Grape Growers of Ontario

Grape Growers of Ontario is an independent, self-governing farming organization. We are not a government body, agency or department.

We operate under the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Act, and are funded entirely by grape growers who pay a fee per metric tonne of grapes sold. These funds are used to support the grape-growing system and to promote the grape and wine industry in the province.

At our annual meeting, growers elect a committee. The committee then elects eight directors, and those directors choose the officers for the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors approves the programs, policies and strategic direction of the Grape Growers of Ontario. The Board meets every month at its offices in Niagara, and conducts regular information and policy discussion meetings for our grower-members throughout the year. Every member of our Board of Directors is a grape grower, whose knowledge and experience in the grape-growing industry benefits the organization as a whole.

Officers & Directors 2008-09:

Chair:
Bill George Jr.

Vice Chair:
Doug Hernder

C.E.O.
Debbie Zimmerman

Directors:
Steve Fernick

Bart Huisman

Jim Morrison
Matthias Oppenlaender

Steve Pohorly

Kevin Watson

Growers’ Committee 2008-09:

TOWN OF NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
– District 1 –
Trevor Falk

Don Forrer

Doug Hernder
Matthias Oppenlaender

Steve Pohorly

Lou Puglisi
Albrecht Seeger

Kevin Watson

CITY OF ST. CATHARINES
– District 2 –
Bart Huisman
Bill Schenck

Jon Wiley

TOWN OF LINCOLN
– District 3 –
Bill Baranick

Bill George Jr.
Glen Koop
Jim Morrison
Martin Schuele

Roger Vail

TOWN OF GRIMSBY, TOWNSHIP OF WEST LINCOLN AND CITY OF HAMILTON
– District 4(a) –
Steve Fernick
Harold Ferrier

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

– District 4(b) –
George Smith

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

– District 4(c) –
Debra Marshall