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Every year, Canada exports more than 24 billion dollars worth of agriculture and food products to more than 180 countries around the world.

Exports represent about one-half of all agricultural production, either in terms of direct sale or an input into a product which is eventually exported.

Canada exported $941.5 million in distilled spirits, beer and wine in 2002.

From 1992 to 2002, the value of confectionery and snack food shipments from Canada has grown from $1.4 billion to 3 billion and $900 million to $1.7 billion respectively.

Each year, 6.8 billion eggs are produced in Canada by more than 25 million laying hens. The value of egg product exports was $30.7 million in 2001.

Canada is the world's 6th largest fish and seafood exporter, exporting more than 75 per cent of its fish and seafood production to more than 80 countries. Total exports reached a record $4.7 billion in 2002.

In 2002, the value of all Canadian fruit, including apples, tree fruit and berries, amounted to $517 million.

The berry sector accounted for the largest percentage of Canadian fruit in 2002 with 54.5% of the overall fruit category, followed by apples with 31.2%, and tree fruits with 14.1%.

Nearly 30 per cent of the food products Canada exported in 2002 were grains, oilseeds and related products, with an estimated value of $7.6 billion.

The production of grains and oilseeds reached 50.5 million tonnes in 2002-2003.

Canada is among the top five producers of organic grains and oilseeds, with 5 per cent of Canadian grain farms reporting themselves as organic.

Canadian agriculture scientists' work on value-added processing has led to the recovery of many important sugars, organic acids and pharmaceuticals from grains including antibacterial compounds, antihistamines, antioxidants, steroids, vitamin E and anti-cancer agents.

Canada makes 85 per cent of the world's maple syrup, producing almost 35,000 tonnes valued at $164 million in 2002. Quebec leads Canadian production of maple syrup with 32,495 tonnes and sales estimated at $147 million.

The potato is the most valuable vegetable crop in Canada, accounting for 63% of all vegetable farm cash receipts or $952 million in 2002.

An estimated nine out of every ten bites of food available to people across the world begins with the planting of seeds. The Canadian seed industry generates $700 million in combined domestic and export sales every year.

Nearly three quarters of the seeds produced in Canada are used for domestic purposes.

For more information on the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry, see Factsheets: Canada's Agriculture, Food and Beverage Industry .

Date Modified: 2003-03-03		Important Notices
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