High hopes for passage of C-280 financial protection bill

The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) appeared September 26 before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, to advocate for the quick passage of Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Growers Act.

FVGC was joined by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC). 

If adopted, the Bill - which has been 39 years in the making - will provide long-awaited financial protection for Canadian growers, who are currently left vulnerable when buyers go bankrupt.

The presentation, delivered by FVGC executive director Massimo Bergamini and board member Quinton Woods, emphasized that current insolvency laws are inadequate for the fresh produce sector, where perishable products and longer payment terms create significant financial risks for growers. They cited the 2023 bankruptcy of Lakeside Produce as a stark example. This bankruptcy left many growers without payments for their produce, creating significant financial instability.