May 31, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – On May 30, fresh produce industry representatives from the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) BB #:153602 and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) met with Parliamentarians and government officials at Farm to Plate 2023 held in Ottawa.
Farm to Plate is a CPMA and FVGC joint advocacy event held annually that focuses on connecting the produce industry with key decision-makers to discuss critical issues impacting the fruit and vegetable sector.
During the event, 30 industry members from across the country highlighted several key areas that impact the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the fresh produce sector. They urged the Government to make agriculture and access to food a federal priority, support an effective sustainable agriculture strategy, and implement national agricultural labor and supply chain strategies to address labor shortages and supply chain challenges.
The produce industry also called upon Parliamentarians to vote in favor of Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, which passed Second Reading in the House of Commons and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food.
“We are pleased with the opportunity to connect with our elected leaders to discuss our industry’s priorities,” says Colin Chapdelaine, CPMA Chair. “The produce industry plays an integral role in the Canadian economy and food supply chain. Our recommendations for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector aim to strengthen our supply chain, ensure food security, and support sustainable food production.”
“Sustainability is the foundation of our industry’s future, and the Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable sector has been at the forefront of implementing sustainable practices,” says FVGC President, Jan VanderHout. “By working together with government officials, we can develop strategies that promote an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fresh produce industry in Canada.”
Event participants met with 34 Parliamentarians and government officials, including the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Stefanie Beck, the Honorable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, the Honourable Rob Black, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, the office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, and many other Ministerial offices, Agriculture Committee members, senior bureaucrats and officials.
In the evening, CPMA and FVGC hosted a reception at the Metropolitain Brasserie which attracted over 150 industry members, government leaders and their staff.
CPMA and FVGC thank the Farm to Plate 2023 sponsors and look forward to their next joint advocacy event, Fall Harvest, which will be held in fall 2023.
For more information, please contact:
Micken Kokonya
Manager, Communications and Market Research
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Cell: 613-878-3312
Email: mkokonya@cpma.ca
Ashley Peyrard
Communications Coordinator
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
Telephone: 613-621-2195
Email: apeyrard@fvgc.ca
About the Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Based in Ottawa, Ontario, CPMA is a not-for-profit organization that represents a diverse membership made up of every segment of the produce industry supply chain who are responsible for 90% of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada. CPMA is fortunate to represent a sector that is both a significant economic driver for communities and that also improves the health and productivity of Canadians.
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.
