Speaker Information
Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W-Z
Dr. Bird is a Professor at Michigan State University. He spent much of his childhood on a poultry/dairy farm in south-eastern Vermont and his teenage years in an apple growing community in western Massachusetts. George received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Rutgers University and the Ph.D. degree from Cornell University. Before coming to Michigan State University he was a Research Scientist with Agriculture Canada and then a faculty member at the University of Georgia. He also served as National Director of the United States Department of Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. His laboratory and students are involved in research on plant parasitic nematodes and nematode community structure related to soil quality. George’s favourite activity is working with farmers. This is where he learns the most.
Jim Bittner
Jim Bittner is the managing partner of Singer Farms, a five hundred acre fruit farm located in Northern Niagara County of New York State, along Lake Ontario, near Niagara Falls. The farm currently grows apples (including some organically), sweet cherries for fresh and processing, tart cherries, peaches for fresh and processing, plums, apricots, nectarines and pears.
Kevin Bittner
Kevin is an employee at Singer Farms and has been since graduating from Cornell in 2004. His duties include variety evaluation, harvest tracking, specialty machinery operation and new orchard management. Kevin is currently enrolled in Lead New York and spends time working with Farm Bureau.
Mark Bolda
Mark has a BS degree from the University of Illinois in agronomy and a Master’s from UC Davis from the Plant Protection and Pest Management program. Prior to his current position as Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension in Santa Cruz County, Mark worked with a private concern as the manager for the research department working on pesticide registration issues and pesticide field testing. Before going to Davis to study for his Master’s degree, Mark spent 3 and a half years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay as a crop extensionist.
Dr. Amy Bowen
Dr. Amy Bowen completed her Ph.D. at Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. She joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in the Consumer Insight and Product Innovation group to study consumer perception of wine in 2009. She is currently a Research Associate in Sensory and Consumer Science with responsibilities to develop and manage sensory and consumer studies as part of the research programs undertaken in the department. Specific activities are to respond to the Canadian wine and horticultural industries’ need for sensory and consumer research.
Dan Brainard
Dan Brainard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University. He received his MS from Stanford University in Economics and a PhD from Cornell University in Horticulture with an emphasis on weed ecology and management in vegetable crops. Prior to graduate school he worked on commercial vegetable farms in the Northeast U.S., and served as an agricultural extension educator for the U.S. Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa. His current primary research and extension interests include the development of reduced-tillage cover crop intensive vegetable production systems to help growers improve soils and increase crop resilience to stress, and weed ecology and management in vegetable and field crops.
Paul Brooks
As a fifth generation farmer, Paul has always credited his imagination and feeling that if he liked trains, pumpkin cannons, zombies, and aliens...kids will too. Growing up working on a family farm, telling stories and connecting food and farms to the wider public has been Paul’s passion since opening pick your own strawberries in 1992.
Michael Brownbridge
Dr. Brownbridge is the Research Director for Horticultural Production Systems at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, where he leads research teams in the field of biocontrol and production systems. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. He has done research on the microbial control of mosquitoes in Israel and the microbial control of Lepidopteran pests in cereals in Kenya. Dr. Brownbridge worked as a professor at the University of Vermont for 15 years, focusing on forest pest management, IPM for pests of greenhouse ornamentals and effects of GM maize on non-target beneficials. Dr. Brownbridge then joined AgResearch in New Zealand studying pastoral and plantation forest pest management before joining VRIC.
Kristen Callows
Kristen has a master’s degree in weed science from the University of Manitoba and an honors bachelor of science degree from the University of Guelph. As OMAFRA’s Weed Management Program Lead for Horticulture crops, she leads the development, coordination and implementation of various programs related to weed management issues in Ontario. She is a past recipient of the Deputy Minister's Award for her work as a provincial vegetable specialist. She previously spent several years with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and in the private sector coordinating research trials in support of new product registrations.
Lindsey Cartier
Lindsey received a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology and a M.Sc. in Soil Science from the University of Guelph. Her research focused on the effects of cover crop type and cover crop planting date on N dynamics and cucumber yield. She currently holds the position as the communications specialist on a project which is focusing on how farmers are using cover crops across Ontario.
Michael Celetti
Michael Celetti is the Plant Pathologist Program Lead - for Horticulture Crops with OMAFRA. He is responsible for monitoring provincial plant disease issues as well as transferring current disease management information and technology to the Ontario agriculture industry. After obtaining his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Plant Pathology at the University of Guelph, he spent time researching potato disease management at the Agriculture University in The Netherlands. Upon returning to Canada, Mike worked as a Plant Pathologist for the Prince Edward Island Potato Marketing Board researching plant disease and nematode management and then to a position with an international pesticide manufacturing company developing pesticides for the agriculture industry in western Canada. Prior to joining OMAFRA he was the Provincial Plant Pathologist for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Elaine Charal
Elaine Charal is a certified graphologist, a seasoned entertainer and an accomplished comedienne. She’s been helping companies with their executive hiring decisions for over a decade; identifying leadership strengths and personality traits through individuals handwriting.
