Vineland Growers' Co-operative Limited

The Vineland Growers’ Co-Operative is the longest continuing farm co-operative in Ontario, and now Canada’s largest grower and shipper of tender fruit, serving Canada, the United States and occasionally the United Kingdom. The co-operative was formed in 1913 by Niagara region fruit growers Alonzo H. Culp, Ezra Honsberger, Norman P. Moyer and Melvin Honsberger, all descended from Pennsylvanian immigrants of the 18th century. Together with local schoolteacher Walter M. Gayman, the founders united their skills and resources in order to improve fruit production and distribution for both growers and customers. A government charter granted the new co-operative authorized capital of $10,000, consisting of 400 shares valued at $25 each. The co-operative managed the production, marketing, sale and distribution of fruit products as well as a line of growers’ supplies such as baskets and fertilizers. It has grown steadily since its inception, from 28 members in 1919 to over 300 in 2003. Sales and returns to members have also increased nearly every year since 1915. The co-operative’s first office building was established at Vineland Station in 1917, and was replaced in 1939. A cold storage plant, the first of its kind in the Niagara Peninsula, was begun in 1948. In 1951, a basket factory was established at Jordan Station, and 1959 saw a central packing plant at Vineland and a branch warehouse at Fonthill added to the co-operative’s facilities.