Federal government invests in the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers and Fresh Grape Growers

An investment of up to $476,908 for the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers and Fresh Grape Growers to improve fruit quality and availability of tender fruit and fresh grape varieties for consumers.

The research project aims to improve Canadian tender fruits such as apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and pears, for example by extending the growing season and storability. The project will also study black knot disease in plums and develop new tender fruit and fresh grape varieties. The technical results of the research will be shared with the Canadian tree fruit and fresh grape sectors.

This initiative is funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program, which aims to accelerate the pace of innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and cutting-edge research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

In 2018, the farm-gate value for tender fruit and table grapes in Ontario totalled more than $66 million and over $4 million respectively, for a combined total of more than $71 million; over 91 per cent of this fruit is sold through fresh-market sales.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector. The AgriScience Program is a five-year, $338 million initiative that supports leading-edge discovery, applied science and innovation driven by industry research priorities