05/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/10/2024 09:39
May 10, 2024 - Vineland Station, Ontario - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canadian farmers produce a wide range of fruits, including apples and tender fruit like peaches, pears, and apricots, that contribute steadily to Canada's economy-with most of Canada's tender fruit and apples grown in Ontario.
To keep the sector strong, competitive, and resilient in the face of more extreme weather events, today, Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,099,624 to the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers through the AgriScience Program - Projects Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Ontario Apple Growers is a project partner.
Key outcomes of the project include:
Building on the previous variety development research, this project will look at innovative tender fruit varieties with improved attributes-such as firmer flesh-to increase production, extend shelf-life, and reduce losses caused by shipping, storage, and climate change.