Canada's reliance on food imports has been steadily increasing in recent years. In 2022, Canada imported around 80% of its fresh fruits and vegetables between November and June due to its climate[1][2]. The country is the 6th largest importer of agri-food and seafood products globally, with imports reaching Can$52.1 billion in 2019[1].
Canada's top food imports include fresh fruits like bananas, apples, and grapes, as well as vegetables like lettuce, onions, and tomatoes, primarily sourced from the U.S., Mexico, and Latin American countries[2][4]. This growing dependence on imported foods highlights the need for Canada to diversify its food supply and explore ways to boost domestic production to enhance food security.
Citations:
[1] https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/sector/data-reports/canadas-food-security-dependencies
[2] https://bestfoodimporters.com/blog/food-importers/food-importers-and-food-import-trends-in-canada-2020/
[3] https://www.freshplaza.com/north-america/article/9642443/canada-s-reliance-on-food-imports-is-increasing/
[4] https://www.foodexport.org/export-insights/market-country-profiles/canada/
[5] https://tradingeconomics.com/canada/food-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports-wb-data.html