Raoul Crasborn
After pursuing a career in optometry in the Netherlands Raoul decided to look for greener pastures and emigrated to New Zealand. This change also involved looking into a new direction so for the last 32 years he has been involved in the New Zealand fruit-growing industry. Within the Crasborn Group, whose market share is approximately 10% of the New Zealand industry, Raoul’s involvements are the management of tree nurseries, new planting developments and new variety research.
Elliott Currie
Elliott Currie has been at the University of Guelph since 1998 teaching primarily in management accounting, financial management, taxation and business strategy. Elliott’s primary scholarly endeavours are in small business management, interdisciplinary and new product development and the competitiveness of the Ontario Agri-Food chain.
Dr. Adam Dale is a Professor at the University of Guelph with considerable experience in the breeding, genetics, and management of berry crops. From his strawberry breeding program, he has released eight strawberry cultivars. Adam has an active interest in genetic resources and has been incorporating wild Fragaria virginiana germplasm into his program. He has also researched a systems approach to mechanical harvesting in strawberries, and has been working for many years on irrigation in highbush blueberries. Recently, he has been instrumental in developing systems for greenhouse production of raspberries and has started to breed raspberries for greenhouse production.
Kyle Daniel
Kyle Daniel is a PhD candidate at The Ohio State University. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in agriculture at Western Kentucky University. While pursuing his master's, Kyle conducted research on asexual propagation and weed control of blueberries. Kyle's current research at Ohio State focuses on glyphosate and cold hardiness as it relates bark splitting on trees.
Kevin R. Day
As a Tree Fruit Advisor, Kevin specializes in cultural practices of stone fruit, including training and pruning systems, fruit growth and development, improving fruit quality and storage potential, and fresh market stone fruit varieties. He has been with the University of California for more than 25 years and serves growers in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California.
Dr. Jennifer DeEll
Dr. Jennifer DeEll came to Ontario in January 2001 and is the Fresh Market Quality Program Lead with OMAFRA. Dr. DeEll was previously employed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and Kentville, Nova Scotia. She obtained a B.Sc. from Acadia University and her M.Sc. from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Guelph. Dr. DeEll is currently involved in studying the use of anti-ethylene technologies to retard fruit ripening and control physiological disorders, investigating methods to improve shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables, adapting storage technology for berry crops, enhancing post-storage quality of asparagus, and developing optimum postharvest practices for new apple cultivars, such as ‘Ambrosia’ and ‘Honeycrisp’.
Matthew Deir
Matthew Deir is a software engineer with Dragonfly I.T. Inc. www.dragonflyit.ca - a software development company in Kingston, Ontario. First started in 2005 with Dragonfly, OMAFRA and industry experts, Fruit Tracker™ began as a spreadsheet for field record keeping. Over the years it has grown from the spreadsheet, to a desktop application, and finally to the cloud.
Jason Deveau
Jason holds a BSc hon., MSc and PhD in plant cell physiology. He worked for five years as a project and planning consultant for colleges and universities. He joined OMAFRA in 2008 as the Application Technology Specialist (aka the Spray Guy) and has focussed on developing educational materials for airblast sprayer operators, methods to optimize spray efficiency & effectiveness and best practices for reducing spray waste and drift.
Suresh Doss
Since starting his website spotlighttoronto.com a few years ago, Suresh has quickly established himself as one of the most active and prolific on-line proponents of the Ontario Wine Industry and VQA wines specifically. His annual contributor during the LCBO’s “Go Local” feature called “30 Days of Local Wines” has been a huge hit and quickly cultivated great relationships with Ontario VQA producers. He has made Twitter a force for VQA wine and has also consulted with the Wine Council of Ontario on various intiatives. He conducts workshops on Social Media and in 2011 he, along with Rick Vansickle and Remy Charest, brought “Taste Camp” a wine bloggers conference to Niagara wine country for the first time. Suresh is a friend and advocate to the food and wine industry.
Jon Downing
Jon Downing is an experienced Brewmaster who has devoted the past twenty five years to enabling his many international clients to produce the highest quality beer. With over 100 brewery start ups completed, Jon understands all aspects of opening and running a brewery as a successful business including local Micro Brewery and Brew on Premise operations. Jon’s dedication has earned his breweries numerous medals in the World Beer Championships, as well as gold and silver medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. Several years ago Jon approached Niagara College with the concept to start up a brewing program to compliment their viticulture and culinary endeavors. It took four years of planning and preparation culminating in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management course’s first intake of students in September 2010.
Les Eccles is the new Tech-Transfer Program Lead with the Ontario Beekeepers Association. His educational background includes both a Diploma in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Les developed his interest in beekeeping and research at the University of Guelph Apiculture Research Centre with Paul Kelly and Ernesto Guzman, and has been instrumental in various research projects and presentations. Les is returning to Ontario after spending two years in Mexico; working with beekeepers and development organizations to transfer beekeeping technology into the field, and certify beekeeping operations for honey exportation to European markets.
Evan Elford
Evan is the New Crop Development Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) based in Simcoe, Ontario. He works on developing information related to specialty crop production and marketing for a range of crops including ethnic vegetables, specialty berries, specialty grains, and processing crops such as hops. Evan grew up on a hog farm in Cannington, Ontario and prior to joining the ministry he worked with industry associations and a horticultural farm operation.
