Montreal, August 19 – The president of the Association des producteurs de fraises et de framboises du Québec says that imported strawberries and raspberries from Mexico and the United States are limiting the presence of locally grown fruit on Quebec grocery shelves this summer.
Josiane Cormier, who leads the provincial berry growers association, alleges that the influx of foreign berries creates unfair competition for Quebec producers. She points to a noticeable decline in the number of home‑grown strawberries and raspberries displayed in supermarkets across the province during the 2026 summer season.
Local growers have reported a surge of imported small fruits appearing alongside, and often replacing, Quebec produce. The association notes that the increased volume of Mexican and U.S. berries coincides with a reduction in shelf space for domestic harvests, which they say threatens the market share of Quebec farms.
The situation, according to Cormier, reflects a broader shift in supply dynamics as retailers respond to the availability and pricing of foreign berries. While the association has not provided specific sales figures, the observation of fewer local berries on store aisles forms the basis of its claim of unfair competition.
The association’s statement comes amid a summer in which Quebec consumers have been encountering a higher proportion of imported strawberries and raspberries. The growers group urges attention to the impact of these imports on the province’s agricultural sector, emphasizing the need for a level playing field for domestic producers.