Rising grocery prices are not benefiting Ontario Greenhouse vegetable growers

As consumers across Canada continue to face rising grocery costs, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) are addressing a growing misconception: that higher retail prices are translating into increased profits for farmers.

In fact, recent industry data shows that greenhouse growers of Ontario’s greenhouses producing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers have experienced a three per cent to six per cent decline in returns compared to the five-year average, even as production costs continue to rise sharply.

“Consumers are understandably concerned about the cost of food,” said Richard Lee, executive director, OGVG. “However, it is important to clarify that the price increases seen at the retail level are not reflected in what growers are receiving. The perception that farmers are benefiting is not accurate. In many cases, growers are receiving less today than they did several years ago, despite significantly higher costs to produce food.”