Canada\u2019s fruit and vegetable growers produce over $8 billion in farm-gate value annually and contribute nearly $15 billion to Canada\u2019s GDP through direct, indirect, and induced activity. With 97% of farms family-owned, the sector is a key driver of rural economic development and food security. But this engine of economic activity is now at risk.<\/p>\n
As input costs rise and global trade tensions escalate, Canadian growers are increasingly vulnerable. With 46% of production\u2014and 92% of exports\u2014destined for the United States, even modest trade disruptions can destabilize farm businesses and limit access to international markets. The recent resurgence of U.S. tariff threats has underscored how exposed the sector is to geo-political and economic shocks beyond its control. Eliminating the threat of tariffs and establishing clear, sector-specific support in the event of future trade actions must be top priorities.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Unlike other agricultural sectors, the fruit and vegetable industry has limited tools to manage volatility, due to the perishability of products, intensive labour requirements, and just-in-time supply chains.<\/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_image src=”https:\/\/fvgc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/produce-10.jpg” alt=”About International Trade” title_text=”produce-10″ 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_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
Canada\u2019s fruit and vegetable sector is uniquely exposed to trade disruptions. Perishable goods can\u2019t sit indefinitely in warehouses or be rerouted through alternative markets. When delays or tariffs occur, crops spoil and markets are lost\u2014sometimes permanently.<\/p>\n
Trade agreements and regulatory regimes often overlook the unique needs of horticulture. At the same time, Canadian growers must compete against imports produced under different regulatory, labour, and environmental conditions\u2014often at lower cost\u2014while bearing rising domestic compliance costs.<\/p>\n
Without targeted policy support to improve competitiveness and safeguard market access, growers risk losing both export opportunities and domestic shelf space.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f7″ custom_padding=”100px||100px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”Our Mission Area” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”gcid-aad9ed6c-6b28-46d7-92da-a8fbe91e9564″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-aad9ed6c-6b28-46d7-92da-a8fbe91e9564%22:%91%22border_color_bottom%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Asking 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
To protect competitiveness and ensure long-term food security, the federal government must act in three key areas:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Canadian growers compete globally but operate locally. They produce safe, high-quality food, support rural economies, and contribute billions to the national economy. But without strong trade protections and competitiveness policies, we risk ceding more market share to imports\u2014reducing Canada\u2019s ability to feed itself, limiting rural economic opportunity, and threatening the long-term viability of our domestic food system.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”Our Mission Area” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Updates & Resources Title” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ 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 please contact\u00a0<\/span>Angela Reid<\/strong> by submitting this form.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_flip=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
WHY THESE SOLUTIONS MATTER<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Asking 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%” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]\n
Updates & Resources<\/span><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Asking Text” module_class=”english-only” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ 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
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For more information<\/h3>\n
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