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The DRC welcomes ten new members in September 2023!

We are pleased to announce that between September 1st and September 30th, 2023, the DRC welcomed a total of 10 new members:

A-1 BAGS & SUPPLIES INC. (Also d/b/a A-1 Cash And Carry) | ON, Canada
BTRUST SUPERMARKET (A d/b/a of 2202693 Ontario Inc.) | ON, Canada
CITRUS MOGADOR SARL (Faisant également affaire sous Citrus M | Oulet Nemma, Morocco
DIAMANT COMPANY (A d/b/a of Peter Wambui) | ON, Canada
ENGEE AND JAYS LTD. (Also d/b/a Engee) | ON, Canada
MANGOSTEEN (A d/b/a of 12297825 Canada Inc.) | ON, Canada
MARCHÉ MOKOLO (Faisant également affaire sous 11540467 Canada Inc.) | QC, Canada
PRODUCE PACKAGING INC. | OH, United States
T. E. PRODUCE IMPORT AND EXPORT LTD. | BC, Canada
TASTE OF EGYPT (A d/b/a of Hager Abdelhamid) | ON, Canada

Membership Change In Status

As of September 30, 2023, the following organizations no longer hold a DRC membership:

2735795 ONTARIO INC. | ON, Canada
GHARZAI GLOBAL IMPORT EXPORT INC. | ON, Canada
KIM GROUPE IMPORT/EXPORT INC. | QC, Canada
NORTH KEE TRADING (A d/b/a of 2713406 Ontario Limited) | ON, Canada
NORTHERN TRADING INC. (Faisant également affaire sous Négoce du Nord) | QC, Canada
PROGEST 2001 INC. | QC, Canada
SIMILIEN PRODUITS FRAIS INC. | QC, Canada
TRANS-WEST LOGISTICS INC. | QC, Canada

For details regarding a change in status, please contact DRC’s Help Desk.

Important note: Following membership termination, the former member remains liable for claims arising prior to their termination if the claim is submitted to DRC by way of a Notice of Dispute within nine (9) months from when the claim arose or within nine (9) months from when the claimant ought reasonably to have known of its existence.

About the DRC

DRC is a non-profit membership-based organization whose core work is business-to-business commercial dispute resolution for produce. The DRC acts as a referee between parties when a transaction does not go according to plan. Members adhere to a common set of trading standards and responsibilities that promote fair and ethical trading for produce entering the North American marketplace. In Canada, membership with the DRC is a regulatory requirement to trade fresh fruits and vegetables (i.e., buy, sell, import, export) unless excepted by the regulations. Today, the DRC has members in 16 countries outside North America, and membership continues to grow annually. Anyone exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada must sell to a DRC member.

In addition to the DRC’s Operating Rules and Trading Standards, the DRC offers a comprehensive, tailored suite of tools to build the knowledge and capacity of members to avoid or resolve disputes, including education, mediation and arbitration. The DRC can impose sanctions and disciplinary actions towards members who do not conduct business in accordance with the terms of their membership agreement.

To date, the DRC has resolved claims in excess of $105 million dollars. Although arbitration is available, 80% of these claims have been settled in an average of 26 days through our informal consultation/mediation services. Arbitration awards are court-enforceable in countries that are signatories to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards or subsequent conventions.

For more information about memberships, click here or contact our Help Desk.

For media inquiries, contact:

Nicole MacDonald
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation
+1.613.234.0982
[email protected]

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A little Due Diligence and Helpful Tips from The DRC

We talk about this every day here in the office. We question how our members get hooked on for so much money or find themselves in a complicated bind. The answer frequently follows the same pattern: our clients assume they know enough about their customers. With a DRC membership and a little due diligence, you can avoid putting your business at risk: 

  1. First of all, is your customer or prospect a DRC member? If you don’t know the answer to this question, take notice of the red flag waving in the air. We recommend you visit our website to find out if they are a member. If you are unable to find them in our public member list, contact our office, and we can help.
  2. If you discover your customer or prospect is a DRC member, contact our Trading Assistance Staff to find out if they are a member in good standing. Our Trading Assistance Staff can also provide additional information and guidance that you will find valuable.
  3. Have you ever requested references and checked on who those references are? Many firms find themselves with nonexistent references or later find out they have a bad reputation. References are only good if they are reputable.
  4. When someone contacts you on behalf of a company, ensure that the person is an employee or an actual company representative. We have often seen people believing they are dealing with the company receiving the goods when they are actually dealing with an intermediary.
  5. If your customer or prospect is in the United States, check out “The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act,” also known as PACA. Here, you can find out the status of their PACA license.
  6. Is your trading partner in the Blue Book Services? If not, why not? If a firm is not listed, they are either not dealing with significant volume or could be a new business.
  7. Take the time to learn about the Blue Book Services’ rating system and credit scores. Being listed only means they are either members of the credit agency or they are conducting enough business to show up on “the radar screen.” A company listed without a rating does not mean their business status is “OK”; it could mean they are not ratable or the information on file is insufficient to establish a rating!
  8. Do the phone numbers, addresses, personnel, and EXACT company name match up with DRC’s records? If they don’t, this could be another red flag. 
  9. Are you doing business with companies that do not have a DRC membership? Or do they at least have a DRC arbitration agreement? If not, why not? You are exposing yourself to needless risk and expense should challenges arise.