Karen Fenske is the President and main consultant for StratPoint Solutions and offers over 20 years of organizational development experience specializing in Change Management, Strategic Planning, Board Development and Human Resource Management. StratPoint “grows organizations from the inside” with strategic planning, implementing new business streams such as the National Agency Initiatives and training the people involved. StratPoint agriculture sector projects include strategic plans for the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, the BC Organic Sector and BC Blueberry Council, and “Boards that Lead” training for the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and the Certified Organic Association of BC.
Dr. Melanie Filotas
Melanie is the Integrated Pest Management Specialist for Specialty Crops with OMAFRA. She works with growers, industry, researchers and ministry colleagues to identify pests and pest management solutions for new, transitional or low acreage crops such as hops, tree nuts and sweet potatoes. Melanie has a Ph.D. in Entomology from Cornell University where she studied biological control of forest insects. Prior to joining OMAFRA, she worked as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, looking at use of biopesticides, natural enemies and other reduced risk products to control insects in commercial greenhouses.
Hugh Fraser
Hugh is an Extension Agricultural Engineer with OMAFRA at Vineland. While grape growers might know him as ‘The bird banger or wind machine guy’ he is also quite involved with the Ontario Vineyard Improvement Program; a laser bird scarer project with grapes; and curing local grapes using appassimento wine processing methods.
Mike is currently Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist with Southern Region, Ministry of Natural Resources. Since 2000, he has held various positions with MNR and has led the development, transfer and implementation of several provincial fish and wildlife policy and legislative initiatives, programs, and guidelines. He has facilitated meetings with the provincial Human-Wildlife Conflict Advisory Committee who currently provide advice to a provincial steering committee representing OMAFRA, MNR, MTO, MOH, and MOE. He has also been responsible for collaborating with OMAFRA and stakeholders to develop a discussion paper “Managing Wildlife-Agriculture Conflicts”. Mike holds a M.Sc. degree from the University of Guelph in Conservation Biology and Genetics and a Fish and Wildlife Technologist Diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College.
Brad Glasman
Brad is a graduate of water resources engineering from the University of Guelph and has spent most of his career as part of the watershed stewardship team at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. He maintains a strong field presence working day-to-day with local producers in developing and designing erosion control plans and structures and helping to solve other environmental concerns. Brad has had a hand in putting together the OMAFRA Agricultural Erosion Control Structures - A design and Construction Manual as well as the recently produced booklet Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm – A practical guide to help Ontario farmers solve soil erosion problems.
Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group
The Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group (GLVWG) is a network of researchers and extension personnel from 11 US states and Ontario working in various areas of vegetable crop production. Funded by grants from the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center, their mission is to form a communication network for vegetable specialists throughout the Great Lakes region and to address current priorities facing growers and the vegetable industry. Together, they have initiated numerous projects related to vegetable production and pest management in the Great Lakes region. In April 2011, under the leadership of Dr. Mary Gardiner of the Ohio State University, they produced a video focusing on the biology, identification and enhancement of insect predators and parasitoids for biological control. This video is being featured in a number of biocontrol workshops partially sponsored by the GLVWG being held throughout the Great Lakes region.
Tim Greer
Tim Greer is commercial beekeeper based in Niagara County. He pollinates a variety of crops locally in the Niagara Peninsula as well as moving honey bee colonies for honey production in Northern Ontario. Tim is the current Ontario representative for the Canadian Honey Council and the former President of the Ontario Beekeepers Association.
Linda Grimo
Linda Grimo works along side her father, Ernie Grimo, at Grimo Nut Nursery. Through breeding and selection on his 15-acre farm they aim to develop better cultivars for Northern hardy nut trees. Linda was one of the founding members of the Niagara Local Food Co-op and is the current President.
Ernesto Guzman
Dr. Ernesto Guzman is a Professor and Leader of the Honey Bee Research Centre in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph since 2004. Before accepting a position at the University of Guelph, he has worked for several institutions, including the University of California, Purdue University, the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, and the National University of Mexico. Dr. Guzman’s research has been focused on the genetics, behaviour, and parasitic mites of honey bees. His studies have contributed to the understanding of foraging behaviour, defensive behaviour, and the mechanisms that confer resistance to honey bees against parasitic mites, which is a critical area that addresses the most serious problem beekeepers face worldwide. Dr. Guzman also developed selective breeding methodologies with which three strains of bees were developed. These bees produce 25% more honey and are 50% less defensive than unselected strains of bees.
Patrick comes to AAFC from the private sector, where he worked for 8 years as an irrigation engineer. He has experience in irrigation design for both the field crop and greenhouse industries. He has a lead role in identifying and understanding functional filtration technologies for sources of irrigation water.
Scott Hanville
Scott Hanville is a Regional Program Co-ordinator in the Industrial Health and Safety Program for the Ontario Ministry of Labour operating out of the Hamilton West office. As RPC, Scott is responsible for providing technical expertise to both field inspectors and to clients. He undertakes Quality Assurance functions regarding Inspector’s activities. He has also been actively involved in the development and delivery of Farm Regulation training to new and incumbent Inspectors.
