Van Bommel resigns as processing vegetable growers board chair

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Suzanne van Bommel has resigned her role as chair of the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers.

Van Bommel was appointed chair after the province’s administrator turned control of the OPVG back to a grower board made up of half elected and half appointed members.

The board will be fully elected by growers after the organization’s annual meeting this week, with the chair continuing to be appointed.

There is no word yet on a new appointed board chair.

Van Bommel was a polarizing figure as the appointed chair of the organization, as she worked to lead the board as it implemented the new regulations governing processing vegetable marketing and board organization.

Van Bommel has been appointed as a regulated marketing advisor to the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission and Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.

“I want to thank Ms. van Bommel for her dedicated service to Ontario’s processing vegetable sector and look forward to working with her in this new advisory role,” said Jim Clark, chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.

Van Bommel was a former assistant to provincial Liberal Agriculture Minister Steve Peters, has worked in government relations, in addition to having farm experience.