The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) are eager to continue to work with the Government of Canada to find new opportunities for growth in the fruit and vegetable sector after the release of the new federal budget.

“FVGC has long advocated that food security cannot be taken for granted, and we’re pleased to see that reflected in the budget,” said Stephen Heckbert, FVGC’s executive director. “At a time when rising costs, trade disruptions, extreme weather, pests, and disease are straining growers, today’s budget provides more of the tools, programs, and policies needed to continue feeding Canadians.”

In September, FVGC together with the Canadian Potato Council (FVGC’s national potato working group) presented a pre-budget submission to Finance proposing five recommendations in the 2026 federal budget:

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• -  Embed a food lens in all federal government decision-making;
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• -  Provide timely access to effective crop protection tools;
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• -  Modernize Business Risk Management (BRM) programs to include mitigation measures;
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• -  Maintain CUSMA and treat perishable fruit and vegetable products as a distinct priority during trade disruptions, and
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• -  Protect labour stability for fruit and vegetable production.

“For Canada to maintain a resilient, competitive, and sustainable fresh produce sector, all government policy decisions must be made through a food lens,” said Heckbert. “The focus and scope of today’s budget reflects moves in that direction.”

FVGC was pleased to see some measures in place to improve competitiveness, such as the Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Competitiveness and Red Tape Reduction, The Whole-of-Government Competition Plan, and the plan to Strengthen Competition Bureau investigations.

FVGC looks forward to further reviewing the details of the federal budget and its implementation plans, working with the Government of Canada to ensure all new policies lead to practical, measurable improvements for growers, improvements that protect health, safety, and the environment while also recognizing the realities of Canadian fruit and vegetable production.

As the voice of the Canadian fruit and vegetable industry, FVGC will continue to advocate on behalf of its growers to secure the future of Canadian fruit and vegetable production and safeguard food security for all Canadians.  

Source: Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada November 6, 2026 news release