Adam Hayes
Adam has been with OMAFRA for 26 years. He has served in many roles including soil conservation advisor, resource management specialist, soil and crop advisor, and has spent the last eleven years as the soil management specialist for field crops. Adam was involved with the development of the Environmental Farm Plan, chaired and was involved in the development of several best management practices booklets. He has spent much of his career promoting soil conservation and good soil management practices and over the last ten years he has devoted a significant amount of time tracking agricultural climate change issues and promoting awareness of best management practices for greenhouse gas emission reduction.
Robert Haynes
Rob was born in Jordan, Ontario on a family fruit farm. He currently works at Mori Nurseries with commercial fruit trees where he continues his love of working with fruit. Rob’s job entails meeting with breeders of new fruits to help find solutions to the problems faced by our industry.
Trevor Herrle-Braun
Trevor Herrle-Braun is Operations Manager at Herrle’s Country Farm Market which was established 48 years ago by Howard and Elsie Herrle. A funeral director by trade, Trevor married Joanne and joined the Herrle Family business 12 years ago. Along with the day-to-day operations, Trevor manages and plants the peas, beans, spinach and beets. Armed with his Blackberry, connecting with their customers and their community is what drives him each day.
Niki Hilton
Niki Hilton holds an HBA from the University of Toronto as well as an Ontario Graduate Certificate in Journalism from Sheridan College. She is passionate about telling stories and has translated this to her work in social media. Niki is responsible for the media relations at Springridge Farm, where she piloted the farm's initiative on Facebook, Twitter and other online networking sites. In her spare time, Niki is a guest lecturer at Ryerson University and enjoys traveling, condo-hunting and local food.
Martin Hodgson
Martin Hodgson and his wife Patricia have operated a 100 acre farm near Tillsonburg since 1989. They have experimented with a wide variety of nut trees over that period including hazelnuts, chestnuts heartnuts, Carpathian and black walnuts, pecans, almonds, Korean pine nuts, persimmons, grape kiwi and papaws although their primary focus has been on hazelnuts. The initial 5000 “homegrown” seedlings planted over 25 acres between 1994 –’97 dwindled to 150 survivors by 2003, due to Eastern Filbert Blight. This blight attacks and kills most hazels in three to five years and is the reason there has been no development of commercial hazelnut orchards east of the Rockies. These survivors appear to be immune to the blight and give new hope for the development of commercial hazelnut orchards in Southern Ontario. Their experience has shown that selected hazelnuts can be successfully in the sometimes harsh Norfolk sand plains of Southern Ontario
Kristin Hoffman
As a Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Consultant, Kristin assists firms with the development and maintenance of effective health and safety programs. Kristin serves firms across Hamilton and Niagara Region. Kristin achieved her Bachelor of Kinesiology Degree at Brock University and Occupational Health and Safety Certificate at Ryerson University. Kristin’s family operates a horse boarding facility in St. Anns, Ontario.
Becky Hughes
Becky is the manager of the Seed Potato Upgrading and Distribution or SPUD Unit, and a researcher for the University of Guelph in New Liskeard. Becky has been with the SPUD Unit since it began producing the first generation of seed potatoes for the Ontario seed potato industry in 1984. Under her direction the SPUD Unit has expanded to include the Ontario Berry Growers Association plant propagation program and other crops such as “clean seed” garlic. Becky’s current research program involves everything from investigating tissue culture techniques and greenhouse production of pathogen-tested crops to field trials for berry crops.
Ed Hughes
Ed Hughes is the owner of Hughes Vineyards in Beamsville, ON. Ed is a graduate from Brock University’s CCOVI program with a Certificate in Grape and Wine Technology. Ed has implemented passive biocontrols using cover crops and has avoided using miticides and insecticides for 4 seasons. Ed is the recipient of a Premier’s Award for his use of cover crops and has recently been named the 2011 Grape King.
Peter joined the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural affairs in 1986. He has held a variety of responsibilities over his career, from managing a family farm, working for food processors and as a public servant. Peter has recently taken over responsibility of the beverage and dairy files with the Business Development Branch and is keen to provide his enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment to you.
Dr. Debra Inglis
Dr. Inglis is currently the Director of Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and one of the core research scientists within the institute. She attained her PhD in Biochemistry in 1995 from McMaster University, and after spending three years as a senior scientist in industry, returned to academia specifically to join CCOVI in 1999. She is a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock teaching wine chemistry, wine microbiology and metabolic biochemistry in the oenology and viticulture undergraduate program. Debbie has been involved in the grape and wine industry her entire life as her family are grape growers in the Niagara Peninsula and she and her husband Rob run their own vineyard in Niagara on the Lake.
Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs is an extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University where he leads the Berry Crops Entomology program. Current projects include development of integrated pest management programs for insects affecting grapes and blueberries. In the last few years, he has become involved in addressing the spotted wing drosophila.
