1. Where is the auction located?

910 Midway Boulevard
Mississauga, Ontario  L5T 1T9
Toll free 1 800 746 4634
Fax + 905 670 9637
Tel. + 905 670 9556

2. How does the auction work? 

Products at OFG are sold using The Dutch Clock Auction system.  A Dutch Auction Clock operates in reverse to how a typical auction would run.  The grower sets a clock starting price above the expected selling price.  As the price of the product starts high it declines until a buyer (the highest bidder), stops the clock using the keypad, making a successful purchase.  Two clocks are used to sell product (one for cut flowers and one for potted plants) at an average rate of one lot every two seconds.  Using the electronic clock system a large quantity of product can be sold in a short period of time.
                     
The Ontario grown products sold on the auction are delivered farm fresh to OFG the evening before or the morning of the auction and is set up on carts for best display to buyers.  Cart set up also involves writing up grower sheets that describe the product completely, including starting price, name, colour, size, grade and any comments that are important to the buyer. (See Appendix)

By 5 o’clock in the morning of an auction day, growers’ products are ready for buyer inspection and evaluation. OFG staff is there to perform quality control checks of products at auction including the information accuracy of growers’ information sheets.  The information is then keyed into the computer to be displayed on the message board under the clocks to buyers when the product is up for sale.

The Carts with product are presented to buyers by way of a track system that brings the product in front of the gallery. A large message board located below the clock lists product information (price, cart number, product description, size, colour, grade and any comments) helping the buyer to make wise purchases.
           
Clock Description
For every item sold, there is a clock starting price (a price higher than the expected selling price).
From the clock starting price, the clock arm swings counter- clockwise (declining price) until one buyer stops the clock with a push of a button on the keypad.
                      

The Dutch Auction Clock system of selling was chosen because of the success it has in Europe.  It also puts the desired products in the hands of the buyer for a fair price and at the lowest possible cost to the growers.  It is important to OFG that our customers are able to depend on a regular supply of product from growers. If growers are unable to supply product to the auction, advanced notice (one week), is needed as staff would then be able to source more product from other growers.

Convenience, price and a consistent supply of quality product keep new and long-standing OFG customers coming back.

3. What is the Auction schedule and times?

Business Hours

Day	Auction Start Time	Office	Warehouse
Monday	0600	0530 – 1500 EST	0400 – 2100 EST
Tuesday	0600	0500 – 1500 EST	0400 – 2100 EST
Wednesday	1000	0700 – 1500 EST	0700 – 2100 EST
Thursday	0600	0500 – 1500 EST	0400 – 2100 EST
Friday	0600	0500 – 1500 EST	0400 – 1600 EST
Saturday	CLOSED	CLOSED	0800 – 1600 EST
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED

 

4. What does it cost to purchase on the auction?
There are 308 available seats for buyers, 75% of which are reserved seats. Buyers may reserve a seat on an annual basis, usually attending anywhere from 2 to all 5 auctions per week. Daily seats fees of $15 are applied to buyers who wish to attend less frequently.

5. Does OFG have quality standards?

To meet the needs of OFG customers there is a three tiered grading system in place: Fancy Grade, Standard One Grade and Standard Two Grade.  OFG Quality Control personnel check the quality, grade, and presentation for consistency. Quality standards by specific crop are available upon request from Quality Control.