Annual report for fiscal 2024–2025

Message from the chair

As newly appointed chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, I am pleased to present our 2024–2025 annual report. It is an honour to be part of an organization that plays a pivotal role in Ontario’s regulated agricultural sectors. On behalf of the commission I am proud to highlight our accomplishments over the past year.

In 2024–2025, under the dedicated leadership of outgoing chair Amy Cronin, the commission maintained stability and effectively fulfilled its statutory duties. We engaged in robust decision-making through regular meetings, consistently connecting with stakeholders through various forums and events.

Our support for the regulated marketing sector included amending numerous regulations to enhance competitiveness, streamline operations, and foster industry growth. These efforts underscored the strong working relationships between commission leadership, boards and associations, the ministry and the minister.

In maintaining our oversight capabilities, we conducted annual board/association attestation processes, empowering boards and associations to self-monitor compliance with regulations, aligning with our vision of being a modern regulator.

We advanced our strategy, operations, and governance by building on the 2022 governance review and the Path to Clarity project. We developed an updated strategic plan that will guide us through 2029.

It is with great pride that I share these achievements, reflecting our commitment to supporting Ontario’s agricultural sectors and ensuring their continued prosperity.

Brendan Byrne
Chair, Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission

Context

Accountability

The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (commission) is prescribed as a public body and a Commission public body in accordance with O. Reg. 146/10 under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.

The commission is not organizationally part of a ministry but is a Crown agency of the Ontario government. It is comprised of appointees and as an agency, it is expected to provide a high level of service to the public.

The commission reports to, and is directly accountable to, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. The minister, in turn, is accountable to Cabinet and the legislature for the commission’s fulfillment of its legal authority and for reporting on the commission’s affairs.

As a government agency, the commission functions as a non-board-governed, regulatory agency under the Agencies and Appointments Directive (AAD), a Management Board of Cabinet directive issued under the Management Board of Cabinet Act.

The AAD sets out the rules and accountability framework for all provincial agencies, including the commission. As a requirement of the AAD, an annual report must be prepared and submitted by the chair of the commission to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, for the minister’s approval.

This report covers fiscal year 2024–2025 and provides information to the public on how the commission met its goals and objectives, both operationally and financially.

The commission

The commission is central to Ontario’s regulated marketing system. Through its actions, it ensures that individual regulated commodity systems operate in an effective and responsible manner. This is done with due regard to the impact of commission decisions on the agri-food sector and consumers, while at the same time maintaining the public policy goals of the legislation.

The commission’s primary stakeholders are comprised of the marketing boards, local boards and section 12 representative associations which the commission is mandated to oversee. Additional stakeholders include organizations referenced in commission-made regulations.

In 2024–25, the commission comprised a chair, a vice chair, and five members, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, upon the recommendation of the minister.

The members hold a wealth of experience in agricultural production and processing with a variety of business, industry, and commodity experience.

The commission is supported operationally by a secretariat that is comprised of staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). Organizationally, the secretariat is a unit within the Economic Development Policy Branch of OMAFA’s Policy Division.

In performing its function as a regulatory agency, the commission typically convenes for 2 days each month to discuss sector challenges and opportunities, while also making decisions pertaining to the regulations under its authority. Commission members and secretariat staff also participate in various commodity Industry Advisory Committees (IACs) and attend other industry meetings throughout the year, often providing advice or facilitating discussions, all while gaining sector knowledge to ensure effective oversight and informed decision-making.

The commission’s legal authority and mandate

The commission is continued as a body corporate without share capital pursuant to subsection 12(1) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act (MAFRAA). The commission exercises powers and authority under the Farm Products Marketing Act, the Milk Act and O. Reg. 68/98 under the Commodity Boards and Marketing Agencies Act.

Alongside its policy functions, the commission is authorized to make independent regulatory decisions. It reports to, and is directly accountable to, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. The minister, in turn, is accountable to Cabinet and the legislature for the commission’s fulfillment of its legal authority and for reporting on the commission’s affairs.