Dr. Judge is a veterinarian and co-owner of Spirit Tree Estate Cidery. She is a 1995 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph and has worked as a small animal practitioner for five years before joining Hill’s Pet Nutrition where she held various positions. Dr. Judge is currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Ontario Veterinary Group, a group of six hospitals in Toronto and Ottawa. She and her husband, Thomas Wilson own and operate Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon, a wood-fired oven bakery, farm shop and winery. Nicole & Tom live in Caledon with several pets and their two year old son, Kiernan, a baker and cider connoisseur in the making.
Christoph is the Nutrition (Horticulture)-Program Lead with OMAFRA. He works with industry associations, researchers and ministry colleagues to improve crop fertility management in horticultural crops through research projects, demonstrations and workshops. After graduating from the University of Guelph, he worked in the nursery industry before joining OMAFRA as the Nursery Crops Specialist.
Paul Kozak
Paul Kozak is the Provincial Apiarist for Ontario, based in Guelph, Ontario with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Paul holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Entomology, both the University of Manitoba. For graduate work, Paul worked under the guidance of Dr. Rob Currie researching the winter biology of honey bees and varroa mites and various management strategies for varroa in enclosed systems, including formic acid fumigation in indoor wintering buildings. Paul worked as a research associate for the University of Manitoba, studying the use of oxalic fumigation for the management of varroa in packages and as a bee inspector for the province of Manitoba. More recently, Paul worked as the Associate Extension Apiculturist through the Dyce Lab for honey bee studies, Cornell University and New York State Integrated Pest Management.
Alf Krause
Alf Krause planted one acre of strawberries back in 1974. Today, Krause Berry Farms has expanded to 200 acres, growing and producing some of Fraser Valley’s best berries and vegetables, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Owned and operated by Alf & Sandee Krause, their commitment to ethical and sustainable farming has resulted in loyal guests spreading the word and returning year after year. Krause Berry Farms has a growing line of farm-made products available in their Market, Bakery, Fudgery, Creamery, and Porch.
Dr Andrew Landers studied and taught agricultural engineering in England before he joined the faculty at Cornell University in 1998. He is based at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva where he directs the application technology program and his teaching/extension/research appointment involves the use of engineering solutions to provide safer spraying. In 2007 he was presented with the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University award for outstanding accomplishments in extension and outreach. In 2010 the New York Wine and Grape foundation presented him with the Research Award for major contributions in research and education. Andrew Landers is author of Effective Vineyard Spraying, published by Effectivespraying.com
Pamela Lawson
Pamela Lawson’s favourite pastime is people watching. She’s driven to know what people are doing, what they may be thinking and what makes them tick – which works well considering she’s the Marketing Director of Customer Insights and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). She is focused on mining the rich data banks of the LCBO to improve understanding of customer needs, emotional connection with the LCBO brands and customer segmentation.
Rebecca LeHeup
Rebecca LeHeup loves Ontario, food and drink, meeting people and having new experiences. Lucky for her she has the best job in the world! In her role as Executive Director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) she has the distinct pleasure of crisscrossing the Province of Ontario connecting growers and producers to chefs and restaurateurs. Rebecca designed and developed several courses for George Brown College’s cutting edge Culinary Tourism Management on-line program which launched in 2009. She splits her time between Toronto and Picton, and shares her adventures with her two sons and life partner.
Sarah Lepp
Niagara Research provides innovative solutions to business and industry through applied research in partnership with Niagara College faculty and students. An identified need from growers for research surrounding hops cultivation in Ontario brought 4 growers and Niagara Research together to undertake a survey of 4 Ontario hop yards in 2011. Alison Moore and Sarah Lepp will present results from a soil and tissue nutrient survey from various varieties of hops as well as data pertaining to plant growth, pests, local climate and yields.
Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve
Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve heads the Consumer Insights and Product Innovation department at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre where she leads research initiatives to add margin to horticulture product through consumer research. The outcome of this research has a major impact on the characteristics of horticulture products to be produced and marketed to maximize consumers' appeal. The department’s research focuses on the understanding of the factors moderating consumer preferences for fruits, vegetables and wine. Current programs include: Consumer perceptions of organic, local, and sustainable production, Processing and packaging innovations for new product development, Post-harvest quality handling and management for apples and tender fruits, Consumer perceptions of fruits and vegetables as health promoting sources, Consumer and market intelligence
Todd Leuty
Todd is the Agroforestry Specialist with OMAFRA since 1994. Todd obtained B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in 1984 and 1988 from the University of Guelph in orchard horticulture and integrated pest management in viticulture (wine grape and table grape production), plus recent training in food processing technology. His current areas of focus include: commercial tree nut horticulture, maple syrup production, sugar bush management and maple orchard management, Christmas tree production & landscape transplants, woody biomass as a renewable energy crop. Also, environmental work promoting windbreaks and shelterbelts for crop and soil protection, riparian protection, and mitigation of spray drift & livestock odours from agricultural fields.
Dr. Perry Lidster
Dr. Perry Lidster, President of Innovative Food Systems Corp. has an extensive background in science and business development. Innovative Food Systems Corp has developed the unique SmartPac modified atmosphere production, packaging and distribution system to improve produce and fresh-cut flower quality to the consumer. The SmartPac system is able to provide a 5-log reduction of yeast, molds, fungi and bacteria that provides a food safe alternative to convention packaging.
