By Alice McFarlane

Fruit and vegetable growers welcome historic boost to risk management program

Jan 30, 2025 | 2:50 PM

An increase in risk management funding is being applauded by Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers.

The program includes the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program for edible horticulture farms.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Rob Flack made the announcement of $100 million of additional funding to the program per year. The increase will be phased-in over three years, starting with a $30 million increase in 2025.

Shawn Brenn, potato grower and chair of Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) said the willingness of the provincial government to invest in the domestic food supply was good news.

“This additional investment will help Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector better navigate current challenges – and we appreciate the leadership of government in making this happen,” he said.

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OFVGA and fellow members of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition have been urging the province to increase its funding to help Ontario farmers better deal with inflation, high production costs, and other challenges outside of their control.

This includes a new farm assistance program launched by the United States Department of Agriculture in December 2024 for growers of specialty crops, primarily including produce. The total funding for this new program is approximately $3.84 billion, putting Ontario growers at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to their U.S. counterparts.

The OFVGA is the voice of Ontario’s 3,500 fruit and vegetable farmers on issues affecting the edible horticulture sector. The sector grows products in fields and greenhouses across the province for fresh and processed consumption.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW