The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC), Canada’s premier horticultural event, is returning to the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario on February 18-19, 2026.
Want the inside scoop? Take a sneak peek at the fruit-focused sessions below or download the OFVC Highlights Brochure here or view the latest pdf of the schedule here.
Apple
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
2:00 pm | Increasing Premium Quality Fruit by Choosing the Right Rootstock Dr. Lee Kalcsits, Washington State University, USA |
2:45 pm | Replant Disease Tolerance, Nutrient Uptake & Other Unique Ways Geneva Apple Rootstocks Interact with Soils Dr. Gennaro Fazio, US Department of Agriculture, USA |
3:30 pm | Physiological Links Between Rootstock Cold Hardiness & Tree Decline in Apple Dr. Jason Londo, Cornell University, USA |
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
9:30 am | Integration of On-Site Weather Data with Decision Support Systems (DSS) Jon Clements, University of Massachusetts, USA |
10:00 am | Best Antibiotic Alternatives for Fire Blight Management in Apples Dr. Kerik Cox, Cornell University, USA |
10:30 am | The Effect of Crop Load in Relation to Hard Cider Juice Quality Dr. Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, Pennsylvania State University, USA |
11:00 am | From Orchard to Market: Climate Impacts on Apple Quality in Long Cold Chains Dr. Carolina Torres, Washington State University, USA |
| Break |
2:00 pm | Tree & Fruit Physiology as a Basis for Precision Management Dr. Luigi Manfrini, University of Bologna, Italy |
2:30 pm | Apple Physiology as a Basis for Precision Management: Case Study Dr. Luigi Manfrini, University of Bologna, Italy |
3:00 pm | PACMAN: No, It’s Not a Video Game! Jon Clements, University of Massachusetts, USA |
3:30 pm | The Core of the Problem: Plum Curculio Basics for Apple Growers Hannah Fraser, OMAFA |
Berries
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
9:30 am | From the Field to the Tunnel: Challenges and Opportunities Jérémie Pitre, Sébastien Couture, Les Entreprises Pitre, Québec |
10:00 am | A Review of Plant Growth Regulator Use in Blueberry Production Dr. Josh VanderWeide, Michigan State University, USA |
10:30 am | 2026 Crop Protection Regulatory Update Chris Duyvelshoff, OFVGA |
11:00 am | Crop Protection Update Philip Northover, Gowan; Jordan Kotewicz, CoHort Wholesale; Claude Dubois, AEF Global |
Break | |
2:00 pm | Viruses of Strawberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries Dr. Jonathan Griffi ths, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada |
2:30 pm | Best Approaches for Strawberry Disease Management in the Field and Glasshouse Dr. Kerik Cox, Cornell University, USA |
3:00 pm | The Dirt on Blueberry Nutrition Cheyenne Sloan, Michigan State University, USA |
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 |
Grape
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
2:00 pm | Preparing for the Arrival of Spotted Lanternfly Carla Cassone, Julie Holmes, Diana Mooij (virtual), Cdn Food Inspection Agency; Dr. Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFA |
2:30 pm | The Impact of GRBV on Grape and Wine Composition and Mitigation Strategies Dr. Raul Cauduro Girardello, UC Davis, USA |
3:00 pm | Beetlemania 2025: Why Japanese Beetles Boomed and Options for Management Dr. Kyle Wickings, Cornell University, USA; Dr. Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFA |
3:30 pm | Size Matters: The Benefits of Virtuous Pruning on Grapevine Trunk Disease Dr. Mark Sosnowski, South Australian Research & Development Institute, Australia |
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
9:30 am | Soil Health Testing – What We’ve Learned from Ontario Orchards and Vineyards Heather White, University of Guelph |
10:00 am | Impact of Cluster Thinning on Wine Grape Yield and Fruit Composition Dr. Josh VanderWeide, Michigan State University, USA |