Sarah Marshall worked with the Tender Fruit and Apple Boards for four years as a Production and Market Analyst before accepting the position of Director of Marketing for the Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board in April 2011. Previous to her work in the agricultural industry, she worked for Canon Canada for 18 years and gained a wide variety of experience in administration, marketing and service.
Peter Mason
Dr. Peter Mason is a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre in Ottawa Ontario. His current research projects include: discovery, development and implementation of arthropod natural enemies for biological control of insect pests, current targets being the leek moth and cabbage seedpod weevil; assessing interactions and impacts between invasive alien species and arthropod biodiversity; and ensuring the safety of biological control agents entering Canada. Dr. Mason earned his B.Sc. in Zoology at the University of Guelph and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Entomology at the University of Saskatchewan.
Gary Mawhiney
Gary has been a life long resident of the rich agricultural community of Norfolk. He was educated at Delhi District Secondary School and the University of Western Ontario. He recently retired from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs as the Human Resource Management Program Lead after eleven years. He has a keen interest in Human Resource Management and has had the opportunity to speak at several conferences and meetings both at a provincial, national and international level. Presently he is working as a consultant through his company AG HR Solutions continuing to provide the agricultural community the tools and skills to be successful in today’s competitive farming industry.
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald is a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on crop protection and integrated pest management of several vegetable crops, and related field crops. She is also the Research Program Director for the Plant Production Systems theme.
Sam McLean
For the last 21 years Sam McLean has been farming berries and vegetables on his farm, McLean Berry Farm, near Buckhorn, Ontario. With the involvement of his son Ben and daughter Erin, they have recently expanded and now operate two PYO farms, two retail stores, and go to various local farmers’ markets in the Peterborough area. A big supporter of MyPick®, Sam has enjoyed working with FMO for the last four years to help improve farmers’ markets throughout Ontario.
Steve Miller
Steve Miller has a BS from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse and a Masters in Horticulture from Clemson University in South Carolina. He has worked for Cornell for over three decades in horticulture production and marketing and was hired to work with hop growers in New York in 2011.
Robbie Montgomery
Robbie Montgomery is the assistant manager of Wilmot Orchards Inc. that comprises 100 acres of apples and 16 acres of PYO blueberries in the Newcastle area. Robbie joined the Wilmot team 7 years ago and is involved in all aspects of the production and pest management on the farm. He is very interested in new varieties and their place in the future of the Ontario apple industry. Robbie is a licenced auto mechanic and 2nd vice president of the Bowmanville Lions Club. He is married with 2 children.
Alison Moore & Sarah Lepp
Niagara Research provides innovative solutions to business and industry through applied research in partnership with Niagara College faculty and students. An identified need from growers for research surrounding hops cultivation in Ontario brought 4 growers and Niagara Research together to undertake a survey of 4 Ontario hop yards in 2011. Alison Moore and Sarah Lepp will present results from a soil and tissue nutrient survey from various varieties of hops as well as data pertaining to plant growth, pests, local climate and yields.
Wade Morrison
Over the past 30 years with AAFC, Wade has worked on many aspects of agricultural water management projects across Canada. Raised on a mixed farm on Prince Edward Island, he currently works on development of agricultural water BMPs, well and groundwater issues and researches biological treatment of used agricultural water.
Graeme Murphy
Graeme Murphy has worked as the Greenhouse Floriculture IPM Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Vineland, Ontario since 1988. During that time, Graeme has worked with growers to develop IPM programs, emphasizing reduced pesticide use and the use of IPM strategies such as improved monitoring and alternative control options. Increasingly since the mid-1990s, his focus has been on the practical use of biocontrol in greenhouse ornamental crops.
Michelle Painchaud
Michelle Painchaud,
president and owner of Painchaud Performance Group and S.C.O.R.E. Consulting, is one of Canada’s premier consultants in employee engagement. With over 20 years of practical, innovative, and field-tested experience in employee engagement and performance management, Michelle’s expertise spans management, leadership, and high-performance talent development. Michelle sits on several boards in her home province of Winnipeg and is the founder of the Winnipeg Chapter of Wired Woman.
Jason Persall
Born and raised on a 4th generation family farm outside Waterford, ON. Seven years ago Jason decided to vertically integrate the family cash crop farm consisting of 1000+acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. With a vision and passion for the food industry Jason designed and built a press mill to cold press soybeans, canola, sunflower and other oilseeds using traditional European methods. Fast forward to today, his brand Pristine Gourmet serves hundreds of high end restaurants and retail stores across Ontario, Quebec and western Canada which has led to many praising reviews and awards through mainstream media. With following the food trend of local, healthy and sustainability Jason has seeked and seized innovating ideas with products, packaging and marketing.
Dr. Kirk W. Pomper
Dr. Kirk W. Pomper received both a B.S. and an M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota in 1985 and 1989, respectively. He received a Ph.D. in Horticulture in 1995 from Oregon State University. Since 1998, Dr. Pomper has served as the Principal Investigator of Horticulture and Curator of the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository for pawpaw species at Kentucky State University.
