I'll quickly add to that. Fifteen years ago, in the Niagara region there were three fruit-processing facilities. Today there's zero. They've all moved to the United States. The ability to get to the market, for whatever reason, especially in the last few years, to be competitively priced, has been challenging. There's a conversion of those crops—apricot, peach, pear, plum specifically. Today they are moving into vineyard property. Frankly, the economic value on the income per acre, and the availability to sell it into a market that has demand, is driving some of that conversion.
As to research, I sit on the board of the Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario where we fund, using federal government money, different terms of research. Greenhouse propagation of root stock is very active right now. We're looking at expanding the grape varieties planted in the vineyard, and we're doing all of that work in the greenhouse environment, bench studies. We go out and use test plantings. We're using the University of British Columbia, the University of Guelph, and Brock University, all of which have agricultural programs. Brock has the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. The Niagara College Teaching Winery, a community college based in Niagara, has a vinification program as well as a test vineyard and winery inside the educational facility.
So long term, a continued pioneering spirit, driven by innovation and education, exists in our industry. It's never been stronger. There is a closer tie through all levels of our industry—from the grower, the processor, and now with our government stakeholders. All are working cooperatively.