Tired of trade war trauma? Looking at cross-border statistics – what’s coming in and what’s shipping out – helps to better understand market uncertainty regarding Canadian horticultural commodities. At least that seems to be the story for Ontario asparagus and Maritime wild blueberries.
Ontario grows most of Canada’s asparagus, with Québec not too far behind and that’s more than enough to go around. In fact, historically, about 65 per cent of Ontario’s crop gets exported to the U.S.
Statistics reveal that Ontario asparagus acreage has declined in the last five years to 3,300 harvested acres, a right-sizing to match consumer demand. Thanks to the University of Guelph’s breeding efforts, their rust-resistant, high-yielding Millennium asparagus has dominated the market in recent years. Its story points to the very real benefits of researcher and grower cooperation, and highlights the necessity for ongoing trials to deliver next-generation genetic improvements. Such innovative progress cannot be left to the whim of trade winds.
As news of the U.S. trade war broke, growers began to worry that tariffs might impact asparagus sales to the U.S. this spring, but as Marc Wall notes, exports to the east coast of the U.S. are booming.
“Export markets are very strong; we can’t keep up with orders going across the line. We are very thankful for the CUSMA trade deal. There is no question, American buyers want Canadian-grown products,” says Wall, chief operations officer, Sandy Shore Farms Limited, Port Burwell, Ontario.
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