QUÉBEC Top issues for veg growers

The Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec (QPGA) has been busy this winter reports Catherine Lessard, deputy general manager, Québec Growers’ Association. She summarizes the current issues for the Québec vegetable sector.

Another outbreak of the virus?

The 2022 growing season in Québec was plagued by a major Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) outbreak. The virus was presumably spread by the large population of soybean aphids that has been moving from the United States with the hot air currents.

“We estimate that dozens of vegetable farmers have been impacted, in some cases losing all their crops,” says Lessard. “The presence of the virus in the weeds in surrounding fields could, if there is again a large population of aphids, cause a new outbreak for next season. The QPMA has been advocating for better risk management to alleviate the financial impacts of the outbreak.”

A regulation that causes problems

Since 2022, the fruit and vegetable washing systems on farms must be approved by the Québec government. To obtain the approval certificate, the water discharged into the environment has to meet standards that vary depending on the water stream. In some cases, it is technically very difficult and expensive, for the grower to comply. So far, most fruit and vegetable washing systems are operating illegally given the lack of compliance. The QPMA is asking for the regulation to be delayed until affordable solutions are available.

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