Latest news with #Canadian-grown
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Fact File: No truth to online claims of dramatic drop in potato exports to U.S.
Canadian-produced potatoes are displayed for sale at a grocery store in Aylmer, Que., on Thursday, May 26, 2022. The United States is the largest market for Canadian-grown potatoes, and remains so, despite online claims of slashed exports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick skp flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
Toronto Star
06-08-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Mistakes happen, but consumers have good reason to be outraged when U.S. produce is presented under a Canadian flag
Since January, Canadians have been expressing outrage at Donald Trump's suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state by boycotting American products, especially in grocery stores. Canadian-grown hydroponic lettuce and Mexican tomatoes have replaced California strawberries on the shopping list. At first, savvy shoppers (like me) donned reading glasses and read the fine print on a label, looking for that golden word, Canada. Then, as time wore on, grocery store chains such as Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro began putting up signage directing us to made in Canada or product of Canada items. It made shopping Canadian a lot easier — or so I thought.
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Niagara farmers pitted against grocery stores when it comes to pricing locally-grown fruit and vegetables
It has been an uneasy relationship between large grocery stores and Niagara farmers. While those such as Dan DeVries — who with his family, including brother Mark, operate Fenwick-based DeVries Fruit Farm — appreciate grocery stores selling local fruits and vegetables, they also must endure the competitive pricing they offer to customers. 'We need to have support from these big retailers because on an individual basis, we can't market this whole crop,' said DeVries. 'Retailers are good supporters of Ontario fruit when it is in season. But it is unfortunately quite often that local fruit becomes a gimmick to get people into the store.' During the popular strawberry season, DeVries Fruit Farm was offering strawberries in its retail store for $6.50 a pint or $12 for two. But Zehrs in St. Catharines was selling 340 grams of Canada greenhouse-grown strawberries for $5, while Food Basics was selling 454 grams of strawberries from California for $3.99. 'It's a market strategy (for large grocery stores),' said DeVries. 'They offer those prices as a loss-leader, and they make it up with customers buying other things.' Since the COVID-19 pandemic, DeVries said, he hasn't raised prices on many of the farm's fruits and vegetables. 'We have absorbed the costs.' Yet, he is forced to watch as his other expenses rise, such as for cardboard, gas, water, fertilizer and other items that go into getting fresh fruit to market. 'We are here to keep the prices fair and consistent,' said DeVries, whose operation was started in 1984 by his father as a hobby farm. Grocery stores have volume capacity to dictate a price, which can 'squeeze' farmers, he said. He said the family farm has always had a small retail outlet, but during the pandemic it expanded its store to offer other food-related items such as eggs and other locally-produced products, and added a bakery. A marketing bonus for local farmers has been the Canada and Ontario buy-local campaigns in the wake of the United States imposing tariffs on various Canadian products. And while DeVries welcomes the initiative, he said it's ironic it takes a pandemic and a trade dispute with the U.S., the nation's largest trading partner, to convince Canadians to buy local goods. 'It's essential to have locally-produced goods. The quality is better, and you support local businesses,' said DeVries. Across Ontario, buying local supports 871,000 jobs and contributes $51 billion to the provincial economy, more than the auto sector, said provincial officials. There are about 48,000 Ontario farms and 5,200 food processors and manufacturers. Findings of a survey by Dalhousie University's agri-food analytics lab, released in April, showed 60.8 per cent of Canadians are open to paying five to 10 per cent more for Canadian-grown produce, dairy or meat over U.S. alternatives. Sylvain Charlebois, the lab's senior director, said in an interview with Niagara This Week that large grocery stores know how to appeal to people's budgets. 'It helps bring people into their store and some grocers know that,' he said. 