As a non-board governed regulatory agency, the commission is accountable for making regulatory decisions and supervising the activities of the various farm commodity marketing boards in Ontario. However, the commission does not possess the authority to make its own operational decisions. It is the ministry that is required to provide operational, financial, and administrative support to the agency as per legislation through the secretariat.

In January 2025, the minister provided a letter of direction to the commission which provided further clarity on its mandate and objectives to continue to align with government priorities and directions.

The letter set out the expectations for the 2025–2026 term to be innovative, sustainable, and accountable. The ongoing mandate of the commission and priorities therein include:

1. Administering the relevant provisions of the enabling legislation (Farm Products Marketing Act and Milk Act) in Ontario to ensure it remains reliable and effective for our marketing boards, local boards, associations, producers and processors.
2. Supervising regulated marketing organizations to whom power and authority has been delegated under the legislation and ensure boards, associations, producers and processors remain in compliance with the legislation and regulations that are in place, including through robust governance training/reviews for each board.
3. Addressing challenges, issues and opportunities in the regulated marketing sector by collaborating with stakeholders to find equitable, unbiased and industry-led solutions or by leveraging, where required, authorities provided to the commission. This includes reviewing the financial sustainability of marketing boards and working with boards to identify red tape that could be reduced.
4. With respect to stakeholders, measuring and communicating the priorities and performance of the agency to build trust and demonstrate alignment between the agency and our government is vital. This includes ensuring the commission has a full understanding of all stakeholder input on relevant commission business.
5. Engaging regularly with the Minister and the ministry to ensure regulated marketing policy efforts are collaborative and in alignment with government priorities through briefings for the Minister's Office and Minister where applicable. This includes engaging through the Ministry or Minister’s Office with the appropriate ministries on any issues that could impact trade or intergovernmental relationships.

The commission’s vision and mission statements

To provide guidance in carrying out its mandate, the commission sets a multi-year strategic plan that defines its priorities and establishes the goals it wants to achieve.

In 2024, the commission drafted a new five-year strategic plan. The new strategic plan will be reflected in the commission’s work for the duration of the commission’s 2025–2028 business plan and the annual report.

The commission is guided by its strategic plan, including its vision, mission and strategic goals that are in support of the sector, OMAFA and government priorities. The commission’s strategic framework, goals, and objectives, along with the initiatives and target outcomes will guide and reflect its ongoing commitment to its regulatory responsibilities that help its regulated stakeholders, and the agri-food sector thrive and prosper.

The commission’s current vision, mission and core values/guiding principles are described below:

Vision: a progressive regulator driving collaboration and sustainable growth in Ontario’s vibrant agri-food sector.

The commission is dedicated to being a progressive regulator that empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions. By fostering collaboration and promoting a sustainable supply chain, the commission supports Ontario's agricultural industry to thrive over the long term. Actively listening to the diverse needs of marketing boards, Section 12 representative associations, and value chain partners, the commission brokers progressive, whole-sector solutions for this dynamic and competitive industry.

The commission diligently works to build respect, trust, and collaboration among commodity groups, producers, processors, and their stakeholders.

Mission: empowering Ontario’s agriculture sectors through regulatory oversight, stakeholder facilitation and innovative solutions.

The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission empowers the province's agricultural sectors through focused oversight. By facilitating effective stakeholder engagement and fostering meaningful collaborations, the commission builds strong relationships across the value chain, ensuring voices are heard in decision-making processes. Committed to encouraging collaborative solutions to complex challenges, the commission promotes sustainable growth, supporting economic prosperity and rural communities. This mission reflects our dedication to balancing regulatory responsibilities and supporting innovation and progress within Ontario's agricultural sector.

Core values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Transparency
• Innovation and Growth
• Accountability
• Diversity and Inclusion

The commission team

In 2024–25, the commission comprised a chair, vice chair and five members, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

The diverse membership is made up of producers and processors with a variety of business, industry and commodity experience.

