“Plant the Seeds: Opportunities to Grow Southern Ontario's Fruit and Vegetable Sector” is a new report by the Greenbelt Foundation outlines the potential to expand Ontario's $2.2 billion fruit and vegetable sector, including more local production of fresh grapes, pears, strawberries, garlic, eggplant, sweet potatoes, apples, snap peas, and cabbage—as well as vertical farming.
This expansion may result in an extra $135 million in farm-gate income, which would help Ontario's economy recover considerably. Expanding production across the Greenbelt and southwestern Ontario for most of the crops examined in this analysis would displace some of the $7.3 billion in annual imported fruits and vegetables, contributing significantly to Ontario's economic recovery, and could provide an even greater contribution to the rural economy.
To fulfill the potential, certain prerequisites must be in place, and farmers, marketers, retailers, industry groups, research and development institutes, and government all have a role to play.
Fresh grapes are one of the fruits with the most potential for expansion. By growing another 3,720 acres of grape vines, Ontario-grown fresh grapes could boost its market share from 1.6 percent to 8.3 percent of yearly consumption. This increase equals $26.4 million in total farm-gate revenues, based on a gross revenue per acre of $7,000. This is only one example of a Field Crop with Expansion Potential and there are many other like eggplant, apples, strawberries etc. as mentioned above.