FVGC Executive Director Highlights Tariff Concerns at Canada-U.S. Economic Summit

Feb 14, 2025

OTTAWA – Massimo Bergamini, Executive Director of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC), participated in the Prime Minister’s Canada-U.S. Economic Summit today in Toronto.

“Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector is deeply integrated with the U.S. market, ensuring year-round access to fresh, high-quality produce on both sides of the border,” said Bergamini. “A stable and predictable trade environment is critical to food security, economic resilience, and the viability of Canadian farms.

He joined more than 150 Canadian leaders in trade, business, and public policy along with the Prime Minister and several members of his cabinet to discuss strengthening economic ties between Canada and the United States while addressing key trade and competitiveness issues.

Bergamini highlighted the potential risks posed by proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports, noting that such measures could disrupt supply chains, increase costs, and threaten food affordability. In 2023, Canada exported $40 billion worth of food and agricultural products to the U.S., with fruit and vegetable growers accounting for $4.4 billion of that total. The greenhouse vegetable sector, which exports approximately 75% of its production to the U.S., would be particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions.

“Our growers need better tools to withstand these risks, including enhanced business risk management programs that reflect the realities of perishable crop production,” Bergamini emphasized. “Current support mechanisms, such as AgriStability and AgriInsurance, do not adequately cover revenue losses or account for the rapid response needed when markets shift overnight. Without stronger safeguards, the entire food system—farmers, retailers, and Canadian consumers—will face increased uncertainty and higher costs.”

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.