2024–2025 members

Amy Cronin, chair 
First appointed to the position: May 07, 2020
Appointment expiry: May 06, 2025

Ralph Dietrich, vice chair 
First appointed to the position: August 31, 2023
Appointment expiry: August 30, 2025

Robert Anderson, member 
First appointed to the position: May 13, 2015
Appointment expiry: May 12, 2025

Cameron McWilliam, member 
First appointed to the position: December 31, 2018
Appointment expiry: December 30, 2026

William George, member 
First appointed to the position: April 7, 2022
Appointment expiry: April 6, 2027

Cheryl Firby, member 
First appointed to the position: August 31, 2023
Appointment expiry: August 30, 2025

Brendan Byrne, member 
First appointed to the position: June 13, 2024
Appointment expiry: June 12, 2026

The commission is supported by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission Secretariat (the secretariat) who provide operations for the commission, including administrative support, advice, information and policy analysis on issues impacting each commodity.

Agency resourcing

• The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission Secretariat operated with 9 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for 2024–2025, with some staff changes occurring as staff moved to new assignments elsewhere in the OPS.
• On June 13, 2024, Brendan Byrne was appointed as a part-time member of the commission for a fixed term of two years.

Achievements and key highlights for 2024–2025: fulfilling the commission’s mandate

Sustaining stability and engagement

During 2024–2025, the commission continued to demonstrate stability, effectively carrying out its activities and fulfilling its statutory obligations without encountering any unusual challenges:

• The commission ensured that its activities were aligned with the directives outlined in the minister’s letter.
• Monthly commission meetings typically included one virtual day and one in-person day, facilitating flexibility and engagement.
• The chair met in-person and virtually with their stakeholder counterparts in several leadership meetings held throughout the year, ensuring robust stakeholder communication.
• Commission members and secretariat staff actively participated in a variety of industry engagements, including attending annual general meetings of local boards, marketing boards, and representative associations, as well as other industry-related events.

Supporting the regulated marketing sector

Key highlights of the commission’s work to support the sector:

