Ontario Food Terminal (OFT) is easily Toronto’s vegetable
and fruit hub. This hub is strategically adjacent to the 401 on the
south-eastern rim of the city. It is a contemporary marketplace pulling buyers
and sellers of fresh produce, which provides the city and province with a
yearlong supply of fruits and vegetables. Every day it receives fresh produce
from all over the world, which is then distributed nationwide.
The terminal is strictly a wholesale market and it has every
facility to handle efficient operations. OFT is thorough in its operations,
strictly observing health and safety procedures at all times. Regular
inspections are carried out to make sure safe foods arrive at the market. All
the sanitary measures and correct temperatures are maintained to preserve the
fresh produce. Records of every consignment sold and received are also well
kept. Some of the wholesalers have integrated backwards or/and forwards in the
supply chain and have diversified their businesses. For instance, some have
their own farms, storage, processing and packing facilities including
transportation logistics, outside the terminal.
OFT is home to many large-scale fruit and vegetable
importers as well as local suppliers. There are 21 large-scale warehouse
tenants and 50 office tenants who are engaged in the wholesale of fresh
vegetables and fruits. The average daily volume of fresh produce traded in this
facility is about 5.1 million pounds per day. The average imported produce at
the OFT varies from 65-75%, where local produce varies from 25-35% yearly. In
summer months, there is a rise in the traded volume of local produce.
OFT is compromised of two major sections, the warehouse and
the farmers market. The warehouse includes tenants who are registered
wholesalers that import and source locally. The farmers’ market on the other hand houses Ontario
farmers, who sell their produce to retailers. Wholesalers operate year round
selling large quantities of fresh produce, whilst the farmers market is open in
the spring, summer and early part of fall. The local produce sold at the market
mainly comes from Ontario and Quebec.
The farmers market is just as outfitted as the wholesale
tenants. However, selling imported produce is a serious offence. There are more
than 550 spaces allotted to farmers based on lease agreements. Currently there
about 400 farmers registered at the OFT farmers market.
Retailers, the buyers at the OFT, provide a critical role in
the foods market by bridging the gap between farmers, wholesalers and
consumers. There are more than 5000 registered local buyers at OFT, which
include supermarket chains and ethnic stores all over Canada, but mainly in
Ontario. Buyers are provided with the opportunity to see and compare both local
and imported vegetables and fruits before the purchase of any produce. OFT is opened for 24 hours to the
registered buyers, it is not opened to general public, because of the large volumes
traded.
Most of the fruits and vegetables, including ECV imported to
Canada, are from the United States, largely California, and Central and South
America. Nations such as Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guatemala and
Colombia, contribute the bulk of Latin Americas produce. There are also products from Europe and
Asia and even as far as New Zealand. The sourcing process depends on the
availability, cost and demand in the global as well as local economy.
During the last two decades there has been an increasing
trend of more ECV in the OFT. According to a senior officer, changes in the
demographic makeup of the GTA could be seen through the produce available and
the buyers at OFT. In earlier years, Italian traders were the anomaly but as
time passed they became the norm. As other cultures such as the Chinese,
Korean, Iraqis, and South Asian integrates into the GTA landscape, there seems
to be a need for ECV at the OFT.
According to the senior manager, local ECV growers sell
their produce at the farmers market, in a special section called the “Chinese
row”. Farmers have the opportunity to sell and compete with imported ECV
produce in terms of price and quality. These Ontario growers have the advantage
of proximity to market. Most of
the farmer’s that sell at the OFT are medium/large-scale farmers with
experience and haggling is also allowed at the farmers market.
Similarly buyers have the freedom to choose their suppliers.
Competition remains the highest in the summer time, which is the peak supply
season. During spring, flowers and planting materials are also sold. Products
vary from one season to the next. On any given day, farmers from different
ethnic backgrounds can be observed, carefully negotiating, selecting and
ordering produce, to cater to a growing nation rich in ethnic and cultural
diversity.
By Steven Gitu & Yasantha Nawaratne