Without fear of contradiction, many disputes could easily have been avoided by checking with the DRC and practicing some due diligence before the sale. Everybody “takes a chance” occasionally, but is it worth taking the risk? Consider a DRC membership as your risk mitigation tool.

Peruse the DRC website for more information. Should other questions arise, reach out to our Help Desk. We look forward to assisting you.

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Top 10 Inquiries You Need to Know

Unlimited access to our Help Desk is one of the many benefits of having a DRC membership.

Our Help Desk is a single source with answers to your trading questions and issues you may be experiencing. Expertise is available to respond to your questions and, in essence, provide informal consultations.

By providing essential tools and support, we help you succeed with every trade and avoid potential issues. If problems do arise, we can work together to find a resolution. Your success is our success.

The top 10 most frequent and common inquiries pertain to:

  1. Government Inspections such as CFIA and USDA
  2. Does the product meet or fail grade specifications?
  3. Transportation-related matters
  4. DRC member standing (i.e., Are they a member in good standing?)
  5. Disagreement over an account of sales or liquidation reports
  6. DRC Good Arrival Guidelines Tolerances
  7. The clarification of trade terms
  8. Non-payment, slow or partial payment
  9. Exporting to Canada FAQ
  10. Understanding Incoterms

Our customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in English, French, and Spanish. For information, give us a call at 1.613.234.0982 or fill out our Contact Us form. 

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DRC Welcomes 14 New Members in August 2023!

We are pleased to announce that between August 1 to August 31, 2023, the DRC welcomed a total of 14 new members:

15029147 CANADA INC. | BC Canada
ABIDJAN SERVICES ALIMENTAIRES INC. | QC Canada
AGROEXPORTADORA SOL DE OLMOS S.A.C. | Lima Peru
CITRUS DEV FES | Morocco
FAIRFIELD FARMS (A d/b/a of 702195 Ontario Inc.) | ON Canada
FRESH TO DOOR LTD. | AB Canada
FRESHQUITA BRANDS LLC. | TX United States
HUMBER HOLDINGS CORP. | SK Canada
LARCH HILLS WINERY LTD. (Also d/b/a Larch Hills Winery) | BC Canada
MOROS TRADING INC. | QC Canada
PLANET FOODZ CANADA INC. | ON Canada
RENSO FOODS (A d/b/a of 15095875 Canada Inc.) | BC Canada
SCHRIEMER FAMILY FARM LTD. | MB Canada
TENDER HOPE HOLDING LTD. (Also, d//b/a Tender Hope Winery) | BC Canada

DRC Membership: Change in Status

As of August 31, 2023, the following organizations no longer hold a DRC membership:

2398769 ONTARIO INC. | ON Canada
ALPINE FREIGHT LINES INC. | ON Canada
ARSACES GENERAL TRADING INC. | ON Canada
CITRUS CONNECTION (A d/b/a of 1884430 Ontario Inc.) | ON Canada
ESXA IMPORT & EXPORT (A d/b/a of Ngoc Quynh Nguyen) | QC Canada
EXPORTADORA BEST BERRY CHILE S.A | Bío Bío Chile
GROUPE FRUTEX INC. | QC Canada
HOMMAN ORGANIC INC. | BC Canada
KENLIN TRADING INC. | ON Canada
LORD TRADING INC. | ON Canada
MYD SOLUTION CANADA CORP. | ON Canada
PASATIEMPO FARMS INC. | CA United States
RED WAGON GROVES, INC. (Also d/b/a Red Wagon Groves) | TX United States
VILLITA AVOCADOS INC. | TX United States
XINDEYOUAN (VANCOUVER) INTERNATIONAL TRADING LTD. | BC Canada

For details regarding a change in status, please contact the office.

Important note: Following membership termination, the former member remains liable for claims arising prior to their termination if the claim is submitted to DRC by way of a Notice of Dispute within nine (9) months from when the claim arose or within nine (9) months from when the claimant ought reasonably to have known of its existence.

