Government of Canada Invests to Expand Markets for Ontario Ginseng

SCOTLAND, ON, Nov. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Ontario ginseng farmers are set to benefit from emerging international market opportunities. Demand for Ontario-grown ginseng is on the rise throughout Asia and the Government of Canada is working hard to open new markets for agri-food exports, like ginseng.

Member of Parliament for Cambridge, Bryan May, on behalf of Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, announced today an investment of $420,000 to the Ontario Ginseng Growers' Association (OGGA) to help promote and increase the visibility and demand for Canadian ginseng in current and emerging markets, like those in Asia.

With this investment, OGGA will develop a social media and marketing campaign that includes increasing awareness of the innovative uses for Canadian ginseng in products such as soups, teas and cosmetics. It will also support their promotion of trade shows in key Asian markets.

Quick Facts

• Ginseng is one of Canada's largest field grown horticultural export with export sales of over 2.63 million kilograms annually at a value exceeding $239 million (2016).
• Demand for Canadian ginseng is on the rise throughout Asia, with growing interest in India and Japan in our high-quality Canadian product
• The OGGA is a non-profit organization of producers of ginseng who grow, harvest and sell the root. They represent more than 140 growers and have the largest production of North American ginseng in the world. All producers of North American ginseng in Canada are located in Ontario.
• Budget 2017 focused on agri-food as one of the top industries in our Government's Innovation and Skills Plan, an ambitious effort to make Canada a world leader in innovation, with a focus on expanding growth and creating good, well-paying jobs.
• Budget 2017 set an ambitious goal of growing Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion by 2025.
• This investment is being made under the Growing Forward 2, AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, up to $341 million initiative.

Quotes

"Ontario ginseng farmers produce the best quality ginseng in the world, and the market opportunities are only set to grow. With this investment, our government is making sure ginseng farmers can promote their products to consumers in emerging markets, which will help create good jobs and strengthen our economy."
-        Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"This investment helps the Ontario ginseng sector promote brand awareness and increase demand for culinary and value-added products throughout Asia. Ginseng farmers have made ginseng an incredible success story for the region and our government is committed to helping them grow, because they are supporting farm families and our vibrant rural communities."
-        Bryan May, Member of Parliament for Cambridge

"The AgriMarketing program has transformed the ginseng industry in Ontario from an unknown entity to a global player"
-        Remi Van De Slyke, Chair, OGGA

Associated Links

• Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• AgriMarketing Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Ginseng Ontario

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Halifax

Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972