According to Statistics Canada, fewer fresh fruits and vegetables were available to Canadians in 2022. The most important causes were the ongoing supply chain issues, labor shortages and price increases. The amount of available fresh fruit declined by more than five per cent in 2022 from the previous year, to 72.9 kilograms per person. Even though there was a 12.7 per cent increase in domestic fruit production, it was not enough to keep up with an increase in exports and a decrease in imports.
The availability of fresh vegetables -- excluding potatoes -- was 64.7 kilograms per person in 2022, a decrease of nearly six per cent from 2021. Just like with fruits, Canada's vegetable production increases in 2022 were not enough to keep up with a rise in exports and a drop in imports, StatCan says.
Source: ctvnews.ca