The Canadian greenhouse vegetable sector, now posting about $2.7 billion in sales as of 2025, is realigning its advocacy efforts under a new umbrella group: Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada.
Until now, greenhouse growers from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Québec met as a working group under the auspices of Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada. Dynamic growth of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector and its unique requirements for energy, research and trade have sharpened lobbying needs at the federal level. In the last year, exports of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers have increased by 8.5 per cent to reach $2.5 billion. Crops have diversified with growth in strawberries up 8.1 per cent lettuce up 8 per cent in area. At the same time, expenditures are rising, particularly in gross yearly payroll.
“We need more focus on consistent messaging on Parliament Hill,” explains Richard Lee, executive director, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). “The carbon tax was a big challenge for us. Moving forward, it’s reminding politicians about sustainable growing practices and how important we are to domestic food security.”
Lee expects that the new organization will dedicate funding to research initiatives through the University of Windsor AgUWin program. These research projects will aim to strengthen innovation, sustainability and productivity across Canada’s entire greenhouse vegetable sector, ensuring that the benefits of this work extend to growers nationwide. That’s where researchers are focusing on projects such as autonomous pollination robots and real-time pest detection.
By April 2026, it’s expected that the new non-profit organization will be formalized. The alliance will be funded by each of the provincial greenhouse associations by a formula yet to be announced.
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