Good afternoon, everybody.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the impacts of climate change on Canada's horticultural sector.
The Canadian Horticultural Council, or CHC, is a national association that represents fruit and vegetable growers across Canada involved in the production of over 120 different types of crops on over 27,500 farms, with farm cash receipts of $6 billion in 2016. For almost 100 years, CHC has advocated on important issues that impact Canada's horticultural sector, promoting the continued success of our industry as it delivers healthy, safe, and sustainable food to Canadians.
The horticultural sector stands behind the federal government's goal in budget 2017 to increase agrifood exports to $75 billion by 2025. However, producers face many challenges, including environmental challenges and competition from countries with laxer regulations or regulations not based on science. The federal government can help address these challenges by recognizing all kinds of agricultural fuels in its national carbon policy and by supporting additional research and innovation in the horticultural sector.