The Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) partners with Numerator, a data and tech company, to provide quarterly consumer insights and trends in Ontario shopper behaviour by retail channel and category. Here are some key research findings from the 2024 first quarter Ontario Produce Shopper Snapshot:

·       Consumer financial concern remains high and 64% of consumers say rising gas prices are impacting their ability to afford other goods & services.

·       61% of Canadian shoppers feel as though the country is in an economic recession right now and 47% of Canadian shoppers are not comfortable with spending money at restaurants, bars, or food delivery service.

·       In Q1 2024, the average Ontario household made 25.7 trips for produce and spent $296.3 on produce.

·       The number of Ontario households buying produce in the mass channel increased by 0.4 PT and spending per trip increased by 1.5%.

·       The number of Ontario households buying produce in the club channel increased by 2.6 PT and spend per trip increased by 0.3%

·       11.0% more Ontario households purchased fresh pears. However, those who purchased spent 11.9% less on fresh pears per trip.

·       3.9% more Ontario households purchased fresh cucumbers. However, those who purchased spent 6.9% less on fresh cucumbers.

·       62% of Canadian consumers expect the economy will worsen in the next few months and 72% of Canadian consumers think inflation will increase in the next few months.

View the full report here and the complete fruit and vegetable score card here. 

Source:  Ontario Produce Marketing Association May 7, 2024 news release