Latest news with #FoodBasics
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Niagara farmers pitted against grocery stores when it comes to pricing locally-grown fruit and vegetables
It has been an uneasy relationship between large grocery stores and Niagara farmers. While those such as Dan DeVries — who with his family, including brother Mark, operate Fenwick-based DeVries Fruit Farm — appreciate grocery stores selling local fruits and vegetables, they also must endure the competitive pricing they offer to customers. 'We need to have support from these big retailers because on an individual basis, we can't market this whole crop,' said DeVries. 'Retailers are good supporters of Ontario fruit when it is in season. But it is unfortunately quite often that local fruit becomes a gimmick to get people into the store.' During the popular strawberry season, DeVries Fruit Farm was offering strawberries in its retail store for $6.50 a pint or $12 for two. But Zehrs in St. Catharines was selling 340 grams of Canada greenhouse-grown strawberries for $5, while Food Basics was selling 454 grams of strawberries from California for $3.99. 'It's a market strategy (for large grocery stores),' said DeVries. 'They offer those prices as a loss-leader, and they make it up with customers buying other things.' Since the COVID-19 pandemic, DeVries said, he hasn't raised prices on many of the farm's fruits and vegetables. 'We have absorbed the costs.' Yet, he is forced to watch as his other expenses rise, such as for cardboard, gas, water, fertilizer and other items that go into getting fresh fruit to market. 'We are here to keep the prices fair and consistent,' said DeVries, whose operation was started in 1984 by his father as a hobby farm. Grocery stores have volume capacity to dictate a price, which can 'squeeze' farmers, he said. He said the family farm has always had a small retail outlet, but during the pandemic it expanded its store to offer other food-related items such as eggs and other locally-produced products, and added a bakery. A marketing bonus for local farmers has been the Canada and Ontario buy-local campaigns in the wake of the United States imposing tariffs on various Canadian products. And while DeVries welcomes the initiative, he said it's ironic it takes a pandemic and a trade dispute with the U.S., the nation's largest trading partner, to convince Canadians to buy local goods. 'It's essential to have locally-produced goods. The quality is better, and you support local businesses,' said DeVries. Across Ontario, buying local supports 871,000 jobs and contributes $51 billion to the provincial economy, more than the auto sector, said provincial officials. There are about 48,000 Ontario farms and 5,200 food processors and manufacturers. Findings of a survey by Dalhousie University's agri-food analytics lab, released in April, showed 60.8 per cent of Canadians are open to paying five to 10 per cent more for Canadian-grown produce, dairy or meat over U.S. alternatives. Sylvain Charlebois, the lab's senior director, said in an interview with Niagara This Week that large grocery stores know how to appeal to people's budgets. 'It helps bring people into their store and some grocers know that,' he said. 'To them (fruit on sale) is a loss-leader. Independent grocers, farmers market stands, they can't do that. Really, it's crazy. It's an absolute game.' Still, said Charlebois, as the Dalhousie study shows, Canadians want to buy locally-sourced products and are willing to pay for it. He has seen farmers sell strawberries and cherries at some Ontario farmers markets at competitive prices with grocery stores selling U.S. product. But really, he said, selling strawberries at $2.99 a pint or $3.99 for a 340-gram package does not cover the cost of producing the item. 'We are being spoiled,' he said. DeVries agreed locally-sourced fruits and vegetables found in grocery stores are not the real cost of what a farm invests in the item. Stephanie Bonk, communications manager for Metro and its discount Food Basics stores, said the company is committed to selling locally-sourced fruits and vegetables . She said during the last week of June, Metro had Ontario greenhouse-grown frooties strawberries (tiny) in a 340-gram container at $3.99, Ontario greenhouse-grown strawberries in a 340-gram container at $4.99 and field strawberries from Vineland at $3.99. 'We sell locally-sourced fruits and vegetables as much as possible,' Bonk said in an interview. 'It is something we have been doing for a while. It is not a new strategy.' Tashani Jaja, communications adviser for Sobeys, said in an email the grocery store is 'committed to prioritizing local strawberries and supporting our local growers.' 'However, during certain periods, demand can exceed the local supply,' forcing Sobeys to sell U.S. strawberries, Jaja said. Last week, Sobeys in St. Catharines was offering 454 grams of strawberries at $4.99, but it didn't state online whether the berries were from Ontario or the U.S. Loblaw, which owns Zehrs, did not respond to a request for comment about its marketing of locally-sourced fruits and vegetables. A Walmart official said a response would be provided in a few days, but none was received. DeVries said his 40-hectare family farm grows a variety of tree fruit, including apples, peaches, plums, pears, strawberries and cherries, that helps him avoid market downturns. 'For some of the big growers who are completely dependent on the chain store system, it can be tough,' he said. As a lineup of people now grows at the farm's retail checkout stations, DeVries said he promotes the buy-local campaign, as does the Ontario government. 'The more we can support each other, the better,' said DeVries. 'As farmers, we need the community's support. I want to be here as a family business and support my community when the tough times come along.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Ottawa Citizen
04-07-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Today's letters: Carney shouldn't have caved on digital services tax
