April 2025 Newsletter

 

AGM highlights

OPVG welcomed growers and the ag community to its Annual General Meeting in London on March 24th. Here are a few of the key highlights from our event.

 

Chair Dave Hope opened the meeting with a recap of the 2024 season that saw $142 million in gross annual sales despite the challenges and uncertainties that are becoming a reality in the agriculture sector.

 

To keep the sector innovative and sustainable, OPVG invests more than $225,000 every year to support continuous improvements for the sector in processing vegetable research. Collaboration is also a key driver for OPVG, building stronger relationships with industry partners to learn and share information to strengthen the processing vegetable sector.

 

Several marketing and promotional activities were also highlighted, aimed at raising the profile of local, nutritious and economical vegetables that are available all year long.

  

If you want to read more, check out the online copy of the 2024 OPVG Corporate Profile HERE. 

Picutred (l-r) Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Hon. Trevor Jones, OPVG Chair, Dave Hope, and Chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, Amy Cronin.

Hon. Trevor Jones presented his remarks to growers emphasizing the work he plans to accomplish throughout his term as Minister. Topics included the risk of potential tariffs and keeping the Ontario Ag sector an international leader.

 

Amy Cronin highlighted the collaborative efforts between OPVG and FPMC in working together to amend Regulations 440 and 441.

 

Our auditor, Doane Grant Thronton, reported on our 2024 financial statements, which can be found in our Corporate Profile HERE.

 

Six resolutions were presented for voting during the Resolutions Session. The Resolution Report will be published on our website and featured in the May newsletter.

Thank you to all the sponsors who helped make

this year’s event a great success.

2025 Budget and License Fee Snapshot

 

For 2025, administrative fees will be increased by 5%. Over the past four years, there has been a total increase of only 2%. We are carefully monitoring our expenditures and anticipate operating at a deficit this year.

 

If you would like to view the 2025 license fee structure, please click HERE.

2024 bursary winners announced

 

Three Ontario students were announced as recipients of three OPVG bursaries, at the recent OPVG AGM.

 

Emma Sceli of Birr, ON is a studying at the University of Guelph and the recipient of the Ken Epp Memorial Bursary. Fiona VanMol of McKay's Corners, ON is studying at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus and the recipient of the Jim Whitson Memorial Bursary. Haley Lundy of Everett, ON is studying at the University of Guelph and the recipient of the OPVG Industry Bursary.

 

Congratulations Emma, Fiona and Haley. You can find out more about these three students, and how they hope to be involved in the processing vegetable industry in this short video.

Negotiations update 

Growers should have received their 2025 agreements for cucumbers, peas, sweet corn, green and wax beans, limas and squash. If you haven’t, please contact the OPVG office at opvg@opvg.org.

Strategic Planning Underway

The OPVG Board of Directors have scheduled planning sessions to develop OPVG's Strategic Plan for 2026 through until 2029. The Strategic Plan provides a clear roadmap for our organization’s future, helping to align its goals, decisions, and efforts.

 

We would greatly appreciate any feedback and input from our grower members as we start to develop our Strategic Plan. Please reach out to our office with suggestions, ideas, or concerns that could help shape our strategic intents and priorities by giving us a call at 519-681-1875 or emailing opvg@opvg.org.

 

You can view the Strategic Plan from 2022-2025 HERE.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Best Western Stoneridge Inn, London ON

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Last chance to register for Cucumber Day. We've got a great day lined up with presentations on trade, plant breeding and genetics, Phytophthora capsici, and an "About Us" from Matt and Steve's. Register now to secure your spot.

 

$30 per person (cash or cheque at the door)
REGISTER NOW

OPVG office hours

8:00 am – 4:00 pm 

Monday to Friday

519.681.1875 opvg@opvg.org
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