According to Sun-Brite Foods—the Canadian owned and operated producer of brands such as Unico and Primo and the 50th largest tomato processor by tonnage in the world—U.S.-led and CAD reciprocal tariffs, will lead to increased food prices for everyday Canadians, despite this produce being grown by Canadian farmers. The company has operated since 1973. 

Canadians should be aware of an expected increase in cost on Canadian-grown food – canned food products, anywhere from $0.25 to $0.40 per can. 

The federal government’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on American-made aluminum and steel cans represents a threat to our nation’s food sovereignty, security and economy, leaving everyday Canadians to pay the price says John Iacobelli, CEO and owner, Sun-Brite Foods, based in Ruthven, Ontario.  

There are currently no Canadian-based manufacturers able to produce the cans required by Canadian food processors. Forced to rely on American supplied cans, the cost of canned food products will significantly increase due to 25 per cent tariffs slapped on all raw steel and aluminum entering the U.S. This, combined with the Canadian government's 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on aluminum cans coming back to Canada, will further drive up manufacturer’s input costs which will ultimately be passed onto consumers. 

“We expect reciprocal tariffs to negatively impact our collective ability to prioritize Canadian-made goods against U.S.-made competitors on grocery store shelves over the coming months,” he says. “Grocery prices are already expected to reach unprecedented heights in 2025; Canadians can’t afford to have their government contributing to even higher prices on the shelves. Sun-Brite is taking extraordinary steps to mitigate these costs but without support from the federal government to remove reciprocal tariffs or expedite approval for remission of tariffs, Canadian families will suffer.” 

“As a proudly Canadian company producing brands such as Unico and Primo and the largest tomato processor in Canada, we believe the government must fight Donald Trump’s unjustified trade war, but Canadians cannot be asked to sacrifice putting food on the table. Reciprocal tariffs affecting food products will disproportionately affect low-income Canadians and make life more unaffordable for all of us.”

Source:  Sun-Brite Farms April 7, 2025 news release