'To them (fruit on sale) is a loss-leader. Independent grocers, farmers market stands, they can't do that. Really, it's crazy. It's an absolute game.' Still, said Charlebois, as the Dalhousie study shows, Canadians want to buy locally-sourced products and are willing to pay for it. He has seen farmers sell strawberries and cherries at some Ontario farmers markets at competitive prices with grocery stores selling U.S. product. But really, he said, selling strawberries at $2.99 a pint or $3.99 for a 340-gram package does not cover the cost of producing the item. 'We are being spoiled,' he said. DeVries agreed locally-sourced fruits and vegetables found in grocery stores are not the real cost of what a farm invests in the item. Stephanie Bonk, communications manager for Metro and its discount Food Basics stores, said the company is committed to selling locally-sourced fruits and vegetables . She said during the last week of June, Metro had Ontario greenhouse-grown frooties strawberries (tiny) in a 340-gram container at $3.99, Ontario greenhouse-grown strawberries in a 340-gram container at $4.99 and field strawberries from Vineland at $3.99. 'We sell locally-sourced fruits and vegetables as much as possible,' Bonk said in an interview. 'It is something we have been doing for a while. It is not a new strategy.' Tashani Jaja, communications adviser for Sobeys, said in an email the grocery store is 'committed to prioritizing local strawberries and supporting our local growers.' 'However, during certain periods, demand can exceed the local supply,' forcing Sobeys to sell U.S. strawberries, Jaja said. Last week, Sobeys in St. Catharines was offering 454 grams of strawberries at $4.99, but it didn't state online whether the berries were from Ontario or the U.S. Loblaw, which owns Zehrs, did not respond to a request for comment about its marketing of locally-sourced fruits and vegetables. A Walmart official said a response would be provided in a few days, but none was received. DeVries said his 40-hectare family farm grows a variety of tree fruit, including apples, peaches, plums, pears, strawberries and cherries, that helps him avoid market downturns. 'For some of the big growers who are completely dependent on the chain store system, it can be tough,' he said. As a lineup of people now grows at the farm's retail checkout stations, DeVries said he promotes the buy-local campaign, as does the Ontario government. 'The more we can support each other, the better,' said DeVries. 'As farmers, we need the community's support. I want to be here as a family business and support my community when the tough times come along.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Sun
15-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
CHARLEBOIS: Summer is here, strawberries are, too ... but so are the scams
When Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables reach the market — typically from June to October — prices in this category become much more stable. (Scott Suchman, for the Washington Post) Photo by Scott Suchman; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky / Both for The Washington Post When Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables reach the market — typically from June to October — prices in this category become much more stable. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Historically, during this window, price fluctuations are roughly half as volatile as they are during the rest of the year. The reason is straightforward: seasonal abundance and shorter supply chains anchored in domestic production. However, spotting real seasonal deals has become more difficult. Many fruits and vegetables are now available year-round due to imports, blurring the lines of traditional harvest calendars. Still, our food culture and consumer instincts remain tied to seasonal cues. Strawberries, for instance, are a symbolic summer staple — even if other crops ripen before them, strawberries often serve as nature's announcement that summer has officially begun. Unfortunately, every year, some retailers exploit that sentiment. Just recently, strawberries were listed at $17.50 for two litres — over $11 per pound. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's excessive. And in today's social media landscape, a single viral post can tarnish an entire industry's reputation. If a price seems exorbitant, don't stay silent — denounce it and bring it to light online. Transparency is a powerful consumer tool, and digital platforms can hold retailers accountable. Recommended video Canada's fresh produce season runs mainly from June through October, peaking between mid-July and mid-September. Reasonable in-season price benchmarks include: — strawberries (June–July): $2.99–$3.99/lb — blueberries (July–August): $2.49–$3.49/lb — apples (August–November): $0.99–$1.49/lb — B.C. cherries (July–August): $3.99–$5.99/lb — tomatoes (July–September): $1.29–$2.49/lb This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. — sweet corn (August–September): $0.50–$0.75/ear — cucumbers (June–September): $0.79–$1.29 each — carrots (July–October): $0.69–$0.99/lb — new potatoes (July–September): $0.99–$1.29/lb Prices can vary depending on where you shop — whether it's a supermarket, farmers' market, or farm gate — and also by quality, size, growing method (organic or conventional), and timing within the season. For the best deals, public markets — especially near closing time — and discount grocery chains are often your best bet. Shopping local in summer means fresher, more flavourful food and a lower grocery bill. By contrast, buying out-of-season produce — like strawberries in January or corn in March — can cost two to three times more, with a much larger environmental footprint. In short, summer has arrived. Let's take advantage of Canada's fresh harvests, but let's stay alert. Retailer price abuse doesn't belong in this season — and in today's digital age, ignoring consumer backlash isn't just naive, it's reckless. If something feels off, say something. Social media doesn't take summers off. — Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast Sports Editorial Cartoons Relationships Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LILLEY: Liberals lied on the carbon tax, according to Statistics Canada data
When the House of Commons was last sitting in December — some five months ago — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre raised the issue of the carbon tax and inflation. Then Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau called Poilievre's statements 'absolute nonsense' and dismissed the idea that the carbon tax and inflation were connected. It's what they had been doing since introducing the consumer carbon tax in 2018. They really wanted you to believe that increasing the cost of everything with a tax on carbon wouldn't raise prices and that you would be better off. 'The price decrease in April was mainly driven by the removal of the consumer carbon price,' Statistics Canada announced Tuesday morning, while reporting inflation fell from 2.3% in March to 1.7% in April. The agency noted that the fall in crude oil prices also played a role but put most of the inflation drop on the carbon tax rate being reduced to zero. Despite claims otherwise, the carbon tax remains in place, they just don't charge it on the consumer side, though the Carney government says they will introduce legislation to remove it. 'Eight out of 10 Canadians are better off with the Canada carbon rebate than the price on pollution costs them,' Trudeau was fond of telling the House of Commons. Of course, he ignored several reports, including from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, that when the total cumulative effect of the carbon tax was taken into account, most families were paying more – far more – than they did without the tax, even when accounting for rebates. So, too, did the Liberals ignore the compounding impact of a carbon price being added to supply chains when it came to the final price. They wanted you to ignore that the greenhouse tomato grown in Manotick or Leamington would have a carbon tax added on for the natural gas released into the greenhouse even though that CO2 was absorbed by the plants to allow them to grow. The Liberals wanted you to ignore that the truck that would pick up the tomato and take them to the wholesaler would pay the carbon tax on the gas used to transport them, as would the truck taking them to the store. Retailers selling you that tomato would be paying the carbon tax on the lighting, the heating for their stores, and the refrigeration for their products. At every turn, every step of the economic process, that Canadian-grown tomato would face an incremental and compounded carbon tax, but the Liberals denied it. You know what didn't have a carbon tax applied to it, a tomato from California or Mexico. Sadly, despite using food as the example here, food inflation didn't drop in April and instead rose from a 3.2% increase in March to 3.8% last month. Canadian food inflation is higher than that of the United States, but the Liberals want you to ignore that, just like they wanted you to ignore the inflationary aspects of the carbon tax and simply believe that everything is great. Fresh vegetables are up 3.7% year-to-year; eggs, up 3.9%; fresh fruits, up 5%; and meat products, up 5.8% — though beef is up 16.5% compared to a year ago. Like with the carbon tax, we can expect the new Carney Liberal government will try to tell us that we've never had it so good. Sure, their policies are one of the major reasons that food inflation is nearly double the current American rate, but Canada is doing just great, elbows up and all. The Statistics Canada data proves one thing: the Liberal claim that their carbon tax wasn't making your life more expensive was never true, and neither were the rest of their carbon tax claims. LILLEY: Carney cleans up a Bubbly mess from his cabinet LILLEY: Why Carney needs to appoint a Conservative to Washington
