By the time you read this, we’ll be through the first quarter of 2025. All I can say so far is what a ride it’s been. Things change literally on a daily basis, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest status and developments. 

A wave of patriotism usually reserved for major sporting events has swept our country. It has certainly elevated already popular ‘buy local’ programs and sentiments to new heights as consumers ask for Canadian products and businesses are pivoting – to resurrect a popular word from the last global crisis – to find new suppliers and keep up to the latest trade and tariff troubles. 

And while ‘buy local’ is great and lets people feel like they can take action, the cynic in me knows that it’s not enough. When it comes to our domestic fruit and vegetable production, we can’t eat our way out of this one. 

In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is generally our opportunity to do better – a better job supporting local food production, a better job investing in much needed infrastructure, and a better job enabling a business environment that will encourage growth and profitability for our growers. 

To be blunt, let’s not waste this crisis. 

Canada, and Ontario in particular, have always gone out of their way to support the auto industry. More recently, that’s taken the form of significant investments and accommodation for new battery plants. 

Granted, the auto sector is a major pillar of our provincial and national economy – but so is agriculture and we’ve never seen the same level of financial and other support extended to the farming sector, which is essential to our national security. Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes more than $50 billion to the provincial economy annually and supports 871,000, which is equivalent to 11 per cent of the provincial workforce. The Ontario fruit and vegetable sector is responsible for more than one third of Canada’s edible horticulture production, growing more than 125 different crops and generating more than $4.2 billion in economic activity every year.  

And yet, to cite one popular example, as a country we’ve sat on our hands for decades when it comes to removing important inter-provincial trade barriers that are keeping us from transporting and selling our own food and drink in all parts of our own country. It’s nice to see Canadian flags on the shelves at the grocery store, but efforts to support domestic food production must go deeper than that to have an impact. Here are five things that will make a difference: 

Make food production a priority. Governments at all levels should make major policy decisions through a lens of food production and consider how those decisions may impact agricultural production. 

Invest in infrastructure. Fruit and vegetable production happens outside of urban areas and many rural areas struggle with poorly maintained roads and bridges, lack of high-speed internet and reliable cellular coverage and outdated energy supply systems. We need to do better. 

Streamline red tape. To put it simply, it is nothing short of ridiculous how long it can take to secure financing, get a permit approved or have other critical decisions made by government, banks and others. All of this wastes time and money and hinders our competitiveness. 

Remove municipal barriers. Over the past few years, there has been a growing frustration with excessive fees and regulations on issues such as worker housing, storm water management, development charges, building permits, wastewater issues and more.

Stop squeezing suppliers. Retailers say they support local growers, but at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, we hear many instances of those same retailers refusing to pay more for the produce they buy even though grower production costs have gone up significantly. Growers have to be profitable to stay in business and that means being paid fairly for what they produce. 

We all have a role to play in enabling and supporting our local food system – and this is our opportunity for transformational change. Let’s not waste it. 

Alison Robertson is the executive director of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association.