How far did your food travel to you today? (2020)

Summary

This video explores the global journey of produce sold in Canadian supermarkets, highlighting how the country’s limited domestic production struggles to meet growing demand. It examines various fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, onions, bananas, avocados, and pineapples, revealing their far-flung origins, including countries in South America, Asia, and Europe. The video emphasizes the environmental and economic costs of food transportation and advocates for increased local farming through innovative greenhouse technology to meet the demand for fresh, Canadian-grown produce.

Takeaways

• 😀 The supply of fruits and vegetables in Canada has decreased due to the decline in Canadian farms, despite a growing population and increasing demand for produce.
• 😀 Canada’s fruit and vegetable farms decreased from 8,329 in 2006 to 7,845 in 2016, indicating a trend of declining domestic agricultural production.
• 😀 While Canada still produces some of its own produce, a significant portion is imported from other countries to meet consumer demand.
• 😀 Common produce items like tomatoes and onions are imported from multiple countries, including the USA, Belgium, Mexico, and China.
• 😀 The demand for sweet onions in Canada exceeds the supply, resulting in imports from countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador.
• 😀 Bananas are primarily imported from South and Central America, with countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador being major suppliers.
• 😀 While Canada does produce some garlic, the majority of it comes from China, where price drives the importation despite concerns over pesticide use.
• 😀 Avocados have the most varied origins among produce items, with 26 countries listed as sources, including Mexico, Israel, South Africa, and the USA.
• 😀 Canada does not grow pineapples commercially, so these are primarily imported from Costa Rica, which leads the world in pineapple exports.
• 😀 Oranges, traditionally associated with Florida, are also imported from Brazil, China, and other countries due to Canada's limited citrus production.
• 😀 The logistics of transporting produce from far distances contribute to high costs, environmental impact, and food wastage, leading to a call for more local production to reduce reliance on global supply chains.

Q & A

Why has the number of Canadian fruit and vegetable farms decreased in the last decade?

The number of Canadian fruit and vegetable farms has decreased due to a variety of factors, including the growing population and the increase in produce consumption, which has outpaced farm production capabilities.

What is the trend regarding the production of fruit and vegetables in Canada?

In Canada, the trend has been a decrease in the number of fruit farms and the area dedicated to vegetable farming, while the demand for produce continues to rise due to population growth.

Where do the majority of tomatoes in Canadian supermarkets come from during the winter months?

During the winter, most tomatoes in Canadian supermarkets come from the USA, although they can also be sourced from countries like Belgium, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, among others.

Why do Canadian supermarkets import sweet onions from various countries despite Canada growing some?

Canada cannot keep up with the demand for sweet onions, which is why supermarkets import them from countries like Brazil, China, Mexico, and others to meet consumer needs.

Which countries are the primary suppliers of bananas to Canadian supermarkets?

Bananas sold in Canada primarily come from countries in South and Central America, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Puerto Rico.

What is the main concern regarding garlic imports from China?

The main concern with garlic imports from China is the difference in pesticide and herbicide regulations, as China does not have the same laws as Canada, leading to concerns over what may have been sprayed on the garlic.

Why are avocados in Canada sourced from so many different countries?

Avocados in Canada are sourced from a variety of countries due to the high demand for them and the inability of Canadian greenhouse operations to meet this demand. Countries like Mexico, Chile, and Israel are among the primary sources.

Why are pineapples imported from Costa Rica to Canada?

Pineapples are imported from Costa Rica because they do not grow in Canada due to the climate. Costa Rica is a major pineapple exporter, and large corporations like Del Monte and Dole control most of the market.

Where do most fresh oranges in Canada come from?

While Florida is famous for its oranges, a significant portion of the fresh oranges sold in Canada also come from Brazil, which is the world's leading producer of oranges.

What is the impact of food transportation on Canadian supermarkets and consumers?

The transportation of food over long distances to Canadian supermarkets leads to high costs due to refrigeration, energy use, and waste from perishable items going bad during transit. Consumers end up paying for these inefficiencies at the cash register.

What opportunity exists in the Canadian produce market for entrepreneurs?

There is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to invest in commercial greenhouse technology capable of growing produce year-round, especially in harsh Canadian winters. This could meet local demand for fresh produce and reduce reliance on imports.