CPMA Welcomes Important Commitments to Fresh Produce Sector in National Food Security Strategy; Ron Lemaire Comments

OTTAWA, ON - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) welcomed the release of the federal government’s National Food Security Strategy, which includes several important commitments in support of the Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain.

CPMA President, Ron Lemaire, and Senior Director of Government Relations and Industry Technology, Shannon Sommerauer, were pleased to join Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald at the Ontario Food Terminal for the announcement of the Strategy, which includes significant measures to:

• Enhance year-round production in Canada through support for greenhouses, hydroponics, and other controlled environment agriculture to improve efficiency.
• Strengthen food security across the country by helping farmers and producers adopt the latest technologies, research and expertise to boost productivity.
• Invest in critical food security infrastructure through regional food hubs, and partner with the Government of Ontario to fund the Ontario Food Terminal, which has been a key proposal from CPMA over the past year.
• Build a stronger, more self-sufficient food supply chain by partnering with trusted allies, increasing domestic food production capacity, and reducing regulatory barriers to competitiveness—another longstanding ask of the fresh produce industry.

“The commitments announced by the federal government today represent the highest investment in the fresh produce sector in recent history,” said Lemaire in the recent release. “The National Food Security Strategy will help fuel a sector that is not only a significant economic engine but is also critical to the health and well-being of Canadians.”

The measures announced under the Strategy strongly reflect recommendations made by CPMA in its advocacy efforts, including most recently at its inaugural Fresh Future Conference, held earlier this week in Ottawa.

“In this time of trade and geopolitical volatility, it has never been more important for the government to prioritize agriculture and food production as strategic cornerstone of our Build Canada strategy,” said Lemaire. “CPMA is proud to support the National Food Security Strategy and looks forward to working with the government on its implementation.”