OTTAWA – The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) has submitted its pre-budget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in advance of the 2025 Federal Budget. As the voice of Canadian fruit and vegetable growers, FVGC’s recommendations address critical issues impacting the Canadian fresh produce sector, aiming to enhance food security, sustainability, and competitiveness.
Marcus Janzen, President of FVGC, emphasized the importance of these recommendations, stating, “As Canadian fruit and vegetable growers continue to face unprecedented challenges, the federal government must implement policies that support the sustainability and competitiveness of our sector.
Our pre-budget recommendations highlight the need for immediate and robust actions to address food affordability, climate change, labour shortages, and supply chain disruptions. We urge the government to take these recommendations seriously to ensure a resilient and thriving agricultural sector in Canada.”
FVGC’s Key Recommendations:
- Maintaining the interest-free limit for advances under the Advanced Payment Program (APP) at $350,000 beyond 2024, indexed to the Farm Input Price Index (FIPI).
- Providing an immediate $8 million budget increase for the Pest Management Centre, with annual inflationary adjustments.
- Securing permanent funding increases for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
- Engaging with the produce sector on sustainable packaging and pausing sector-specific regulatory actions.
FVGC’s Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group submitted its pre-budget recommendations focusing on aligning trade policies and addressing the issues that matter most to the greenhouse sector. Linda Delli Santi, Chair of the Greenhouse Vegetable Working group emphasized, “Carbon pricing relief is critical for the sustainability of our greenhouse sector. Greenhouse growers face significant and rising carbon tax costs that impact their ability to innovate and remain competitive. Our recommendations aim to ensure that greenhouse operations can continue to thrive while contributing to Canada’s food security and environmental goals.”
FVGC’s Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group’s Key Recommendations:
- Carbon Pricing Relief: Advocate for carbon pricing relief inclusive of all fuel types, farming activities, and machinery used in modern Canadian agriculture.
- Trade Opportunities: Strengthen trade policy and regulatory alignment to maintain market access and support the growth and competitiveness of Canadian greenhouse exports.
“The comprehensive nature of these recommendations is a testament to the collaborative effort within the industry to identify and address the most pressing challenges,” added Janzen. “Our proposals are not just about safeguarding the interests of growers but ensuring that Canadians have continued access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.”
FVGC’s submissions are grounded in substantial findings from key reports, including the AGRI reports, Improving the Resilience of Canada’s Horticultural Sector and A Call to Action: How Government and Industry Can Fight Back Against Food Price Volatility; the AGFO report, Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health; and RBC’s two reports, Farmers Wanted: The Labour Renewal Canada Needs to Build the Next Green Revolution, and The Greenhouse Boom: How indoor farming can transform food production and exports. These references highlight that FVGC suggestions are supported by industry experts and legislative bodies. Together, these recommendations provide a roadmap for ensuring the future success and sustainability of Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector.
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Peyrard
Communications Manager
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
613-621-2195