Fruit and vegetable farm-gate sales in Canada fall 1% year-over-year to C$2.9B in 2023, largely due to lower fruit sales, Statistics Canada says; harvested area falls 2.3% to 186,003 hectares

OTTAWA , February 20, 2024 (press release) –

Fruit and vegetable farm-gate sales fell by 1.0% from 2022 to $2.9 billion in 2023, largely because of lower fruit sales (-4.1%), which offset an increase in vegetable sales (+1.8%). Harvested area decreased by 2.3% to 186 003 hectares in 2023.

Nationally, total fruit and vegetable production decreased by 4.1% to 3.1 billion kilograms in 2023, as fruit production declined by 8.1%. While Western Canada's dry conditions led to reduced yields compared with the previous year, parts of Eastern Canada experienced good yields because of adequate moisture and warm temperatures. However, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces may have been affected by above-average precipitation.

Chart 1 
Farm-gate value of fruits and vegetables

Inclement weather in many provinces hampers total production and sales fruits and vegetables

At the national level, fruit sales fell 4.1% from 2022 to $1.3 billion in 2023. This decrease was driven by lower sales of lowbush blueberries (-32.8%), cranberries (-22.0%) and blackberries (-10.1%). Quebec (-$56.4 million) accounted for the largest decline in fruit sales, followed by New Brunswick (-$30.5 million) and British Columbia (-$8.9 million).

Total fruit sales were down in New Brunswick (-44.0%), Nova Scotia (-17.4%) and Prince Edward Island (-15.5%) in 2023. Among other factors, a combination of low production and declining prices meant wild blueberry sales fell in New Brunswick (-58.8%) and Nova Scotia (-27.8%).

Fruit growers in British Columbia were challenged by difficult growing conditions, such as untimely frost and extreme heat. As a result, fruit sales fell 1.9% to $457.0 million in 2023 on account of lower yields. Yields declined for Labrusca grapes (-27.9%), vinifera grapes (-23.1%) and highbush blueberries (-16.1%).

In Ontario, favourable weather conditions contributed to above-average yields for fruits. Fruit sales rose by 17.0% to $411.3 million in 2023, a result of higher farm-gate prices and production compared with 2022. Sales of the province's three largest fruit crops—grapes (+43.0%), peaches (+10.4%) and apples (+4.8%)—all increased.

At the national level, apple production dropped by 3.7% to 368.5 million kilograms in 2023, in part because of production losses in British Columbia (-14.2%), Quebec (-6.0%) and New Brunswick (-5.1%). In contrast, sales rose by 2.9% at the national level to $293.2 million, driven by higher farm-gate prices.

In 2023, total vegetable production declined by 2.5% to 2.2 billion kilograms compared with 2022. Ontario accounted for 58.9% of the total vegetable production in 2023, followed by Quebec (30.1%) and British Columbia (3.1%).

A cold, wet season affects vegetable producers in Quebec

Quebec accounts for nearly one-third of all fruits and vegetables produced in Canada. Total vegetable production in Quebec fell by 9.2% to 675.3 million kilograms in 2023. The decrease was driven by lower harvested area (-6.9% to 35 021 hectares). Production declines were reported for all main vegetables produced in the province, including cabbage (-13.4%), carrots (-7.8%) and dry onions (-7.7%).

Fruit production in the province declined because of reduced yields (-19.1%) and smaller harvested area (-2.1%). Following a record harvest in 2022, cranberry production fell by 39.2%, with yields down 35.9% in 2023, primarily caused by excessive moisture, which led to water stress on the plants (link in French only).

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