Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It's nice to see a lot of old friends in the room.
My name is George Gilvesy, and as chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, I'd like to express my appreciation for the opportunity to address you today.
Many people are surprised to learn that Canadian farmers are a dominant force in the North American fresh produce industry. This dominance extends from eastern Canada down to the southern U.S.A., principally east of the Mississippi, but Ontario greenhouse vegetable products can be found in all the lower 48 states.
Last year, Ontario greenhouse vegetable farmers exported 247 million kilograms, totalling $652 million, a 63% increase in value over the past five years. To put this into context, this month we expect to send the equivalent of 2,000 tractor-trailer loads of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers across the border to the United States. This produce was grown in over 2,700 acres of hydroponic greenhouses, primarily located in southwestern Ontario, and reflects a surging expansion in our production capacity.
For the month of May we estimate that our greenhouse vegetable farmers will be harvesting a full truckload every 10 minutes. Each acre of greenhouse that is constructed represents at least a three-quarter to a million-dollar investment that replaces 10 to 20 acres of open-field production. Last year our farmers constructed an additional 150 acres of greenhouses, and this is a decade-long trend that shows no signs of slowing down. In the last five years, Mr. Chairman, our members have spent the equivalent of a new automobile factory in the province of Ontario. I think that's an outstanding number by individual entrepreneurs for us to recognize.
Our growers and marketers are extremely innovative and aggressive, an attribute necessary to effectively manage this growing production volume. We've developed new products, packaging, and customers throughout North America, and effectively compete within the produce industry's open trade environment. The ongoing construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is key to maintaining time-sensitive access to this vital fresh market.
The key objective of the OGVG is to diversify its export market beyond North America. We are in support of trade, in particular to the pan-Pacific region, and our world-class food safety traceability and production systems allow us to provide a unique and desired product in new markets accessible through trade agreements like the TPP.
Access to new markets alone, however, is not sufficient. The federal government can help our greenhouse farmers extend the North American dominance in new international markets by providing resources and expertise to help develop these opportunities. Of particular importance, we support the government's efforts to quickly lower phytosanitary regulatory trade barriers from Canadian fresh vegetables. Providing access is the first step towards developing new markets. The perishable nature of fresh produce also requires investing in resources and personnel in destination countries to ensure operational barriers to entry, such as inspection delays and clearances, do not impede our ability to provide these markets with the high-quality product they expect. Unlike other agriculture commodities, our product cannot sit in customs for a week while paperwork is being evaluated or inspection tests are performed.
Canadian fresh produce will remain excluded from Asian markets unless we can negotiate and enforce rapid clearance into destination markets. Greenhouse cucumbers, as an example, are not like canola oil or frozen pork. Every minute counts, and having the trade personnel and agreements necessary to enable rapid clearance is absolutely vital.
Accessible trade tools such as the Brand Canada initiative are a necessity when developing and maintaining new markets. OGVG strongly encourages the federal government to ensure that our local and international trade staff have the resources and support necessary to help us effectively market Canadian products internationally.
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers advocate for fair trade in all markets, domestic and international, both existing and proposed. Ontario greenhouse farmers need the right trade processes supported by the right trade remedies to maintain market discipline and give our producers the chance to succeed.
Open access to new markets, as well as continued maintenance of existing markets, is vital to the future of greenhouse vegetable farmers. Part of this initiative must be a resolution to current trade irritants, which dangerously expose our farmers to market access risks. So while it's very good to pursue these new market agreements, we have to make sure that we're maintaining the ones we've got.
One example of a current trade irritant—