For fruit and vegetable growers, the conversation around food security is not new. We live it every day through rising input costs, unpredictable weather, changing markets, labour challenges and growing competition from imported products produced under different cost and regulatory structures.

That is why the federal government’s recent announcement of a National Food Security Strategy is both timely and welcome.

Recognizing food security as a national priority reflects the importance of Canada’s food system at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, trade disruption and ongoing concerns about food affordability. Our ability to produce food here at home is not only an agricultural or economic issue; it is also increasingly important to Canada’s resilience and national security.

As the strategy moves from announcement to implementation, it will be important to consider the entire food chain — and to recognize that it starts at the farm. Processing, transportation, distribution, retail and consumer access are all essential parts of a strong food system, but none of them can function without farmers who are able to invest in producing food. 

For many fruit and vegetable growers, that’s becoming more and more challenging. Costs for fuel, fertilizer, labour, transportation, packaging and other essential inputs have risen significantly. At the same time, many growers are seeing little or no increase in the prices they receive for their crops compared to years past, even as consumers are paying more for food at the store.

A recent study released by Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers highlighted the growing disconnect between retail food prices and farm-level returns. Although the study focused on greenhouse vegetables, its findings reflect concerns growers across the broader fruit and vegetable sector have been raising for some time.

Our internal analysis shows diesel prices have increased by approximately 53 per cent year over year, while fertilizer costs have risen between 20 and 30 per cent, adding significant pressure on farm profitability. 

That means growers are absorbing higher costs while operating in a marketplace where they have limited ability to pass those increases along. As well, they are facing additional fees from buyers, longer payment timelines and pricing arrangements that commit to pricing before they know what production costs or crop yields will be.

Unlike many other businesses, farms cannot simply pause production when costs rise or adjust prices overnight. That’s because crops must be planted, cared for and harvested well in advance of when a harvest will make it to market. 

These pressures are compounded by a growing competitiveness gap. We compete directly with imports from jurisdictions with lower labour costs, different regulatory requirements and significant government support for specialty crop production. The United States, for example, recently announced a $1.6-billion support program for specialty crop producers, following $2.65 billion provided to the sector in 2025.

As growers in Canada, we understand that we operate in a global marketplace, but we need a business environment that gives farms a reasonable opportunity to compete and continue investing in production.

That’s why farm competitiveness must be a central part of the National Food Security Strategy.

Government policy has a significant influence on the environment in which farms operate. More responsive business risk management programs can help growers manage increasing weather, production and market risks. Investments in research, innovation and productivity can help farms adapt and adopt new technologies.

Reliable seasonal labour programs must continue to reflect the realities of fruit and vegetable production. Regulatory modernization can reduce unnecessary costs and administrative burden while maintaining Canada’s strong health and environmental protections. Fair and transparent supply chain practices are also important, so growers have an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on the investment and risk involved in producing food.

Many of these changes do not require entirely new programs. Existing policies and programs can be modified so they better reflect the realities facing growers and support investment and competitiveness.

Food security is not only about whether food is available today. It also depends on whether the farms producing that food remain economically viable and have the confidence to make investments so that food – and what’s needed to produce it – will be available in the future.

As work on the National Food Security Strategy moves forward, primary production must remain a central part of the discussion. A strong food supply chain depends on strong farms, and long-term food security depends on growers being able to continue producing food here at home.