Introducing the 2020 Grape King

John Fedorkow was born and raised on a mixed tender fruit farm in St. David’s and graduated from the University of Guelph in 1980 with a bachelor of science in agriculture.

John briefly left the area to sell crop protection products for four years, two in Alberta and two back in Ontario, but following his desire to return to Niagara, he purchased Fruithaven Farms in 1984, not far from where he grew up. The farm was planted with Labrusca grapes, which were removed and replaced with tender fruit and berries, including strawberries, raspberries, apples, cling peaches, pears and plums. A pick-your-own operation that gave school tours in the fall was developed.

After removing the apples in 1999, John began planting wine grapes and undertook a major expansion into grapes in 2008 after the canning factory closure. John is currently growing 75 acres of vinifera grapes for Peller Estates and Creekside Estate Winery, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Sémillon.

A current member of the Grape Growers of Ontario’s Growers’ Committee and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Agricultural Sub-Committee, John is also the past president of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (NPF&VGA), past Vineland Growers director and past member of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Irrigation Committee.