Dr. Stefano Poni
Dr. Poni is a full professor of Viticulture and Chair of the Instituto of Frutti-Viticoltura of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, Italy. His research activity has been mostly focused on applied grape physiology and vineyard management practices. Special focus has been given to whole-canopy gas exchange in response to abiotic stresses, yield/quality relationship, training systems and vine spacings, summer pruning techniques aimed at increase vine performance and improve cluster and berry morphology.
Judson Reid is an Extension Associate with the Cornell Vegetable Program in New York State. His specialization is greenhouse and high tunnel vegetable production with research projects in biological pest management, variety evaluation and grafting. Mr. Reid has degrees in International Agriculture and Plant Protection from Cornell University. His graduate research focused on microbial suppression of Pythium in greenhouse cucumbers. Judson has worked with high tunnel farmers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally he manages a high tunnel with his family in Penn Yan, NY.
Dr. Darren Robinson
Darren currently conducts applied research with the goal of developing integrated control strategies for horticultural crops grown in conventional, reduced tillage and organic-transition systems. His research focus is to: improve timeliness of application, obtain new herbicide registrations through the URMULE system, determine the effect of previous cropping practices on weed population shifts, and assess the potential of alternative practices, such as cover crop rolling or other cover crop systems to suppress weeds in vegetable crops.
Dr. Schulz grew up in Germany on a family grape farm and was actively involved with the grape growing business since childhood. This exposure to the wine industry at an early age destined him to develop a career in the same industry. Tom studied Biology with emphasis on grape and wine microbiology/molecular biology and did his Ph.D. thesis on Crown gall pathogen of grapevines. He has been honoured with the Rudolf Hermanns Stiftung Geisenheim award for excellent scientific work in the field of grapevine research in 1991. Tom immigrated to Canada in 2000 and has been teaching Wine Science courses at Niagara College since 2000.
Jeremy Shorthouse
Jeremy Shorthouse has over 10 years of Health & Safety and Human Resources experience in the food processing and farming industry. Jeremy has helped reduce the Health & Safety statistics by over 90% at every company he has worked at. He also has been teaching Health & Safety for continuing education at Niagara College for over 10 years. Just over 4 years ago Jeremy was hired by Vincor Canada to develop and lead their National Health & Safety Program and became the first Health & Safety professional in the wine industry in Canada. In 2010, Jeremy was named Safety Leader of the Year in Canada by Canadian Occupational Safety magazine. Jeremy has an honours degree from McMaster University and a post diploma certificate in Environmental, Health & Safety. He has an Industrial Relations certificate from Queen’s University and has his Certified Health & Safety Consultant designation.
Helmut Spieser
Helmut is an agricultural Engineer with OMAFRA. Helmut was born in Austria but grew up on a farm in Aylmer, Ontario. Helmut specializes in spray application technology and grain conditioning and storage. Helmut's activities include providing information to producers, researchers, agribusiness and students on all aspects of spray application including nozzle selection, droplet size spectrum, spray penetration, spray coverage, and spray drift management.
Amy Strom
Amy Strom and her husband, Channing, own and operate Strom’s Farm, a sweet corn operation that has diversified into a bakery and agri-tourism attraction. In 1992, she graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Health Administration. In 1994 she joined the Strom family and in 2000 she joined the farm. She currently wears many hats around the farm from field work to HR, to PR, to HW (hibernating in the winter). Amy is also serving as Past President at Ontario Farm Fresh.
Dr. Jay Subramanian
Dr. Jayasankar Subramanian (Jay) did his early studies in India and Ph.D. in University of Florida (1995). He joined the University of Guelph in2002. His research interests include breeding and biotechnology of tender fruits. His main focus is to develop value-added cultivars outside the existing production window. His lab works on identifying the link between disease resistance and PGRs.
Jim Todd joined OMAFRA as a crop transition specialist in 2005. Jim began his career with a BSc from the University of Waterloo, followed by a Ph.D. from the old horticulture department at the University of Guelph. After graduation, he began a series of post-doctoral positions which ultimately led to a position at Monsanto in St. Louis. While there, he worked on projects ranging from large scale gene expression analysis to looking for ways to increase the protein content of corn seed. As OMAFRA’s transition crop specialist, Jim works on identifying crops with potential to serve as agricultural feedstocks for Ontario’s developing bioeconomy.
Dr. Peter M.A. Toivonen
Dr. Toivonen works on the handling of sweet cherries to ensure quality. He has worked on 1-methylcyclopropene treatments in stone fruit and is currently evaluating new apple and sweet cherry cultivars for storage and 1-methylcyclopropene response. He is also working on non-destructive technologies for apple maturity assessment.
Dr. Arthur Tucker
Dr. Tucker is a Research Professor at Delaware State University in Dover, DE. He has published widely in the scientific and popular press on the taxonomy, agronomic management, and essential oils of the genus Lavandula and has maintained web pages with a manual and cost analysis for lavender farming. In the early 1980s, he was the first to establish the correct scientific name of lavandin and to publish on morphological differences and essential oils of cultivars of lavander and lavandin. He has worked with growers around the North America and Australia, and has also provided certificates of analysis of essential oils.
