh Produce Alliance (FPA), representing the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), announced Friday that Washington […] Read more

Beef producer Bob Gordanier (l) presents $40,000 cheque to the food bank's Bill Laidlaw.

Fruit/Vegetables, Guide Business

When farm organizations work with charities, everyone wins

More than a trend, feeding hungry people is becoming an essential business practice

By Lois Harris September 29, 2014

Reading Time: 6 minutes When Bill Laidlaw was general manager of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario, he had no more insight than anyone else into what food banks were, what they did, or how they operated. Now, as executive director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB), he spends a lot of his time lobbying the government, companies and […] Read more

Crops, Potatoes

Wrigley exec to lead McCain’s in Canada

By Country Guide Staff September 25, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minute The president of the Canadian arm of confection maker Wrigley is moving into the head office at McCain Foods’ Canadian business. Shai Altman will take the post of McCain Foods’ president, Canada, effective Oct. 20, replacing Darryl Rowe, who’d held the post since 2010 and announced late last year he’d be leaving the company. Altman, […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets

Fruit, veg exporters fear loss of U.S. payment default coverage

By Country Guide Staff September 24, 2014

Reading Time: 2 minutes The U.S. could potentially yank the payment default protection it grants to Canadian exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables if Canada doesn’t extend the same courtesy southward, produce growers warn. Under the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Canadian produce suppliers exporting into the U.S. have had the same rights as U.S. suppliers to recover […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets, Reuters

Massive claims force EU to halt Russian fruit ban aid

September 11, 2014

Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — The European Union halted an aid plan for fruit and vegetable growers hit by a Russian import ban after Polish farmers claimed far more compensation than EU officials reckon the entire bloc exports to Russia in a year. An EU official said none of the 125 million euros (US$162 million) set […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Potatoes

Dutch potato co-op buys control of Alta. seed firm

By Country Guide Staff September 4, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minute Dutch potato breeding co-operative Agrico has stepped up its direct interest in the North American seed potato sector by buying control of one of its major seed dealers. The co-op last week announced it has bought a 21 per cent stake in Parkland Seed Potatoes, raising its ownership to 60 per cent of the Edmonton company. […] Read more

Crops, Grapes, Markets

Sask., B.C. reach deal on direct wine, spirits sales

By Country Guide Staff September 2, 2014

Reading Time: 2 minutes Consumers in each of British Columbia and Saskatchewan may be able to order wine and craft spirits directly from the other province’s producers, starting next summer, without having to involve the Crown or third-party vendors. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced an agreement Friday they said will “lift barriers to consumers […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Potatoes

P.E.I. field quarantined with potato wart

By Country Guide Staff August 30, 2014

Reading Time: 2 minutes A 35-acre field on Prince Edward Island is under quarantine and its crops set to be destroyed after the plot was confirmed to have potato wart. The finding was confirmed last week by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which has ordered “movement controls” on all equipment, plants, potato tubers and soil from the affected farm. […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Markets

N.S. sets up wine development board

By Country Guide Staff August 28, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minute Grape growers and wine producers in Nova Scotia have got a new advisory board to bring their ideas and issues to the provincial government. The province on Tuesday named nine members, including Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell as chairman, to a new Nova Scotia Wine Development Board. Nova Scotia’s wineries sold almost $16.7 million in wine […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Reuters

California wine country quake losses seen in billions

By Christina Farr, Robin Respaut August 26, 2014

Reading Time: 3 minutes Napa, California | Reuters — A strong earthquake that jolted residents of California’s Napa Valley wine country from their beds on Sunday caused insured property damage likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, but the region’s total economic losses will be several times that, experts said on Monday. The magnitude 6.0 quake, the biggest […] Read more

Daily Network News

U.S. researchers bet on hybrid, GMO seeds to make wheat profitable again

Hormuz-driven fertilizer shortage could raise grain prices, Goldman Sachs says

Prairie forecast: Arctic air keeps spring warming at bay

Fruit/Vegetables