To All the PAST, CURRENT, & FUTURE members of Haskap Berry Growers Association of Ontario, INC: As the “formal voice” of all haskap berry growers in Ontario (recognized as such by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture & Food), the HBGAO would like to outline our most significant accomplishments over the year 2024. These efforts are where your annual dues payments go…
HBGAO has been working with the Ontario Berry Growers Association who have developed a proposal to establish a “CLEAN PLANT HUB” in Ontario, which would replace the aging University of Guelph “SPUD UNIT”. That facility currently provides “Virus-indexed” plantlets of strawberry, raspberry, seed potato, garlic, asparagus, hazelnut and haskap to the Ontario Plant Propagation Program.
“Virus Indexed” plantlets from the “SPUD UNIT” are currently being evaluated in an orchard. “Polar Berries Inc” is a private orchard in Temiskaming Shores. This HBGAO member also runs a 4-soil type demonstration farm that is available for all current and Future HBGAO members to visit …at no cost.
OMAFRA staff members, Evan Elford and Melanie Filotis, have both held special on-line sessions that many members have participated in. These two government employees are making themselves available to respond to questions from the organized HBGAO membership as a whole, thereby providing access to the public with proficiency and equality. In return, HBGAO members make recommendations to OMAFRA on the direction that government research should take.
Work with Melanie Filotis, of OMAFRA, on her “SWD” insect trap research across Ontario, to determine the best haskap varieties to be planted in any locality that might reduce economic losses from SWD (and other insects).
Work with Evan Elford, from OMAFRA, with soil testing and soil nutrients for Haskap plants along with fertilization of Haskap plants.
The HBGAO Directors provide the membership with 4 annual issues of the email publication “The Haskap Berry Bulletin”.
University of Saskatchewan Haskap Research Specialist, Dr. Bob Bors visited the HBGAO members in Temiskaming District to view and evaluate developments in that region.
These are the results of the direct actions taken by the HBGAO Board of Directors, on your behalf…Bryan Kinsman (President), Graham Gambles (Secretary), Stephanie Smith (Treasurer), Diane Des Chatelets, Brad Hillis.