As the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food noted in its 2024 report,\u00a0<\/span>Improving the Resilience of Canada\u2019s Horticultural Sector<\/em>, the current suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs needs an urgent overhaul.<\/p>\n Extreme weather events\u2014including droughts, floods, wildfires, hailstorms, and early frosts\u2014have increasingly threatened Canada\u2019s fruit and vegetable growers. These climate-related challenges disrupt production cycles, reduce yields, and cause significant financial strain for producers. The extraordinary disruption to Canada\u2019s trade relationship with the United States has made these vulnerabilities even more acute.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fvgc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Untitled-design-7.png” alt=”Business Risk Management” title_text=”Untitled design (7)” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”8%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Our Story Area” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About Labour Title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Lato||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||15px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_direction=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n Canada\u2019s five BRM programs were designed to provide a safety net for farmers facing different risks. However, these programs have proven inadequate for the unique needs and challenges of the fruit and vegetable sector, particularly in the face of sudden, unpredictable trade disruptions such as the new tariffs that the United States government threatens to impose.<\/p>\n As each day passes without addressing the gaps in Canada\u2019s safety net system, more agri-businesses face financial uncertainty. This uncertainty compounds the negative impact of tariff-related market loss by putting investments on hold and causing supply chains to unravel.<\/p>\n The current crisis should not result only in stopgap measures; rather, it must also invite a strategic and in-depth review and re-think of programs whose time has passed. In the current context, there is an opportunity to not only improve the suite of BRM safety net programs but also expand them to mitigate risk exposure.<\/p>\n Specifically, we view the current crisis as an opportunity to modernize our thinking and move from a BRM paradigm to Business Risk Management and Mitigation (BRMM) one. Enhancing programs with a range of robust risk mitigation measures, such as enhanced funding for pest management programs, weather-indexed insurance, investments in proactive on-farm risk reduction approaches and infrastructure, and market diversification would reduce risks associated with fruit and vegetable production, perishability, and grow sector resiliency.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Our Story Area” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About Labour Title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Lato||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||15px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_direction=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n The need for immediate action cannot be overstated. While BRM programs are slated for review in 2028, their demonstrated unsuitability calls for an accelerated timeline, including immediate steps to support Canada\u2019s fruit and vegetable growers navigate the market uncertainty caused by the imposition of US tariffs.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About Labour Title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Lato||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||15px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_direction=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”]\nTHE ISSUE<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About Labour Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_flip=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
WHY THIS MATTERS<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About Labour Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_flip=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
RECOMMENDATIONS<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n