Ontario Wineries can now sell wine at local farmer's markets. What do you think?

The province of Ontario released a statement today announcing they will be allowing Ontario VQA wines to be sold at local farmer’s markets:

The province is making it easier for consumers to choose Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Ontario wine by expanding the LCBO’s new “Our Wine Country” destination boutiques and allowing VQA wines to be sold at farmers’ markets through the renewed Wine and Grape Strategy.

“I’m committed to supporting this innovative industry and I encourage consumers to choose Ontario wines first as they share them with family and friends this holiday season and throughout the year. They’re local, they’re good for our economy, and they support good jobs,” says Kathleen Wynne, Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ontario.

Other features of the $75 million Wine and Grape Strategy will support local wineries and help the sector grow by:

Establishing an Ontario Wine Fund to support key winery and vineyard investments, such as specialized equipment and machinery, and enhanced marketing for the province’s wines locally and globally.
Creating a Wine Secretariat to be a one window point for discussions between the province and industry and identifying ways to reduce red tape to help make grape growers and wineries more competitive.
.

VQA wine sales in Ontario have increased by $100 million since 2008 — from $168 million in 2008 to $268 million in 2013.

On the website WindsorEats.com:

Bernie Gorski, winemaker and owner of Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, says that this isn’t just a big announcement for local wineries but is a huge achievement province-wide.

“It helps give us access to a market we’ve been restricted from since 1920,” Bernie explains. “It’s nice to see our government working with us .”

He goes on to say that he expects a huge impact to be able to sell wines in an area they’ve never been able to before.

“Having a broader market cannot be a bad thing,” he says. “It’s a major achievement for wineries in Ontario and we’re very pleased to be in business at this time while it’s happening.”

What do you think?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on December 16, 2013 at 1:25pm

Great new reason to go to local farmers' markets.

I will be buying some wine there now.

Beep Beep!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 1:59am

NOTILLville Dec 16, 7:40pm via Twitter for BlackBerry

@OntAg they've been doing it in Saskatchewan for a couple of years now to rave reviews. Welcome to enlightened farmer's marketing!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 1:59am

qaash Dec 16, 6:17pm via Web

@ethicalgourmet @OntAg Great news! I hope we see some soon at @CoventMarket in #LndOnt

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 2:00am

agecprof 6:08am via iOS

Good, but won't loosen the LCBO monopoly:

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joann on December 17, 2013 at 5:14am

I have to seriously question how Ontario has the right to continual monopoly control of alcoholic sales.

I believe the Crown right to control alcohol in parts of Ontario/Quebec stems from a 17th century Royal Proclamation (if it has been rescinded, please advise, as I have not found that component) but conditions were attached.

I thought the Crown was bound to the 21 year rule like the rest of us.

Is it time to question the LCBO monopoly powers in court?

▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canada adopts ePhytos for grain shipments to Mexico

Electronic certificates eliminate longer delivery times

Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame: Five area growers named to farm shrine

Five more people have been inducted to the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame for their longstanding involvement and contributions. John Jaques, a Thamesville-area asparagus farmer for more than 40 years, North Buxton farmers Bryan and Shannon Prince and the late Bill and Jean Sloan, Christmas tree farmers from the Bothwell area, were inducted at a ceremony at Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club Tuesday. Biographies of the newest inductees were read during the ceremony. Jaques, 74, was recognized for his substantial contributions to agriculture as an industry leader in technological and policy advancements. His accomplishments include implementing proven marketing strategies and creating disaster coverage programs and sustainability initiatives. Jaques is credited for his tireless support of Ontario’s asparagus industry hard work to develop horticulture support programs across Canada. “He was a driving force behind the SDRM (self-directed risk management) program . . . to provid

‘Two, three, four million dollars’ to inherit a farm: advocate

An advocate is calling for additional exemptions that would allow farmers to pass on their land to other family members without getting hit by what could be millions of dollars in taxes. Derryn Shrosbree, a farmer and advocate with 33seven, told CTV Your Morning on Monday that there’s an exemption for children but nieces and nephews should also be exempt, which “would be great for farming and to keep rural communities vibrant.” “There’s a lot of cases where nieces and nephews have been actively working on the farm for 10 or 15 years already, but then they can’t actually inherit the farm without massive amounts of capital gains tax,” he said. More than 40 per cent of farmers will retire by 2033, according to a 2023 report from RBC. Two thirds of those producers do not have a plan to transfer those holdings, “leaving the future of farmland in doubt,” according to the bank. The Income Tax Act grants farmers the option to transfer the property to a “child” on a tax-deferred basis but

Joe Hudson joins Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Joe Hudson, who turned Lyn-based Burnbrae Farms into a national egg-producing powerhouse, has been posthumously inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. Hudson, who died last year at the age of 94, was one of six people formally inducted at a special ceremony in Victoria, BC on Nov. 8. Officials at the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association described Hudson as “the architect of one of Canada’s most successful agri-food businesses, transforming Canada’s egg sector with his vision for a vertically integrated model. “From humble beginnings and a few chickens, the late Joe built Burnbrae Farms into a leading pillar of Canadian agribusiness and a household name that continues to thrive with the subsequent generations, thanks to the legacy he established,” they added. Hudson was nominated by Egg Farmers of Canada. The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Po

Workwear gap leaves women in agricultural jobs underserved and unsafe

Dairy farmer Nicole Tobes was frustrated with the lack of workwear options for women in agriculture. Women's coveralls were either far pricier than what was available for men, or of an inferior quality and missing a lot of important features, like pockets, that made her workday easier. After trying, and being disappointed by, too many options, Toebes would usually just go back to wearing men's coveralls, which were ill-fitting and uncomfortable to work in. “Even if you have to pay more [for a woman's garment], I'm willing to do it to have something that makes my day easier, better, [to] get the job done,” Toebes said during a Nov. 20 online discussion hosted by the National Women in Agriculture and Agri-food Network. “I couldn't find it. So I thought, ‘Well, how hard can it be?’ And here we are, five years later.” Toebes, who's based in Prince Edward Island, is the founder and owner of AgPro Workwear, which designs and manufactures coveralls for women working in agriculture. Feat

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service