Vineland Growers Celebrates 95 Years

This entry was provided by Janice Johnson, communications specialist for GROWMARK's Ontario Region.

On Sept. 12, 2008, Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd.celebrated 95 years of business success.

Most recently, the co-operative was recognized by achieving the highest score in overall business improvement throughout the GROWMARK North American System and was awarded the Most Improvement Award at GROWMARK’s Annual Meeting in Chicago. “This is such an honour for us, especially during our 95th anniversary,” says General Manager George Mitges. “We just keep building on our past successes and we see a very bright future ahead.” Plans are already underway to prepare for the co-operative’s 100th birthday celebration.

It all began with the initiative of four families of fruit growers that got together to form what is now known as the oldest agricultural co-operative in Ontario. Their purpose, at that time, was to merge their knowledge and skills to grow better fruit and in turn provide their customers with a premium quality product. Through their co-operation, better varieties of fruit were developed and, as increased production was realized, the four original members became better equipped to serve the needs of their customers.

Today, Vineland Growers is a thriving establishment that serves and supports more than 300 members. It is a valued and respected by the local community and surrounding area of the Niagara Peninsula fruit belt. The strength of acquisitions and mergers over the last five years has well supported the members and growers of the area’s finest fruit with produce such as strawberries, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and grapes. Its retail stores stock everything from pruners to fertilizers.

The co-operative has three prominent locations throughout the Niagara fertile fruit-growing belt which are comprised of three retail stores, box and basket manufacturing, cold storage and warehouse facilities. A Cardlock fuel station is open to customers at its main branch in Jordon Station.

In spring of 2009, the co-operative’s management team and board of directors will attend the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 84th annual national convention and trade show in Toronto. The show is very well attended by approximately 2,000 vendors and attracts key decision makers and customers in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. “We see this as an excellent opportunity to spread the Vineland Growers’ name out to a larger international audience of retail grocers,” says Mitges.

“So, almost 100 years later, there is still one thing that remains constant, says Vineland Growers Co-operative President Phil Tregunno. “Just like our four founding families, our members today are still the backbone to what keeps Vineland Growers Co-operative successful.”