May 15, 2008
A majority of Ontario’s greenhouse floriculture growers voted to support Flowers Canada (Ontario) as their representative association. Growers with over 20,000 sq. ft. of greenhouse space will pay a mandatory licence fee to fund the organization. Growers with less than 20,000 sq. ft. will be exempt from paying the mandatory fee.

The annual fee is two cents per square foot of greenhouse area, to a maximum annual fee of $13,000 (650,000 sq. ft.), to finance the association’s activities to stimulate, increase and improve the producing or marketing of greenhouse floriculture products in Ontario.

A total of 51.7 per cent of the 356 known eligible Ontario greenhouse floriculture growers who received a ballot participated in the vote.

In March, Flowers Canada (Ontario) launched PickOntario, a campaign to increase awareness, interest and demand for Ontario-grown cut flowers.