Treatment too tough on produce and its growers

Monday, September 21, 2009

by SUSAN MANN

An Ontario farmer had a tractor-trailer load of watermelon rejected by a buyer because not every piece of fruit had a sticker on it.

Truckloads of fruit and vegetable crops ready to be unloaded at a distribution centre sit for eight to 12 hours only to be rejected because the product’s core temperature is too high.

These are just two examples of marketplace abuse the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association plans to share with government. Association chair Brenda Lammens says the board recently agreed to document farmers’ stories and present them to the Ontario government later this year.

“We need our government to understand that these things are happening so when there are accolades going out about how well things are going with ‘buy local’ they know there’s a little bit of pain and suffering behind that,” Lammens says. There may be nothing, however, that the government can do about marketplace abuse, she adds.

Brent Ross, an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman, says the ministry hasn't been made aware of serious problems. Growers experiencing difficulties can contact their marketing board, association or an industry advisory committee such as the Ontario Produce Marketing Association.
 
Lammens says the Fruit and Vegetable Growers won’t reveal growers’ names because it doesn’t want to create difficulties for them with their buyers.

She says farmers are reluctant to talk about sales troubles because they’re afraid of being considered a marketing and grower failure. “I think that is so wrong because we need to talk about it,” she adds, noting the abuse has become very obvious within the last five years.

Growers are also afraid to complain to retailers about unfair treatment because they fear losing future orders.

Krista Pawley, spokesperson for the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, says retailer buying decisions are based on a variety of factors, such as food safety, reliability of quality, availability and price. “All things being equal, a purchase will be made from a local producer.”

About labeling, Pawley says Council members must always act in full compliance with regulatory requirements. The regulations apply equally to all suppliers – large and small, local and imported. BF