The fruit industry has adapted over time to work in Canada’s cold climate and its short growing season. Most fruit production remains in Southern Ontario and Southwestern British Colombia with an average 180 frost-free days, but native crops and some adapted crops are successful in Quebec and the Maritimes despite an average of only 120 frost-free days.
As fresh fruit makes up 80% of fruit consumption in Canada, the biggest competition for Canadian fruit producers comes from imports. Recent changes to the regulatory environment in Canada are helping make fruit producers more competitive. These changes now allow for regulatory synchronization with the U.S. so new products are reviewed at the same time on both sides of the border. This means that fruit use patterns are also evaluated in both countries, helping to identify new opportunities and bring Canadian growers access to more diversified crop protection options, all while maintaining the solid regulatory rigour needed for food safety.