Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Fruit and vegetable growers counter critics


The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Canada says its farmers are not responsible for food inflation.


In fact, their executive director said their costs have risen to sharply and high that some are losing money.


Rebecca Lee, executive director of FVGC, issued a statement saying “we have seen increased costs for almost all of the inputs required to grow and sell fruits and vegetables, and growers are feeling the pinch. 


“In recent conversations with some of our members, they have reported that many members are losing money and unable to reinvest in their business this year.”


Growers experienced a nitrogen fertilizer increase of 121 per cent this May compared with last year and a doubling of the cost of diesel fuel.


Her comments come in the context of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture launching an investigation into rising food prices and the House of Commons voting to have the Competition Bureau investigate.


The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Canada is likely only the first of many agriculture commodity organizations that will deny responsibility for rising food prices.