Industry Overview

• A Definition
• A Snapshot
• Who to Contact
• Hungry for More

Minimally processed fruit and vegetables are ready-to-eat, raw fruits and vegetables that have been peeled, sliced, chopped or shredded prior to being packaged for sale.

A Definition

Minimally processed fruit and vegetables are ready-to-eat, raw fruits and vegetables that have been peeled, sliced, chopped or shredded prior to being packaged for sale.

Packaging includes single serving containers, larger consumer or institutional size packages and bulk containers.

What’s the difference between minimally processed fruit and vegetables and fresh-cut?

There isn’t one. Canadians use minimally processed. Americans prefer fresh-cut.

A Snapshot

There are more fresh-cut fruits and vegetables available in grocery stores than ever before. And thanks to advances in processing and packaging technology, our industry is able to meet the voracious needs of time-starved consumers.

As a result, the produce industry is one of the strongest agri-food sectors today.

• In 2003, retail sales in the U.S. approached $4 billion, up 8 percent from 2002
• 76 percent of U.S. households buy fresh-cut produce at least once a month
• Fresh-cut salad sales in the U.S. grow at a nearly double-digit pace
• According to the National Post, sales of bagged salads in Canada grew 21 percent to $166 million in one year
   

Many of today’s processors evolved into the fresh-cut business from their beginnings as growers and packers. In Ontario, the industry continues to grow:

• There are approximately 60 fresh cut processors in Ontario employing between 2,000 and 3,000 people
• To provide year round supply, Ontario processors import about 80 percent of their produce
• Of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables processed in Ontario, a little less than half go to domestic markets. The remainder is exported to the northeastern U.S. In addition:

• 60 percent go to the food service industry
• 30 percent go to retail
• 10 percent go for further processing

Who to Contact

To find out more about the fresh-cut industry in Ontario, contact OMAFRA’s Food Industry Competitiveness Branch (FICB).

E-mail: invest@omafra.gov.on.ca
Telephone: 519-826-4190 or toll free in Ontario, 1-888-466-2372, ext 6-4190

Officers in their Investment Development Unit provide advice on investment issues including:

• accessing capital
• developing research and training partnerships
• developing business relationships

Officers in their Client Account Unit can guide you to the most helpful programs and services and introduce you to contacts within government. Helga McDonald is the specialist in minimally processed fresh fruit and vegetables.

Helga McDonald

E-mail:
helga.mcdonald@omafra.gov.on.ca
Telephone: 519.826.3711, toll-free in Canada 1.888.466.2372

Hungry for More

A great jumping-off point for information on agriculture, training, marketing, research, government and world trade is OMAFRA’s Food Link page.

For a wealth of fast facts and business figures on our industry, read The Ontario Food Industry brochure.