Canadian Stores Promoting 'Fresh From Florida' Fruits, Veggies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced a new promotional campaign to increase Florida agriculture’s presence in Canada.

“Canada has long been a great trade partner with us, and we want to see that continue to expand,” Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said. “We continue to see growth in international exports of ‘Fresh From Florida’ products, proving that there is nothing better than what we grow right here in Florida.”

Currently, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working with 1,824 stores in three Canadian provinces to promote “Fresh From Florida” products. These promotions help support a variety of commodities and have built a strong export relationship with Canada, the state’s largest export partner. Tomatoes, sweet corn, grapefruit, strawberries, blueberries and orange juice have all been sampled in more than 200 Sobeys supermarkets this year featuring uniquely crafted “Fresh From Florida” recipes.

International retail promotions with Canadian grocers also have been an ongoing priority, resulting in more than 26,900 retail store ads during the past year. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with five Florida companies at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Trade Show in Montreal this month to foster the ongoing trade relations between Florida and Canada.

Recent successes with trade in Canada include:

  • Canada received $917 million (22 percent) of Florida agricultural exports.
  • Canada received $243 million (61 percent) of Florida’s fresh fruit exports and $232 million (77 percent) of Florida’s fresh vegetable exports.
  • There was an 18 percent increase in the value of oranges exported to Canada in 2014.
  • The value of peaches exported to Canada increased 192 percent.

Currently, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “Fresh From Florida” program partners with more than 12,000 retailers in 65 countries around the globe. Florida’s $4.2 billion in agricultural exports last year generated a total economic impact of more than $13 billion and supported more than 109,000 jobs. Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact of more than $120 billion and supports 2 million jobs.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services