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Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada addresses concerns over government’s grocery price stabilization measures

Oct. 13, 2023 –The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) have issued a statement addressing the government’s recently announced price stabilization measures fail to consider the repercussions on Canadian growers.

A recent FVGC survey revealed alarming statistics: 44 per cent of surveyed Canadian growers are selling produce at a loss, while 77 per cent are unable to adjust their selling prices to match escalating operational costs. Factors such as the Carbon Tax, the Pollution Prevention Planning Notice for Primary Food Plastic Packaging (P2 Plastic Program), and the recent tariff on fertilizer exacerbate these financial pressures.

To that end, the FVGC Trade and Marketing Working Group has drafted a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The letter outlines FVGC’s concerns and provides constructive recommendations. Specifically, it calls for:

1. Re-evaluation of the Carbon Tax, considering its accumulative impact on production costs.
2. Review of the P2 Plastic Program, which places undue financial burden on operations.
3. Reassessment of the Tariff on Fertiliser, as it affects both production costs and final consumer prices.
4. A reconsideration of the government’s fertilizer emission reduction goals, acknowledging responsible practices already in place among our members.

FVGC is calling for the inclusion of both their organization and the wider agricultural community in any upcoming government consultations and decision-making processes related to grocery price stabilization.