• Supported the evolution of sectors by making regulation amendments:
  • Following a request from the Ontario Apple Growers, the commission updated two regulations:
    • Ontario Regulation 123/04: Apples — Plan:
      • Redefined "producer" by removing the requirement to own or lease land with apple trees.
      • Allowed producers to appoint representatives for voting or board service.
      • Introduced term limits for board members, requiring a break after serving a set number of terms.
      • Removed term limits for board chairs.
    • 125/04: Apples — Marketing:
      • Merged the Fresh Apple and Juice Apple Advisory Committees into a single Apple Advisory Committee covering all apple types.
      • Removed the requirement for annual committee meetings.
      • Added rules for replacing committee members who cannot fulfill their duties.
  • After completing a comprehensive review of the vegetables for processing sector regulations, the commission introduced several amendments to two regulations:
    • R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 441: Vegetables for Processing — Plan:
      • Modernized board elections for the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers.
      • Added in-person voting to existing mail and electronic options.
      • Required a formal nomination policy.
      • Allowed vice-chairs to act as chair if the appointed chair is absent.
    • R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 440: Vegetables for Processing — Marketing:
      • Simplified negotiation and dispute resolution processes.
      • Allowed tomato and carrot producers and processors to choose who oversees voting at meetings.
      • Permitted the formation of joint negotiating agencies.
      • Standardized conciliator appointments and clarified arbitration steps.
      • Gave negotiating agencies seven business days to appoint an arbitrator before commission involvement.
      • Removed outdated provisions.
    • Revoked two outdated regulations related to past negotiation deadlines.
  • To support the turfgrass sod sector, designated turfgrass sod as a farm product under Ontario Regulation 207/01: Designation of Natural Products of Agriculture as Farm Products
• Provided leadership, guidance, and support to the turfgrass sod sector by initiating an expression of interest vote to assess support for establishing a local board.
• Provided support to the vegetables for processing sector by:
  • Extending the deadline for a cucumber negotiating agency.
  • Ordering the renegotiation of two cucumber agreements to allow the parties to address market changes.
  • Reappointing the chair of the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers for an additional term.
• Provided support to the chicken sector by ordering the renegotiation of the 2024 margin agreement to allow the parties to address modular loading costs.
• Supported the chicken, vegetables for processing, egg, grapes for processing, apple, sweet corn, and potato sectors by enacting 32 agreements negotiated during the 2024–25 fiscal year.
• Reduced the regulatory burden on commission-licensed stakeholders by eliminating license expiration dates for processors of asparagus, grapes, potatoes, tender fruit, vegetables, and seed-corn dealers.
• Engaged with industry boards and stakeholders:
  • Held review meetings with 10 boards/associations, including:
    • Grape Growers of Ontario, Ontario Canola Growers’ Association, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Ginseng Growers’ Association, Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, Ontario Fresh Grape Growers’ Marketing Board
  • Met with 5 additional stakeholders referenced in commission regulations, including:
    • Ontario Craft Wineries, Wine Growers of Ontario, Association of Ontario Chicken Processors, Association of Ontario Turkey Processors, and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors’ Association
• Engaged with national industry stakeholders by meeting with the Farm Products Council of Canada and the Canadian Dairy Commission.
• The commission made 71 appointments to IACs for the apples, asparagus, beans, berries, chicken, dairy, eggs, grain, grapes for processing, hatching eggs and chicks, pork, sheep, veal and vegetables for processing sectors.
• Commission members and secretariat staff participated in nine IAC meetings during the 2024–2025 fiscal year, representing sectors including apples, chicken, greenhouse vegetables, berries, vegetables for processing, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
• The commission did not hold any hearings during 2024–2025.

Enhancing oversight

During 2023–2024, the commission implemented a board/association attestation process, that includes an annual self-assessment tool developed to help initiate and support healthy relationships and open dialogue between the commission and the boards and associations it oversees, empowering them to self-monitor and evaluate their own compliance with Farm Products Marketing Act or Milk Act regulations.

As part of this process, the commission is presently engaged in modernizing certain regulations under the Farm Products Marketing Act and Milk Act. During 2024–25 this included comprehensive consultation with industry, including informal consultation with boards and associations, a posting of the proposed regulatory amendments on the Ontario Regulatory Registry, and drafting amendments that incorporate feedback from the registry posting. These amendments are to be finalized in 2025–26.

The commission initiated a review of its board/association review process in 2024–2025. This project was initiated as a part of 2^nd goal of the commission’s strategic plan concerning Effective Monitoring, Compliance & Oversight. The project is scheduled to be completed and any potential recommendations implemented during 2025–2026.

Driving strategy, operations, and governance

The commission continued to demonstrate its commitment to continuous improvement to define its strategy, operations and governance, thereby advancing its commitment to leading by example:

• Continued to operationalize the outcomes of the  “Path to Clarity” project, ensuring for a shared description of the commission’s lines of business, using common, everyday language, to be used to clarify and articulate the work the commission does, and how and why it does it.
• Continued to assess the commission’s board/association review process with continuous improvement opportunities anticipated for the 25–26 cycle.
• Concluded a pilot of a Salesforce stakeholder and case management system to identify best practices and further opportunities for the secretariat to support continuity of operations and knowledge transfer.

Ensuring agency compliance

In 2024–2025, the commission continued to focus resources on ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Management Board of Cabinet’s Agencies and Appointments Directive, as well as other corporate and legislated requirements:

• The 2023–2024 annual report and 2024–2027 business plan were drafted, approved by the minister and published to Ontario.ca.
• Member expenses were published to Ontario.ca.
• The secretariat completed the annual Certificate of Assurance process.
• Quarterly and annual compliance and reporting activities were embedded into the operations of the secretariat to ensure adherence with the Agencies and Appointments Directive, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Travel, Meal and Hospitality Directive, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and the French Language Services Act.

