OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - June 4 marked the annual joint advocacy event, Farm to Plate 2024, hosted by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC). During the spring event, produce industry leaders met with targeted stakeholders working on key files for the fruit and vegetable sector to emphasize industry needs, such as stabilizing food prices with strategic sector support, 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,” said 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.”

At Farm to Plate 2024, attendees met with representatives of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the four major political parties to discuss these critical issues.

According to a press release, this included the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Senator Rob Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; Member of Parliament 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, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, CFIA.

“The regulatory burden and ongoing inflation are some of the critical issues threatening food security in Canada,” added 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."

The CPMA and FVGC’s next joint advocacy event, Fall Harvest, will take place November 18–20, 2024, on Parliament Hill.

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