Industry consolidation continues at the processing and retail levels to increase product services and reduce costs. Producers are then further challenged to continue to increase quality and continuity of supply while keeping costs to a minimum. Canadian horticulture producers are challenged to become internationally competitive as trade between countries becomes more liberalized. Tariffs for imports from Mexico will be fully phased out in 2004. Only a few Canadian retailers have an agreement with local suppliers.
Some questions regarding liability are still to be finalized.
In the US, large retailers are also testing containers with local suppliers.