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It’s official! FCO designated voice of Ontario greenhouse floriculture growers

September 15, 2008, Guelph, Ont. —
The provincial government has officially designated Flowers Canada
(Ontario) Inc. to represent the interests of approximately 350 Ontario
greenhouse floriculture growers in Ontario. 

September 15, 2008, Guelph, Ont. — The provincial government has officially designated Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. to represent the interests of approximately 350 Ontario greenhouse floriculture growers in Ontario.   
In January 2008, the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission conducted a vote, and the majority of Ontario’s greenhouse floriculture growers who participated supported having FCO designated as their representative association and paying a mandatory licence fee to fund the organization.   
Greenhouse floriculture growers of cut flowers, potted plants, annual bedding plants and propagative plant material will reap the benefits from organizing under one voice to improve the production and marketing of their products in Ontario.   
To support this new unified organization, greenhouse floriculture growers with 20,000 square feet or more of these specified products will pay a mandatory check-off fee. The fee is two cents per square foot of their greenhouse floriculture production to a maximum fee payable of $13,000 per year. The fee does not apply to herbs, nursery stock, perennials and biennials grown for outdoor planting.   
“The McGuinty government is very pleased to support the designation of Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc.,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky. “We listened, and our greenhouse floriculture growers supported this designation because they know that when we work together it gives them a competitive advantage in a global marketplace.”   
Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. president Andy Kuyvenhoven (at left) agreed. “This designation is important to the greenhouse floriculture industry in Ontario, and the support we have received from growers will go a long way in enabling Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. to address the many challenges facing our industry.”   
This new designation falls under Section 12 of the Farm Products Marketing Act. About 350 greenhouse floriculture growers in Ontario produce an estimated 34 million square feet of cut flowers, potted plants, annual bedding plants and propagative plant material.