The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing Board operates under the Farm Products Marketing Act, and represents all producers of tender fruit who market to either the fresh or processing market. Tender fruit refers to peaches, pears, plums, prunes, sweet and sour cherries.

The Board has over 500 grower-members, and on their behalf negotiates prices, terms and conditions of sale, with processors, for tender fruit sold to processors. In addition, the Board also establishes prices for tender fruit sold on the fresh market. In all cases, prices are representative of local supply and demand as well as prices for imported fruit from competing jurisdictions in the United States. The Board derives its operating funds through a levy per ton of fruit sold, either fresh or for processing.

Over 90% of all tender fruit crop production comes from the Niagara Peninsula. The remainder is located in Norfolk County and in Southwestern Ontario.

At each annual meeting growers elect a GROWERS' COMMITTEE (one committee member per 30 growers in each of the various districts); the Committee elects nine DIRECTORS, and the Directors select from within their number the OFFICERS for the Board.

Average annual farm gate sales are $45 million -- $9 million for processing crops and $36 million for fruit sold on the fresh market.