Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Ont. funds craft cider ads

Ont. funds craft cider ads

By Jonathan Martin
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) aims to increase the reach of its fruit-based beverages.

The association is using funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to launch a multi-faceted marketing campaign “to help Ontario consumers have a better understanding of local craft cider and its unique qualities,” an OCCA release said Monday.

“We use 100 per cent Ontario apples and all of our ingredients and inputs are from the province,” said Richard Liu, OCCA’s chairman in the release. “We’re proud of that and the role we play in agriculture in Ontario – and that’s what we want to highlight to get more people interested in Ontario craft cider.”

As part of the project, OCCA is ramping up its digital presence through increased social media efforts and a new website. The OCCA will hold marquee events focusing on craft cider in June – a month the organization is deeming Ontario Craft Cider Month.

The LCBO, bars and restaurants will undertake promotional events in conjunction with the OCCA. The goal is to raise craft cider’s market share by spreading brand awareness, Liu said.

“We know that we needed to work on marketing but we haven’t been able to do it until now,” he added. “Having this funding is extremely critical to our growth in the province and helping us achieve that greater market share.”

The Ontario government announced that it would allow nearly 300 more stores to sell alcohol last week, bringing the total number of alcohol retailers in the province to nearly 3,000. The announcement followed the release of a report by Ken Hughes, Ontario’s special advisor for the Beverage Alcohol Review, recommending that Ontario “make purchasing alcohol more convenient for consumers.”

The provincial government is also in talks with the alcoholic beverage industry to expand alcohol sales into corner stores, big-box stores and grocery stores beyond the 450 grocers already allowed to make alcohol sales.

 


Trending Video

Let’s NOT Make U S Soybeans Great Again!

Video: Let’s NOT Make U S Soybeans Great Again!


Trump cancels Xi meeting in South Korea at the end of the month as China has become hostile on rare earth minerals. We would not be surprised if Trump were to retaliate again with 145% tariff on China on the Nov. 10th pause deadline. China has pulled the rug under U.S. farmers again.
It’s the 10th day with the U.S. government shut down what if it goes beyond 35 days and what if we do not get a Nov. 9 USDA crop report or the USDA slow walks lower yields in this report?
The approved U.S. $12 - $13 billion for of U.S. farmers could also be delayed. It would help improve basis as they delay selling bushels.
The “debasement” trade has become mainstream and popular with investors and a key reason why gold and silver continue to hit new fresh record highs. U.S. harvest could be 40% complete, 50% on soybeans and 60% on winter wheat Planting. In Ontario, 80% of the soybeans are harvested while corn is 1-2% harvested. Less wheat acres are being planted because the price sucks.
South America is 9.15% planted on soybeans.
The latest news on 2025 U.S. yields is that even if farmers applied 2 fungicide passes to protect against Southern Rust yields are still lower by 10-15 bpa.
There were rumors this week that the narrowing in the soybean futures spreads and basis could be China buying U.S,. soybeans under the radar?
A peace deal in Isreal/Gaza means lower crude oil futures as funds remove the geo-political risk premiums.
A potential meeting between Brazil’s Lula and Trump could see the 50% tariff removed on beef imports and weigh on cattle futures down the road.
The 2025 U.S. Midwest drought is very concerning as we end 2025.