Recently, several news articles have described a video in which Geri Kamenz, former OFA President and current head of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, describes himself as a hit man. A description that seems apt in the case of changes the Commission is proposing for the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers’ powers to collectively negotiate prices.
“Why would someone who previously represented farmers try to take out the very group he represented?” asks Emery Huszka, NFU-O President. “We must defend farmers’ basic rights to negotiate collectively, and it is appalling that anyone would even consider throwing that away!”
In a collective letter to the Commission, the NFU-O along with other farm and commodity organizations notes, “We believe that this proposal would take fundamental power and purpose away from the OPVG. Farmers should have a say about any changes to the marketing system of their regulated farm products… The Commission’s intended timeline to implement potential changes during the growing season and by the 2017 vegetables for processing crop year is unreasonable.”
These changes will remove power from the farmer and further consolidate it into the hands of the buyer. Instead of working together for a fair price, farmers will have to negotiate independently for a perishable good, potentially pitting neighbour against neighbour to produce below the cost of production.
“It’s going to be a race to the bottom,” notes Karen Eatwell, NFU-O Board member. “The only people who will benefit are the corporations. Consumer goods will not see a decrease in price.”
“The Minister of Agriculture cannot be allowed to wash his hands of this issue,” notes Huszka. “While Kamenz should be held accountable for his actions, ultimately Minister Leal, who is responsible for representing farmers in this province, must live up to his responsibility to defend farmers’ basic rights to negotiate in good faith for a fair price and fair treatment.”
