October 30, 2023
The Canadian and Ontario governments have
announced funding of up to $8 million over three years for Ontario apple, tender fruit, table grape, and wine grape growers through the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The funding is intended to help growers plant varieties of produce that will improve quality, production, and marketability. These improvements will help achieve:
- Better alignment with changing consumer preferences
- Increased yields
- Improved cold hardiness
- Improved resistance to pests and diseases
- Improved labour efficiency
Funding will be available to growers during 2 defined intake periods. The first intake is for apple, tender fruit, and table grape growers, and the second intake is for wine grape growers.
Once an intake period opens, applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding has been fully allocated or the intake period closes, whichever comes first.
Apple and tender fruit growers intake period
The intake period for apple, tender fruit, and table grape growers opens on November 20, 2023 at 10:00am.
We expect the application form and guidelines to be available on our website the week of November 6. To download these documents, applicants can visit
agricorp.com and look for the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative quick link on the homepage.
Wine grape growers intake period
The wine grape intake is anticipated in the winter of 2024.
Agricorp will work with OMAFRA and the Grape Growers of Ontario to ensure growers have the information they need to apply.
Watch agricorp.com over the coming weeks for more details.
