The Peak of the Market Reorganization Act gives marketing freedom to producers
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Manitoba’s minister of agriculture has introduced his first bill in the provincial legislature.
Derek Johnson tabled The Peak of the Market Reorganization Act (Bill 12) on March 3 to help reduce red tape surrounding vegetable marketing.
This bill would allow Peak of the Market, a grower-owned organization that markets vegetables to retailers, to modernize its business model to promote, sell and distribute Manitoba potatoes and root crops around the world.
Currently, Peak of the Market operates under the Manitoba Vegetable Producers Marketing Plan regulation, which was established in the 1970s.
The regulation includes provisions stating Peak of the Market’s board may allot a marketing quota to a producer, and that the board can reduce, cancel or make changes to that quota.
The updated legislation would let producers decide the volume of crops he or she wishes to plant and sell.
“This legislation would allow producers to grow as many table potatoes and root crops as they wish and sell to any buyer, while paving the way for a modernized business model for Peak of the Market and strengthening our provincial economy,” Minister Johnson said in a March 3 statement.
This legislation is in line with the provincial government’s mandate for its first 100 days.
Premier Heather Stefanson committed to reducing provincial regulatory barriers that hinder Manitoba farmers’ ability to produce food and limit the number of consumers they do business with.
Manitoba farmers welcome this new development.
“It’s supply and demand. If more people produce, the price is going to go down in the stores,” Paul Adriaansen, owner of Spud Plains Farms in Wellwood, Man., told CBC. “I fully expect to see that happen. I think it’s going to be a bit of a roller-coaster for a few years until the market stabilizes again.”