Jan 31, 2022

Supply chain issues a concern for Canadian greenhouse vegetable growers

Ongoing supply chain issues are of significant concern for Ontario’s Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). With multiple factors coming together throughout the pandemic, food system issues around timing, availability and affordability are particularly acute in the fresh produce sector.

“We would ask governments on both sides of the border to examine and monitor for unintended consequences of policy decisions on key sectors such as fresh produce,” said George Gilvesy, Chair of OGVG. “Recent policy decisions on both sides of the border have exacerbated existing supply chain pressures.”

“Balancing essential services – such as food delivery – with important public health risks has been and will continue to be a challenge across North America”, said Joe Sbrocchi, Executive Director of OGVG. “However, food provisioning is a critical dependency of our society and we must all ensure we get the balance right.”

OGVG remains committed to actively working with all levels of government and key stakeholder to ensure public safety, limit supply problems, facilitate transport and help ensure that Canadians continue to have access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable food.

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) represents approximately 200 farmers responsible for over 3,200 acres of fresh, nutritious, greenhouse tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers across the province. With farmgate sales of over $1 billion in 2019, support for over 13,000 jobs, a contribution of $1.8 billion to the economy and a consistent track record of growth, the sector is a valuable economic driver for the province.