The commission’s performance

As the commission is expected to provide a high level of service to the public, performance measures are essential to measuring, monitoring, and communicating the commission’s impact to government and stakeholders while enabling sound decision-making, highlighting, and tracking improvements, and fulfilling accountability requirements through reporting on results.

The commission continues to implement the recommendations around four key performance domains made by a third-party consultant (which the commission worked with in 2023) to continue progress on developing clear, consistent and meaningful performance measures.

This work has been highlighted and integrated in the 2025–2028 business plan.

These four domains align with the commission’s lines of business, and add an additional component related to organizational excellence.

Performance domain 1: commission regulatory oversight

Focuses on the commission’s mandate to develop and implement all policies related to regulated marketing in Ontario to support an effective and efficient regulatory marketing system.

Performance domain 2: commission regulatory compliance monitoring and enforcement functions

Focuses on the commission’s mandate to administer the legislation and regulation of the Farm Products Marketing Act and the Milk Act, and to supervise the exercise of board powers and authorities to support compliance with the legislative scheme.

Performance domain 3: commission sector guidance and facilitation

Focuses on the commission’s mandate to provide leadership and education for boards and associations to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory marketing system.

Performance domain 4: commission organizational excellence

Focuses on the commission’s government directive and requirements as set out by the AAD and a focus on agency operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Financial performance

The commission’s resource requirements, including staffing and financials, are absorbed by OMAFA and are incorporated into the ministry’s business plans and financial statements, which are subjected to review by Ontario’s Auditor General.

During the 2024–2025 fiscal period, OMAFA allocated $389,000 for the direct operating expenditures shared by the commission and the secretariat. Actual expenditures for the period were $156,168 under the allocated budget, largely due to reduced need for third-party consulting, including a streamlined strategic planning process and moving from development to operationalization of the Path to Clarity work.

Reporting of appointee remuneration

Glossary of terms

Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (commission)

The commission is a provincial agency (a non-board-governed regulatory agency) under the Management Board of Cabinet’s AAD.

Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission Secretariat (secretariat)

The secretariat operates as a unit within OMAFA’s Policy Division, specifically within the Economic Development Policy Branch (EDPB). The unit manager within the secretariat reports to the director of EDPB. Additionally, the director of EDPB holds the position of secretary to the commission. As such, the secretary of the commission holds a dual reporting responsibility to both the commission and the assistant deputy minister of the Policy Division.

Regulated marketing system

The Farm Products Marketing Act, the Milk Act and MAFRAA govern the regulated marketing system in Ontario. These acts, and overlapping federal legislation, enables Ontario farmers to market their commodities as a group through a compulsory marketing board system. The legislation outlines the powers and responsibilities of the participants in the regulated marketing system.

Marketing boards

Marketing boards are corporate bodies established under the Milk Act that represent the interests of producers of a particular regulated product in the marketplace. Marketing boards are generally producer elected, controlled and financed. Authority is delegated through the Milk Act to each board to allow them to regulate the production and/or marketing of their commodities.

List of marketing boards:

• Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Local boards

Local boards are corporate bodies established under the Farm Products Marketing Act that represent the interests of producers of a particular regulated product in the marketplace. Local boards are generally producer elected, controlled and financed. Authority is delegated through the Farm Products Marketing Act to each board to allow them to regulate the production and/or marketing of their commodities.

