Niagara farmers seeing economic boost as tariffs push Canadians to buy local

Niagara Region fruit and vegetable growers are seeing more Canadians buying local in response to increased economic attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump.

As this year’s peach crop is getting ready for harvest, local farmers are seeing more people buy Canadian.

Peaches growing at a Niagara orchard are about a week-and-a-half away from market.

Niagara fruit grower Dan DeVries from DeVries Farms said this could be one of the best crops on record.

“Our peach crop is amazing this year,” said DeVries. “In early spring, we had adequate moisture. It’s been very dry right now – it’s been very hot, but that’s added to the flavour.”

The bountiful crop is not all that’s having an impact on the farming economy.

One of the things making a difference for this year’s Niagara fruit crop is U.S. President Donald Trump.

Canadians are making a point of buying locally.

“Ontario peaches – I love ’em,” said one person near the farm. “Like, I actually look forward to it at this time of year.”

“I’m for Canada, so I buy as much Canadian as I can,” said another person that spoke with CHCH News.

“It means the world to me if I have somebody coming to support my business and the farm – it’s wonderful,” said DeVries.

DeVries said they know some people are struggling as tariffs hurt their businesses, but that fight over tariffs is boosting a new wave of “buy Canadian”.

“As far as tariffs go, at this time it is benefitting us because people buy local,” said DeVries. “They want to support local, they want to buy Canadian-made.”

Sylvain Charlebois, a food economist in Montréal says a study shows that some people would pay more to buy directly from the farm.

“It’s not just only to isolate the product itself, it’s the experience, the environment where it’s being purchased,” said Charlebois. “Older generations like Generation Xers and Boomers are willing to pay up to 10 to 15 per cent more for local options – if they’re given that option of course.”

DeVries said governments could be helping his industry more with things like buying Canadian for nutrition programs.

“The government is trying to navigate this as best they know how, but I think that they should mandate themselves that they should be buying Canadian, or buying from Ontario for all their procurements,” said DeVries.

While he said this year’s peaches may not be as big as past years’ due to the dry weather, he said they make for that in flavour.

WATCH MORE: From four farms to a Hamilton community tradition