Photo by Gary Symons
Grape Canopy
‘Canopy' style vineyard management in San Juan reduces the intense heat reflected from the ground.
The federal government is investing in a program to improve fruit quality and availability for tender fruits and fresh grapes in Ontario. Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, and Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $476,908 for the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers and Fresh Grape Growers. 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.
Funding comes through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program, aimed at accelerating the pace of innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial R&D.