Canadian Export Changes

Canadian Export Changes. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has made some modifications in their export programs that may affect NW fruit growers. Dan Dempster is President of the CPMA and says there some issues that are happening right now.

DEMPSTER: There’s a new Product of Canada provision which has been in effect and really the impact on the fresh fruit shipping into Canada won’t be that significant since it’s been in existence for many years. There is some implications relative to French on PLU stickers. It’s really sort of a side issue in the sense that U.S. retailers are asking for country of origin on the PLU stickers on fruit and some of those things they might request something like Product of Canada or Product of Washington and the reality is if that goes into the Providence of Quebec it has to be translated.

Many are already adding the “Product of” stickers. Another issue according to Dempster is regarding food safety.

DEMPSTER: The government is focusing more of its attention and energy on food safety. It’s very parallel to what you see is evolving in the United States so as the inspectors are out there looking for food safety; unlike your country, our Canadian food inspection agency have responsibility for more than just food safety they also have plant health – they also have other labeling and things they need to look at when they’re out doing their inspections.

Those inspectors often find other violations. More tomorrow.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.