List of local boards:

• Asparagus Farmers of Ontario
• Berry Growers of Ontario
• Chicken Farmers of Ontario
• Egg Farmers of Ontario
• Grain Farmers of Ontario
• Grape Growers of Ontario
• Ontario Apple Growers
• Ontario Bean Growers
• Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission
• Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board
• Ontario Fresh Grape Growers’ Marketing Board
• Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
• Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board (Ontario Pork)
• Ontario Potato Board
• Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers
• Ontario Sheep Farmers
• Ontario Tender Fruit Growers
• Ontario Tomato Seedling Growers’ Marketing Board
• Seed Corn Growers of Ontario
• Turkey Farmers of Ontario
• Veal Farmers of Ontario

Section 12 representative associations

Section 12 of the Farm Products Marketing Act allows Cabinet to designate an existing, incorporated producer association as the representative association for all producers of a specified farm product. The Farm Products Marketing Act authorizes the association to collect a license fee from those producers. These associations are not involved in the marketing of the commodity, but conduct programs to stimulate, increase and improve the production and/or marketing of the farm product by way of research, promotion and other means.

List of Section 12 representative associations:

• Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc.
• Ontario Canola Growers’ Association
• Ontario Ginseng Growers’ Association

Additional stakeholders

The following are examples of stakeholders who are referenced in commission-made regulations:

• The Ontario Milk Transporters Association are referenced within the Negotiating Agency section of O. Reg. 354/95: Milk and Farm-Separated Cream — Marketing under the Milk Act.
• Licenced Ontario chicken processors are referenced within the Negotiating Agency section of R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 402 Chickens — Marketing under the Farm Products Marketing Act.
• Representatives of the Ontario Seed-Corn Companies Association are referenced within the Negotiating Agencies section of R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 427: Seed-Corn — Marketing under the Farm Products Marketing Act.
• Processors and green shippers (of vegetables) are referenced within the Negotiating Agencies section of R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 440: Vegetables for Processing — Marketing under the Farm Products Marketing Act.
• Processors of soybeans are referenced within the Negotiating Agency for Soybeans section of O. Reg. 485/09: Grain — Marketing under the Farm Products Marketing Act.
• Processors of grapes are referenced within the Licences and Negotiating Agencies sections of R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 414: Grapes for Processing — Marketing under the Farm Products Marketing Act.

The commission’s lines of business

1. Framework oversight for regulated marketing:
   
   Implementing and administering the provisions of the Farm Products Marketing Act and the Milk Act, enabling the regulated marketing system in consultation with the minister, the ministry, and stakeholders.
2. Regulatory compliance:
   
   Supervising Ontario’s boards and associations, to whom power and authority is delegated under the legislation and ensuring that the lines of accountability are maintained.
3. Guidance, facilitation, and dispute resolution:
   
   Providing formal or informal guidance pertaining to a regulated sector conflict or disputes through facilitation or direction.

Board/association attestation process

An annual self-assessment tool, reviewed by secretariat staff, was developed to help initiate and support healthy relationships and open dialogue between the commission and the boards and associations it oversees, empowering them to self-monitor and evaluate their own compliance with Farm Products Marketing Act or Milk Act regulations.

Industry Advisory Committees (IACs)

IACs are sector-specific committees established through the respective commodity’s marketing regulation. These committees typically consist of a chair who is a commission member and are supported by secretariat staff.

Current list of IACs:

• Asparagus Industry Advisory Committee
• Fresh Asparagus Industry Advisory Committee
• Bean Industry Advisory Committee
• Berry Industry Advisory Committee
• Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Industry Advisory Committee
• Chicken Industry Advisory Committee
• Dairy Industry Advisory Committee — Milk
• Dairy Industry Advisory Committee — Transportation of Milk
• Dairy Industry Advisory Committee — Processors
• Eggs Industry Advisory Committee
• Fresh Apple Industry Advisory Committee
• Juice Apple Industry Advisory Committee
• Fresh Grapes Industry Advisory Committee
• Grain Industry Advisory Committee
• Grapes for Processing Industry Advisory Committee
• Greenhouse Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
• Hog Industry Advisory Committee
• Sheep Industry Advisory Committee
• Tender Fruit Industry Advisory Committee
• Turkey Industry Advisory Committee
• Veal Industry Advisory Committee
• Vegetables for Processing Industry Advisory Committee