By Don Fraser, QMI Agency
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 6:06:46 EST PM

A federal grant will help researchers develop Ontario tender fruit varieties that can be sold sooner each season.

On Tuesday, Niagara West-Glanbrook MP Dean Allison announced the investment of $410,545 to the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board to develop new varieties of tender fruits and grapes best suited to soil conditions and climate.

These new varieties — to be introduced to consumers earlier each year — will help local producers gain greater market share in the fruit sector.

"The idea with this is to target different varieties to lengthen our season," said Phil Tregunno, chair of the board. "And it's to bring sweeter, higher-colour fruit to the consumers, too."

He said the initiative should encourage consumers to switch from import brands to provincial ones.

"It will provide shoppers with more local fruit for a longer season," he said. "And also provide growers with more income because it will mean the season is longer."

Tregunno said the research will be done by the University of Guelph and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

Ultimately getting those new varieties to stores involves some work with nurseries, and is a "longer-term process," Tregunno added.

don.fraser@sunmedia.ca

View the complete article at: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2014/11/11/grant-to-help-with-earlier-varieties-of-fruit