Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak released a report yesterday recommending changes to help the tender fruit and grape industry, on the heels of the closure of the CanGro fruit canning plant in St. Davids.

"Hundreds of farmers have been hit hard by the closure of processors," he said. "I want to ensure that farms that have existed for generations have a future."

One of the key recommendations is a new policy that demands governments buy local first.

"A Buy Ontario policy for (government) agencies such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes ... would set an example for the rest of us of the value of fresh, local produce," Hudak said. "You need to create a demand for local first."

The Progressive Conservative MPP said the closure of CanGro and other processing plants has resulted in 6,000 acres of prime agricultural land without a market.

That means about 22 per cent of the grape and tender fruit market in Ontario will need a new strategy or the land will remain what Hudak calls an "agricultural brownfield."

Hudak's report is by and large non-partisan and has a positive spin, says Len Troup, chair of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing Board.

"It puts some options out there that are good ones to consider," Troup said.

"Some of these will cost money, some of these won't," Hudak said.

Other recommendations include:

* Setting aggressive targets for Ontario VQA Wine Stores and allowing a parallel system of private retail stores that specialize in Ontario VQA wine to open in Ontario.

* Introducing a tender fruit and grape replant program to renew orchards and vineyards with higher-quality varieties that are in higher demand in the marketplace.

* Creating an irrigation infrastructure to help with the drought conditions in Niagara.

* Introducing value-added incentives to promote on-farm businesses.

Hudak met with farmers, industry groups and municipal leaders to draw up the report, which appeals to all levels of government.

lmarr@thespec.com

905-526-3992

For more information on this and related issues, click on Canned: Trouble in the Niagara Fruit Belt in Featured Sections.