OTTAWA – The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada extends congratulations to Prime Minister Carney on his swearing-in as the 24th Prime Minister of Canada. As the country faces growing concerns around tariffs, business risk, and food security, FVGC looks forward to working with the government to ensure policies support a strong, resilient, and competitive fruit and vegetable sector—one that continues to provide Canadians with healthy, homegrown food.
FVGC welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to remove the consumer carbon price effective April 1, 2025. Removing carbon pricing on essential farming inputs would help lower costs for Canadian growers, allowing them to remain competitive while continuing to provide fresh, affordable, and locally grown fruits and vegetables to Canadian families. However, while this decision removes the consumer carbon price, some greenhouse operations may still be subject to the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS), depending on their size and emissions levels. FVGC will be closely monitoring developments and advocating to ensure that fruit and vegetable growers, including greenhouse operators, are fully exempt from any form of carbon pricing. Greenhouses play a critical role in Canada’s food security and should never be subject to policies that undermine their ability to grow fresh produce for Canadians year-round.
FVGC is also pleased to congratulate Kody Blois on his appointment as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Minister Blois has long demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Canadian agriculture, particularly through his leadership as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI). Under his leadership, the committee published Improving the Resilience of Canada’s Horticulture, a report that FVGC has strongly supported for its recognition of the unique challenges faced by fruit and vegetable growers.
“We welcome Minister Blois to his new role and look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with him,” said Massimo Bergamini, Executive Director of FVGC. “At a time when the long-term survival of entire segments of Canada’s agricultural economy is threatened, urgent action is needed in the form of support measures that are tailored to the fruit and vegetable sector.”
“Minister Blois’ leadership as chair of the AGRI committee showed a deep commitment to addressing the challenges facing Canadian growers, and we are confident that his experience and understanding of the sector will serve him well as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,” added Bergamini.
Food security depends on a thriving domestic agricultural sector, and FVGC looks forward to working with Minister Blois, Prime Minister Carney, and his entire cabinet to advance policies that keep the fruit and vegetable sector thriving.
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Peyrard
Communications Manager
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
Telephone: 613-621-2195
Email:
About the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) represent growers across the country involved in the production of over 120 different types of crops on over 14,000 farms, with farm cash receipts of $5.9 billion in 2021. They are an Ottawa-based voluntary, not-for-profit, national association, and, since 1922, have advocated on important issues that impact Canada’s fresh produce sector, promoting healthy, safe, and sustainable food, ensuring the continued success and growth of their industry.
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