Canadian produce advocates celebrate latest passage of financial protections bill

Three Canadian produce advocacy groups — the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada and the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation — are celebrating recent progress for the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, which received the support of all political parties at a third reading in the House of Commons, according to a news release.

Bill C-280, sponsored by Member of Parliament Scot Davidson, aims to establish a deemed trust, a vital financial protection mechanism for fresh produce sellers in Canada. This mechanism seeks to help secure payment in the event of buyer bankruptcy, providing stability and support to the industry while safeguarding Canadian food security, said the release.

"After a long road to get here, the passage of Bill C-280 in the House of Commons with all-party support is a critical milestone in ensuring the stability and financial security of the fruit and vegetable sector," CPMA President Ron Lemaire said in the release. "We are grateful to all Members of Parliament for their support of the bill, and greatly appreciative of the efforts of MP Davidson in moving this legislation forward."

The perishable nature of fresh produce, coupled with the industry’s typically longer payment terms, leave sellers unable to recover losses when faced with buyer bankruptcy. The case of Lakeside Produce in Leamington, Ontario, earlier this year serves as a reminder of the urgent need for a financial protection tool to safeguard the fruit and vegetable sector, according to the release.

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"Particularly now, when Canadians are increasingly concerned about the cost of food, it is so important for the government to take action to strengthen food security in Canada,” FVGC President Jan VanderHout said in the release. “The positive impact of Bill C-280 on the fresh produce industry cannot be overstated. The establishment of a deemed trust for all fresh produce sellers will help to ensure that they can continue to support local economies across the country and to provide Canadians with our safe, nutritious fruit and vegetable products.”

Bill C-280 will now be referred to the Canadian Senate for debate and votes. The CPMA, FVGC and DRC are calling on all senators to recognize the positive impact that the bill can have on the fruit and vegetable sector and to prioritize the passage of this important legislation, the release said.

“The fresh produce sector has been working towards the establishment of an effective financial protection mechanism for many years,” DRC President and CEO Luc Mougeot said in the release. “We are hopeful that the Senate will build on the momentum of the cross-party support we’ve seen in the House of Commons and move swiftly to pass Bill C-280 into law.”