Laura grew up on a hog and cash crop farm in Southwestern Ontario and spent many years at the University of Guelph. Dr. Van Eerd is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph. Her research focuses on systems-based approaches, such as cover crops and crop rotation, to improve sustainable vegetable crop production. She is member of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy, as well as a member of the Midwest Cover Crop Council. Laura is an accomplished speaker who has given presentations all over Canada and internationally.
Case Vanderkruk
Case Vanderkruk is an owner operator of Connon Nurseries, Neil Vanderkruk Holding Inc. in Dundas, Ontario. He and his two brothers are 4th generation owners of this wholesale nursery. They presently farm approximately 900 acres between field production and container production. Born in 1959 from Dutch immigrants, Case was instilled with a strong work ethic at an early age. At that time he realized that farming was in his blood and he worked towards receiving his Certificate of Qualification in Greenhouse and Horticulture Nursery in 1988 through formal education and co-op opportunities.
Jenn VanDeVelde
Jenn graduated from the University of Guelph, BScH and now operates Wholesome Pickins Ltd. with her husband and children in Delhi, ON. Wholesome Pickins is a farm market with a commitment to local products and also offers wholesale ever-bearing strawberries and raspberries. Jenn is an active member of the Ontario Berry Growers Association, serving on the board of directors, and the Marketing and Promotion Committee.
Doug Vallery
Doug Valley serves as the Managing Director at Experience Renewal Solutions contributing in general management, business research, project design and field management and execution. Doug has held senior consulting, sales and operational roles, recently as a Business Development Consultant and regional operations manager for a marketing services outsourcer in the US. He enthusiastically adapted, managed and executed innovative marketing programs in the field. Doug has actively consulted to small and medium business on a range of performance subjects from taxation to strategic and succession planning. This experience has followed a twenty-five year career as an environmental scientist and R&D manager in the public service.
Anne Verhallen
Anne graduated from the University of Guelph in 1985 with a B.Sc.(Agr.), majoring in Soil Science. She joined OMAFRA in 1988 as a Soil Conservation Advisor, working in the counties of Essex and Kent. Most of her work at that time focused on soil conservation and soil management in field and horticultural crops. Currently, Anne works in the area of horticultural soil management with project interests in cover crops, compaction, crop rotation, fertility, irrigation scheduling and soil health.
Judy Scott Welden
Judy Scott Weldon is a highly experienced and popular nutritionist and professional home economist with over 30 years experience. With a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree, specializing in Food and Nutrition from Ryerson Univeristy, Judy adds a dash of fun, fibre and ‘good’ fats to all her presentations. Judy also has a regular radio show on 107.5 KOOL FM and a daily TV show ‘Food for Thought’.
Laura Wills
Laura Wills is an award-winning designer with over 17 years of experience in a wide range of disciplines and business categories. She is the founder and creative director of Messenger, a boutique branding & design company based in Toronto. Her clients have included Southbrook Vineyards, Butterfield & Robinson and Real Food for Real Kids.
Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson is the owner/operator Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon. A fifth generation farmer, Thomas returned to the family farm after graduating from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Arts in 1996. In 2005 Thomas and Nicole purchased a new farm and opened Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in 2009. Spirit Tree is an award winning straw bale construction apple winery/ wood-fired oven artisan bakery/farm shop/cider mil. Thomas and Nicole have taken cider making courses in Somerset, England and Geneva, New York and studied artisan bread making at the Cordon Bleu Paris, and the San Francisco Baking Institute. Since opening Spirit Tree Estate Cidery two years ago they have won many awards including a Premiers Award in Agricultural Innovation Award in 2010.
John C. Wise
Dr. Wise is an associate professor in the Michigan State University Department of Entomology and the Research and Extension Coordinator of the MSU Trevor Nichols Research Center (TNRC). His primary research interest is to describe the critical performance characteristics of new insecticide chemistries for control of fruit insect pests. Dr. Wise manages insecticide performance trials at the TNRC, serves as a Field Research Director for an IR-4 GLP field residue program, and runs the Applied Insecticide Toxicology lab on the MSU campus.
Dr. Randy W. Worobo
Dr. Worobo is currently an Associate Professor of Food Microbiology in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. His research areas include microbial safety and spoilage of juices, beverages, fruits, and vegetables. He is a member of the FDA Juice HACCP Curriculum Committee and a certified Juice HACCP Trainer.
Dr. Liliane Kiswendsida Zoungrana
Dr. Liliane Kiswendsida Zoungrana is a Research Associate at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Dr. Zoungrana relocated to Canada in September 2009 following her PhD studies (majoring in Agricultural Economics) at Louisiana State University (LSU). She also holds a Master degree in Economics from LSU and a BS in Economics from the University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). At Vineland she focuses her research efforts on assessing consumers' choice and purchase/consumption behaviour of horticultural produces and wines using an interdisciplinary approach. Current projects include evaluating the factors that determine consumers’ choice (approach/avoidance) and consumption behaviour of organic apples and VQA wines.