10:30 am | Behind the Vine: Production Costs Uncorked John Molenhuis, OMAFA |
11:00 am | Tissue Nutrient Concentrations in Cabernet Franc Vineyards in Pennsylvania Dr Cain Hickey, Pennsylvania State Extension, USA (Live stream) |
| Break |
2:00 pm | Water Stress in Grapevine: Impact on Grape and Wine Quality Dr. Simone Castellarin, University of British Columbia, BC |
2:30 pm | Evaluating Abiotic Resilience of Native Riparia Rootstocks in Ontario Dr. Alireza Rahemi, Morehead State University, USA (Live stream); Dr. Jim Willwerth, CCOVI |
3:00 pm | Nitrogen Additions, Yields, and Fruit Composition: Insights from Recent Projects Dr. Drew Harner, Virginia Tech, USA (Live stream) |
3:30 pm | Don’t Let ‘Er Rip! Shoot Thinning Can Impact Grapevine Trunk Disease Infection Dr. Mark Sosnowski, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Australia |
Tender Fruit
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
9:30 am | Curculio Chronicles: Adventures in Keeping Fruit on the Branch Hannah Fraser, OMAFA |
10:00 am | The Hidden Threat to Nectarine Beauty: Thrips and Their Control Dr. Justin Renkema, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Vineland; Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland |
10:30 am | Bacterial Spot of Peach and Tree Health: Management Perspectives from Down South Dr. Hehe Wang, Clemson University, USA |
11:00 am | Precision Pollination: A Novel Approach for Improving Yield Security Dr. Matt Whiting, Washington State University, USA |
| Break |
2:00 pm | Thinning Peaches with ACC (Accede) Dr. Shan Krishna Kumar, Penn State, USA |
2:30 pm | Irrigation in Peach Orchards Dr. Srijana Thapa Magar, University of Georgia, USA (Live stream) |
3:00 pm | Tree Fruit Hardiness and Tools for Reducing Cold Damage Dr Matt Whiting, Washington State University, USA |
3:30 pm | Soil Health Testing–What We’ve Learned from Ontario Orchards and Vineyards Heather White, University of Guelph, ON |
Oenology & Cider
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
9:30 am | Aromatic Enhancement of Vidal Table Wine through Increased Volatile Thiol Production Dr. Jennifer Kelly, Brock University/CCOVI |
10:00 am | Considerations When Canning Cider & Wine Rachel Allison, Pennsylvania State University, USA |
10:30 am | Evaluating Cider Apple Cultivars to Support a Developing Industry Dr. Andréanne Hébert-Haché, Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel, Québec |
11:00 am | Hard Cider Consumer Trends: Landscape of Change Dr. Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, Pennsylvania State University, USA |
Cider Business & Marketing
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Time | Presentation / Speaker |
|---|---|
2:00 pm | Get Your Cider ON – An Overview of the Drink ON Apples Marketing Program Janice Ruddock, OCCA; Lynn Sullivan, Drink ON Apples; Renee Sferrazza, Wine by Renee |
2:30 pm | LCBO – The Changing Landscape of Beverage Alcohol in Ontario and How You Can Get Involved Chris Robertson, Mark Wilson, Katelyn Guilleman, LCBO |
3:00 pm | What Are You Missing in Your Cider Business – We May Have an Answer! Chris Gillis, Durham College Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation; Derek Cartlidge, Thornbury Craft Cider |
3:30 pm | Ontario Craft Cider: Rooted in Our Orchards, Growing for the Future & Presentation of Ontario Craft Cider Awards Renee Sferrazza, Wine by Renee |
Looking for more? Other educational sessions that may be of interest to fruit growers include:
- Agritourism Ontario
- Cost of Production
- Crop Protection
- Decision Support Tools for Soil Fertility Management
- Grower Experiences with Robotics and Technology
- General Labour
- Shaping the Future of the Crop Protection Hub & CropIPM
- Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast
- …and more!
See you in February! Visit www.ofvc.ca for more.