BC grape farmers report surplus amid influx of US imports
(Image courtesy of CBC)
As Canada and the United States continue to navigate negotiations for a new trade deal — with no shortage of ups and downs — some grape growers in British Columbia are reporting excess supply, forcing many to leave produce on the shelf even as the province continues to import grapes from the US.
In an interview with CBC News, grower Amarjeet Gill said he has talked to “over 50 wineries” a day to buy his grapes, and many of his colleagues report having similar issues. Gill also reported facing financial difficulties. "I’m very scared," Gill said. “How do I pay the payment for my farm? The bank pressure is too much for us.”
While some say this is due to market conditions and nothing more, others say the reason for this situation is the provincial government’s vintage replacement program. The program, rolled out in 2024, eased import procedures for wine grapes from the US and beyond. This was done to address the reported shortage due to the cold snap that impacted the region and damaged numerous vineyards and crops. However, with farmers in the Okanagan reporting a good year for produce and recent Canada-US tensions, the program's relevance is being questioned.
Canadian reliance on US grapes
Historically, Canada has reliably imported grapes from the US. In 2023, of the $551 million worth of grapes Canada imported, $200 million came from the US, the highest amount from any country. The list was followed by Peru, Mexico, Chile, and South Africa, respectively. Canada, meanwhile, exported $34 million worth of grapes to the US.
Information retrieved from the World Bank. Figures are expressed in millions ($).
Agriculture-related food issues remain a major topic for US President Donald Trump, who earlier this year used Truth Social to criticize Canada’s protection of its supply-managed dairy industry.
BC farmers continue to struggle
These reports further match the damp financial picture for BC farmers. Farmers reported a loss of $456.9 million in net farm income in 2024 and haven’t turned a profit since 2017. Reasons given for this have been the pandemic, the 2021 floods that severely affected the region, and inconsistent weather, leading to underwhelming crop growth.
(Courtesy of CBC/ Statistics Canada)
BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham has pledged to get rid of the vintage replacement program next year.
