The  Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) held their fall advocacy event, Fall Harvest 2022, in Ottawa.

Featuring Ottawa-based journalist and CBC’s At Issue panellist Althia Raj as a speaker, the event brought together 32 industry representatives who met with 36 Parliamentarians and officials.

These discussions focused on:

• Prioritizing food production and access to food in legislation, policy, and crisis management.

• Seeking support from all Members of Parliament for Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers   Act,

• Addressing the ongoing supply chain disruptions and chronic labour shortages in the produce sector, and more.

“15.9% of Canadian households experienced food insecurity in 2021 as highlighted in a recent report by PROOF,” said Mario Masellis, CPMA chair. “This is, in part, a result of challenges impacting our supply chain. By acting on the industry’s proposed recommendations, the government will strengthen our food system, facilitate Canadians’ access to food, and enhance the produce industry’s competitiveness on a global scale.”

“The government can make food security a priority, by ensuring that policy and legislation are viewed through a food lens, to support a strong and financially viable produce industry. Everybody wins when Canadian growers are able to afford to run their businesses and provide a secure and stable source of nutritious food for Canadians,” said Jan VanderHout, FVGC president.

“Fall Harvest 2022 was a great opportunity to demonstrate to Parliamentarians the importance of legislation such as Bill C-280, which would ensure that growers get paid even in the event of a buyer bankruptcy,” he continued.

Among government representatives who attended Fall Harvest 2022 were the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; the Honourable Senator Rob Black, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and Kody Blois, Member of Parliament and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.