Carney shouldn't have played possum Article content Article content I voted Liberal for the first time because Mark Carney said that he would stand up to Donald Trump. Instead, he has laid down and played possum. Article content This will not do, Mark. You cannot negotiate with a bully; strong action is required. Bring back the tax you just rescinded and double the amount to be paid. Ask Premier Doug Ford to pull the plug on hydro to the neighouring states. Article content Article content Detroit and other cities are the main auto manufacturers in the States purchasing our hydro; without that they cannot manufacture anything. Thousands may be laid off, and companies closed, just as has happened to Canada. Article content We have to show this bully that he cannot run the world like he did in his television show as he seems to think. He is not King of the World who can just ruin a lot of smaller countries with his bullying tactics. He has to be stopped and brought to reason. Act now and save Canada and all the other countries affected by his actions. Article content A BIG Thank You!! Article content While shopping at Food Basics in the Herongate Mall last Tuesday, I had a 'moment.' My wife paid for the groceries and, as we were placing our groceries in the car, I noticed my wallet was missing. We checked all through the car: no wallet. So, with heavy hearts, we went back into the store while considering all the work replacing those items in my wallet would require. Article content Article content As my wife walked the aisles, I approached the lady at customer service to see if anyone had turned one in. I really didn't have much hope. However, she said someone had done so. She asked my name and for a description of the wallet. These I provided. She produced my wallet.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
In Your Community: London Food Bank
London Watch CTV London's Reta Ismail is at Food Basics to talk with Jane Roy about the London Cares Curb Hunger Campaign.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
In Your Community: Food Basics
London Watch CTV London's Julie Atchison was at the grand opening of the city's newest Food Basics.
CTV News
01-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Ottawa Public Health confirms first cases of measles since 2019, lists possible exposure sites
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting the city's first confirmed cases of measles since 2019. In a news release Thursday, OPH said the cases affect an adult and a child, both of whom are believed to have acquired the infection while travelling internationally. OPH did not say where they had travelled. OPH says individuals who visited the following locations on the dates and times below may have been exposed to the measles virus: Food Basics located at 1021 Cyrville Rd., Ottawa, Ont. on Monday April 21, 2025, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Costco located at 1405 Blair Towers Pl. (near Ogilvie Road), Ottawa, Ont. on Wednesday April 23, 2025, between 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. 'This public service announcement is for those who we are unable to reach directly or for whom no contact information is available. At this time, the risk to the general population remains low,' OPH said. Anyone who attended the listed locations at the specified times is asked to monitor for symptoms of measles, even if vaccinated, for 21 days—until May 12 for the Food Basics exposure or May 14 for the Costco exposure. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and red watery eyes that may be sensitive to light. OPH says a few days after symptoms begin, a red rash usually develops that starts on the face and spreads down the body to the arms and legs. This rash usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms generally last from one to two weeks. 'If you develop symptoms, call your health care provider and notify them of your recent measles exposure. This will help to protect others and allow health care providers to prepare for your visit. If possible, wear a medical grade mask to the appointment. This applies to any medical facility, including your local emergency department,' OPH says. 'If you do not have a health care provider, please visit Health811 or call 8-1-1 to connect with a registered nurse for free, secure and confidential health advice. Service is available 24/7 and available in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages.' 'Please note that this investigation is ongoing; new locations, dates and times may be added, modified or removed as the investigation continues,' OPH says. Ongoing updates will be posted at . OPH has set up a phone line at 613-580-6744 that will operate based on call volume from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. OPH urging vaccination Measles is highly contagious, but preventable with vaccination. OPH is urging everyone to check their vaccination records for measles-containing vaccines to ensure they are protected. The measles vaccine is typically noted as 'MMR', 'MMRV' or 'M' on records. 'The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of a person who is infected and can be spread through the air (from breathing, coughing, or sneezing); and can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours,' OPH says. Ontario is currently in the grip of a major measles outbreak, with more than 1,000 cases reported across the province. Public Health Ontario says the geographic spread in recent weeks is due to 'continued exposures and transmission among individuals who have not been immunized.' All adults born in or after 1970 in Ontario can receive two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine through a healthcare provider. Adults born before 1970 are generally presumed to have natural immunity to measles and may not require vaccination if considered to be low risk of exposure. A one time dose of MMR vaccine is publicly funded (no cost) for this age group through a healthcare provider. Children in Ontario are expected to receive two doses of a measles vaccine before the age of 7, as part of routine vaccinations, but many children have fallen behind on routine immunizations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children without the required vaccines to attend school could be suspended under Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act. OPH said in mid-April that the number of 7-year-olds missing one or more required vaccinations has gone from 70 per cent to 24 per cent this school year and the number of 17-year-olds without the vaccines required to attend school has gone from 59 per cent to 34 per cent. Family doctors and walk-in clinics offer vaccines, OPH says. Call ahead of your visit to make sure that the vaccine is available. Families of children and youth facing barriers to immunization can visit an OPH clinic offering routine childhood vaccination.
