More than two-thirds of Ontario’s goat milk producers have voted in favour of setting up a marketing board so the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission has granted its approval.
The board will be able to charge a fee on goat-milk marketing to fund research and promotion programs.
It will not have supply-management power.
“The creation of a new statutory organization for Ontario’s dairy goat sector is one of the most significant governance changes the industry has faced in decades,” said Michele Bowering, Ontario Goat president.
“Of additional concern is the fact that a significant number of eligible producers from Amish and Mennonite communities were unable to participate in the vote due to religious objections to voting.”
She said calling it a marketing board prompted concerns from about 200 goat-milk producers in the province, but she said it’s really just an association with power to raise money for research and promotion.
