The Canadian Produce Marketing Association and Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada teamed up to host their annual Farm to Plate event in Ottawa.
The event brought together produce industry leaders who met with targeted stakeholders working on key files including stabilizing food prices, supporting sustainability initiatives and establishing financial protection measures for produce sellers.
“The produce industry plays a key role contributing nearly $15 billion each year to Canada’s GDP,” says George Pitsikoulis, CPMA chair. “This joint advocacy event provides us with unique opportunities to connect with elected federal leaders and voice our industry’s concerns. We are delighted with the productive discussions we had with government representatives and look forward to continued collaboration to address the industry’s challenges and enhance its global competitiveness.”
During the event, industry participants met with representatives of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the four major political parties, including Lawrence MacAulay, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Anita Anand, president of the Treasury Board; Senator Rob Black, chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; MP Kody Blois, chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food; Robert Ianiro, vice president of policy and programs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); and Evelyn Soo, executive director at the Food Safety and consumer protection directorate at the CFIA.
“The regulatory burden and ongoing inflation are some of the critical issues threatening food security in Canada,” says Marcus Janzen, FVGC president. “As growers, it was crucial for us to engage with the Government to find effective solutions that prioritize Canadians’ access to food, which is a basic human need. We need strategic support to stabilize food prices and ensure the sustainability of our industry.”
