Canada’s fruit and vegetable production soared in 2022 — so why was supply tight? – National | 24CA News
Statistics Canada says fewer contemporary fruits and greens have been obtainable to Canadians in 2022, because of components resembling ongoing provide chain points, labour shortages and worth will increase.
StatCan says the quantity of accessible contemporary fruit declined by greater than 5 per cent in 2022 from the earlier yr, to 72.9 kilograms per individual.
Even although there was a 12.7 per cent enhance in home fruit manufacturing, it was not sufficient to maintain up with a rise in exports and a lower in imports, the company says in a report launched as we speak.
The availability of contemporary greens _ excluding potatoes _ was 64.7 kilograms per individual in 2022, a lower of almost six per cent from 2021.
Just like with fruits, Canada’s vegetable manufacturing will increase in 2022 weren’t sufficient to maintain up with an increase in exports and a drop in imports, StatCan says.
The company says some Canadian meals trade sectors skilled file manufacturing in 2022, but additionally exported extra meals internationally than the earlier yr.
It says the complete trade was affected by pandemic-related provide chain points, resembling delivery delays and shortages of labour and merchandise.
StatCan additionally cites worth will increase as one of many components. Extreme climate, the battle in Ukraine and power prices severely impacted world meals costs final yr.
Food inflation was stubbornly excessive in Canada in 2022, outpacing general inflation. Grocery costs have been up 9.8 per cent in 2022 in contrast with 2021, the quickest tempo since 1981.
StatCan’s newest report says the quantity of milk obtainable to Canadians additionally decreased by almost 4 per cent in 2022, in comparison with the earlier yr.
StatCan says that was primarily brought on by a drop in manufacturing of 1 per cent milk and two per cent milk.
In distinction, crimson meat availability elevated by 4.3 per cent in 2022, led by beef as cattle slaughter elevated from the earlier yr. The quantity of poultry obtainable to Canadians elevated by 1.5 per cent.
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