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Connecting Research to Grower Priorities
Each February, Ontario’s horticulture sector gathers in Niagara Falls for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC); a key opportunity for growers, researchers and industry partners to connect, learn and plan for the season ahead. This year’s event once again delivered two days of practical insights, meaningful conversations, and strong engagement across the sector.
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Vineland Research and Innovation Centre was proud to participate in the 2026 convention by sharing research updates, contributing to the educational program, and creating new opportunities for one-on-one engagement with growers, through our ‘Ask an Expert’ campaign.
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Advancing Biological Crop Protection
A highlight of this year’s program was a presentation by Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland’s Director of Biological Crop Protection, who co-presented, with Dr. Justin Renkema, Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), on thrips management in tender fruit crops.
Thrips remain a persistent challenge for Ontario growers, particularly as resistance pressures and changing environmental conditions increase the need for integrated approaches. Dr. Buitenhuis’ session explored:
- Thrips biology and seasonal behaviour
- Monitoring strategies and early detection
- Biological control options
- Practical integrated pest management (IPM) strategies tailored to Ontario production systems
The presentation reinforced Vineland’s commitment to developing sustainable, science-based solutions that support both crop productivity and long-term environmental resilience.
Creating Research Impact: Aligning Priorities Across the Sector
Dr. Amy Bowen, Director of Consumer, Sensory & Market Insights at Vineland, chaired a session titled Creating Research Impact, which brought together diverse perspectives on how organizations are conducting research that directly benefits growers and the broader horticulture sector.
Dr. Bowen opened the session with an overview of Ontario’s horticulture research priority-setting process, highlighting how the upcoming report — to be released in Spring 2026 — will:
- Enable sector groups to prioritize and rank their research needs
- Embrace the diversity of Ontario horticulture, ensuring representation across commodities
- Strengthen connections between grower organizations and the research community
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The session then featured several industry leaders who demonstrated how research impact is being delivered in practice:
- Ali English, Executive Director of Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), shared how their member-based organization supports growers in conducting on-farm research. Through case studies of completed and in-progress projects, she highlighted how growers feel more empowered, confident and knowledgeable after directly participating in research initiatives.
- Dan Oliver, Agronomy, Seed & Compliance Manager with Nortera Foods, spoke about the company’s investment in dedicated Agronomy Farms to support production research in processing vegetables. He underscored the competitive pressures facing the frozen vegetable sector — particularly from imports — and emphasized the importance of innovation to remain competitive in a commodity-driven marketplace.
- Jim Willwerth of Brock University provided an overview of the new Clean Agriculture Sustainable Production Research Farm currently under development. He outlined how industry partnerships and funding support have enabled both infrastructure development and applied research capacity. The farm’s three main research pillars will directly address sector-identified priorities moving forward.
Together, the session illustrated the power of alignment — when growers, industry, researchers and institutions collaborate to ensure that research investments generate meaningful, measurable impact for Ontario horticulture.
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Meaningful Engagement on the Trade Show Floor
Beyond formal sessions and scheduled meetings, OFVC continues to provide invaluable opportunities for connection. At the Vineland booth, our team engaged in conversations that will help shape future research priorities and partnerships across Ontario’s horticultural sector.
These exchanges are a vital part of our innovation process, ensuring our work remains grounded in real-world challenges and aligned with emerging industry trends.
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Looking Ahead
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention remain a cornerstone event for Ontario’s fruit and vegetable community. For Vineland, it represents more than an annual gathering, it is an opportunity to listen, collaborate and accelerate innovation together.
We thank everyone who attended our sessions, booked an Ask an Expert meeting, or stopped by our booth. We look forward to continuing these conversations throughout the year.