Potato growers are being assisted through the development of a record of past production, identification and mapping of suitable lands and available water supplies, location of potato storage sheds and analysis of how water is currently delivered to the land. Although pesticide use in Canada is significantly lower than in many other countries, due in part to our northern climate, the trend is to use less pesticides and Canadian scientists are working hard to find alternate ways to control pests and diseases. To reduce pesticide use, more producers are using integrated pest management programs where pest populations are monitored and pesticides are precisely timed to be the most effective. The more that is known about a pest, the earlier it can be controlled. The discovery and management of natural predators are also used to control pests.
Fresh potatoes are the largest moving volume vegetable at retail.
In the last decade, the greenhouse industry has expanded greatly. The oil crisis in the 1970s forecasted demise of greenhouses because of high heating costs, but the industry adapted and in 1998 the greenhouse vegetable industry was worth 285 million dollars. Broccoli consumption has skyrocketed in the last decade. Cole crops and other vegetables are being studied in cancer prevention research and positive results are encouraging increased consumption. CFIA inspectors across Canada monitor operations and take random food samples for laboratory analysis from greenhouses and fresh vegetable establishments to verify compliance with grade standards and safety regulations.