Please join the BGO for our Annual General Meeting this year. Returning to the traditional format, we will host a full-day conference and AGM on Tuesday, February 17, followed by berry-focused sessions at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC) on Wednesday, February 18.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – Embassy Suites by Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview
Chair AM: Bernie Solymar, BGO; Alex Chesney, BGO Chair
| 10:00 am | Coffee and social hour | ||
| 11:00 am | Introduction and Welcome | ||
| 11:15 am | Grower Profile | Terri and Jesse Dentz, Tincap Berry Farm | |
| 12:00 pm | CABI BioProtection Portal – a free resource for biological plant protection | Emma Jenner, CABI | |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch & AGM | ||
| 2:30 pm | Climate Analogs: Preparing for the future climate | Cheyenne Sloan, MSU | |
| 3:00 pm | Neopestalotiopsis species vs Ontario strawberries | Katie Goldenhar, OMAFA | |
| 3:30 pm | Ontario Farm Products Marketing Association 101 | Brendan Byrne, OFPMA | |
| 4:00 pm | Round tables – Breakout | ||
| 5:00 pm | Adjourn | ||
| 8:00 pm | BGO Hospitality Suite | Embassy Suites – Room #TBD | |
For more information and to register, please contact Victoria Buma at research@ontarioberries.com.
Berry Growers of Ontario – Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Berry Program
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls
Chair AM: Bernie Solymar, BGO Chair PM: Andrew Phillips, BGO Director
| 9:25 am | Introduction and Welcome | |
| 9:30 am | From the Field to the Tunnel: Challenges and Opportunities | Jérémie Pitre and Sébastien Couture, Les Entreprises Pitre |
| 10:00 am | A Review of Plant Growth Regulator Use in Blueberry Production | Dr. Josh VanderWeide, MSU |
| 10:30 am | 2026 Crop Protection Regulatory Update | Chris Duyvelshof, OFVGA |
| 11:00 am | Crop Protection Update | AEF Global, CoHort Wholesale, Gowan |
| 11:45 – 2:00 | Lunch and Visit the Trade Show | |
| 2:00 pm | Viruses of Strawberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries | Jonathan Griffiths, AAFC |
| 2:30 pm | Best Approaches for Strawberry Disease Management in the Field and Glasshouse | Kerik Cox, Cornell University |
| 3:00 pm | The Dirt on Blueberry Nutrition | Cheyenne Sloan, MSU |
| 3:30 pm | Water Wisely: Practical Irrigation Decisions for Berry Growers | Philippe-Michael Caron, Dubois Agrinovation; David Klyn-Hesselink, Fenwick Berry Farm; Dalton Cooper, Strawberry Tyme Farms |
For more information and to register, visit ofvc.ca.
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