Fruit and vegetable production

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Sales of fruits and vegetables by Canadian farmers declined 2.4% from 2009 to $1.4 billion in 2010.

The vegetable industry, which represented 53.9% of total fruit and vegetable sales, accounted for over half of the annual decline.

Vegetable growers reported sales amounting to $769 million, down 2.4% from 2009, while fruit sales declined 2.2% to $659 million.

Lower demand for vegetables from the processing market was almost entirely responsible for the drop in sales. This was especially the case for tomatoes, where sales fell by 21.3%, green peas (-41.9%) and cucumbers (-31.5%).

Most of the decline in fruit sales occurred in apples (-18.3%) and cranberries (-21.6%). However, blueberry sales rose 43.0%, partly because producers received better processing prices in 2010.

Farmers in two provinces (Ontario and Quebec) accounted for more than 80% of vegetable sales. The vast majority of fruit sales came from three provinces: British Columbia (41.9%), Ontario (28.8%) and Quebec (16.5%).

Farmers planted 530,723 acres in fruits and vegetables, down 4.9% from 2009. Vegetable area fell by 4.0%, with green peas responsible for the largest drop (-59.0%), followed by sweet corn (-15.4%). The main factor was a reduction in contracts for the processing market.

Production of fruits and vegetables fell 6.5%, with three crops accounted for most of the decline: apples (-38.0%), tomatoes (-16.0%) and sweet corn (-10.7%). On the other hand, production of carrots rose 11.5%, while production of peppers was up 9.6%.

Farmers planted 281,962 acres in fruit in 2010, down 5.8% from 2009. Blueberries accounted for 56.0% of this acreage, followed by apples at 15.9% and vinifera grapes at just under 10%. Except for sour cherries, nectarines and other fruit, which showed some increases, almost all fruit crops had less planted area.

Available on CANSIM: tables 001-0009 and 001-0013.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3407 and 3411.

The February 2011 issue of Fruit and Vegetable Production, Vol. 79, no. 2 (22-003-X, free), which is published twice a year in June and February, is now available. From the Key resource module of our website choose Publications.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Willa Peters-Langlois (613-951-5830; willa.peters-langlois@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.