The Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) report an increase of 8.3 per cent in produce sales growth, compared to 5.2 per cent in 2019.
Citrus, Asian and Indian vegetables such as garlic, ginger and turmeric lead the way in growth in 2020 in Ontario retail produce.
Vegetables had an 11 per cent increase in sales, which could be because of more at-home cooking during the pandemic, according to OPMA.
“The findings of this report indicate increased grocery spend on fresh produce,” says Michelle Broom, president of OPMA. “Whether it’s being driven by a desire to build immune defenses in the face of a pandemic, or wanting to experiment with different flavor profiles, Ontario consumers are spending more time than ever in the produce aisle.”
