Food availability, 2022
Released: 2023-05-31
In 2022, some food industry sectors in Canada, such as fresh produce and poultry, experienced record production. However, some sectors exported more food internationally in 2022 than in 2021. In addition, the food industry was affected by supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as shipping delays, product and labour shortages, and price increases.
The food availability series includes data on the annual supply and disposition of food in Canada, as well as per capita estimates of the amounts of food available to Canadians.
Availability of fresh fruit declines, while availability of processed fruit increases
From 2021 to 2022, the amount of fresh fruit (including citrus) available declined by 5.1% to 72.9 kilograms per person. A 12.7% increase in production was not enough to keep pace with an increase in exports (+16.8%) and manufacturing (+13.2%) and a decrease in imports (-3.6%). The total amount of processed fruit available per person in 2022 increased by 4.9% from the previous year to 17.1 kilograms of fresh fruit equivalent.
Availability of both fresh and processed vegetables continue to decline
In 2022, the availability of fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes) was 64.7 kilograms per person, a decrease of 5.9% from 2021. While fresh vegetable production increased 3.9% in 2022, imports declined 7.5% and exports rose 7.8%. Similarly, the availability of processed vegetables (35.0 kilograms of fresh equivalent per person) decreased by 3.2% from 2021.
Chart 1
Availability of fresh fruit and vegetables
Poultry leads meat availability, while red meats rebound
From 2021 to 2022, total poultry availability increased by 1.5% to 25.5 kilograms (boneless weight) per person. Poultry exports were down 11.0% from 2021.
Red meat availability increased by 4.3% in 2022, compared with 2021, to 32.4 kilograms (boneless weight) per person. Beef availability led the way in 2022, at 15.5 kilograms (boneless weight) per person (+2.9% from 2021), as cattle slaughter increased from 2021. Pork availability in 2022 was 14.7 kilograms (boneless weight) per person (+6.6% from 2021), as exports declined by 5.1% from 2021.
Chart 2
Availability of selected meat in boneless weights
Egg production and availability continue to rise
From 2021 to 2022, egg availability increased by 0.6% to 21.5 dozens per person, as egg production increased for the 18th straight year.
Declines in availability of milk, cream and cheese in 2022
The availability of total milk decreased by 3.9% in 2022, compared with 2021, to 58.6 litres per person. This was primarily caused by a drop in production of one percent milk and two percent milk.
Total cheese availability decreased 1.4% to 14.2 kilograms per person from 2021 to 2022. The amount of total cheese available in Canada increased by 0.4% from 2021 but was outpaced by Canadian population growth.
Total cream availability declined 0.9% to 9.6 litres per person in 2022, compared with 2021, despite a 0.9% increase in production.
Wheat flour availability increases in 2022, as crops recover from drought conditions
Availability of wheat flour increased by 2.0% to 59.2 kilograms per person in 2022, compared with 2021. This gain was driven by improved growing conditions across Western Canada, which yielded a 4.1% increase in wheat flour production, compared with 2021.
Note to readers
Food availability is a measure of the amount of food that is physically present in a country for consumption, not demand nor the amount of food that is consumed.
Total poultry includes chicken, turkey and stewing hens.
Total cream includes table cream, sour cream, whipping cream and cereal cream.
Data on food availability per person for select products and on the supply and disposition of these products are now available for 2022.
Data presented in this release are compiled from a wide variety of sources, both survey and administrative, from within Statistics Canada, as well as from other sources, including provincial and federal government departments, growers' associations, and marketing boards.
The food availability data series is the result of a partnership between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Statistics Canada.
For the latest information on the Census of Agriculture, visit the Census of Agriculture portal.
For more information on agriculture and food, visit the Agriculture and food statistics portal.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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