About DRC
DRC is a non-profit membership-based organization whose core work is business-to-business commercial dispute resolution for produce. The DRC acts a referee between parties when a transaction does not go according to plan. Members adhere to a common set of trading standards and responsibilities that promote fair and ethical trading for produce entering the North American marketplace. In Canada, membership with the DRC is a regulatory requirement to trade fresh fruits and vegetables (i.e.: buy, sell, import, export) unless excepted from the regulations. Today, the DRC has members in 16 countries outside of North America, and membership continues to grow annually. Anyone exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada must sell to a DRC member.

In addition to the DRC’s Operating Rules and Trading Standards, DRC offers a comprehensive, tailored suite of tools to build the knowledge and capacity of members to avoid or resolve disputes, including education, mediation and arbitration. DRC has ability to impose sanctions and disciplinary actions towards members who do not conduct business in accordance with the terms of their membership agreement.

To date, the DRC has resolved claims in excess of $105 million dollars. Although arbitration is available, 80% of these claims have been settled in an average of 26 days through our informal consultation/mediation services. Arbitration awards are court enforceable in countries that are signatories to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards or subsequent conventions.

To learn more, reach out to our Help Desk at [email protected] or (+1) 613-234-0982 or peruse the membership section of our website.

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Membership Updates for July 31st, 2023

Welcome New Members! 

From July 1 until July 31, 2023, the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) welcomed the following five new members:

BLOOMSTAR (A d/b/a of 3856011 Canada Inc.), ON, Canada
JALARAM PRODUCE INC., AB, Canada
K&D TRADING INTERNATIONAL INC. (Also d/b/a KD Trading), BC, Canada
MAINLAND FRUITS INC., BC, Canada
PRODUCTORA AGRICOLA YAREXI SPR DE RL, Nayarit, Mexico

DRC Membership Change in Status

As of July 31, 2023, the following organizations no longer hold a DRC membership:

AGRICOLA SAN GALLAN S.A.C., Lima, Peru
ALRAHMA IMPORT LTD. (Also d/b/a Alrahma Import), AB, Canada
COMERCIAL GREENVIC S.A., Región Metropolitana, Chile
EPICUREAN PRODUCE (A d/b/a of Endri Demeti), ON, Canada
FOMACOP SARL (Also d/b/a Fomacop), Chichaoua, Morocco
HNH INTERNATIONAL INC., ON ,Canada
JADU DISTRIBUTION INC., QC, Canada
NATURES PRODUCE AND SEAFOOD (A d/b/a of 13860922 Canada Inc.), ON, Canada
RED ISLAND ORGANICS INC., PE, Canada
TAMARIN-GOUTT INC., QC, Canada
VIVO DE CAMPO INC., ON, Canada

For details regarding a change in status, please contact the office.

Important note: Following membership termination, the former member remains liable for claims arising prior to their termination if the claim is submitted to DRC by way of a Notice of Dispute within nine (9) months from when the claim arose or within nine (9) months from when the claimant ought reasonably to have known of its existence.

About the DRC

DRC is a non-profit membership-based organization whose core work is business-to-business commercial dispute resolution for produce. DRC is a referee between parties when a purchase and sale do not go according to plan. Members adhere to a common set of trading standards and member responsibilities that promote fair and ethical trading for produce entering the North American marketplace. In Canada, membership in the DRC is a regulatory requirement to trade fresh fruits and vegetables (i.e.: buy, sell, import, export) unless excepted from the regulations. Today, DRC has members in 16 countries outside of North America, and membership continues to grow annually. Anyone exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada must sell to a DRC member.

In addition to the DRC’s Operating Rules and Trading Standards, DRC offers a comprehensive, tailored suite of tools to build the knowledge and capacity of members to avoid or resolve disputes, including education, mediation and arbitration. DRC has ability to impose sanctions and disciplinary actions towards members who do not conduct business in accordance with the terms of their membership agreement.

To date, DRC has resolved claims in excess of $105 million dollars. Although arbitration is available, 80% of these claims have been settled in an average of 26 days through our informal consultation/mediation services. Arbitration awards are court enforceable in countries that are signatories to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards or subsequent conventions.

To request more information, reach out to our Help Desk at [email protected] or call at (+1) 613-234-0982.

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Incoterms® in Maritime Transportation Transactions and the DRC

When it comes to the global trade network, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. Due to different languages and cultural barriers, buyers (importers) and sellers (exporters) can easily misunderstand one another. Unfortunately, these misunderstandings can lead to disputes.

In the past few months, the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) has come across importers who were either unfamiliar with Incoterms® or how to use them correctly, especially first-time importers.

What are Incoterms, and why are they important for international trade?

International commercial terms (Incoterms) provide a universal set of rules and guidelines that help facilitate a successful trade. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) created and published Incoterms to set clear-cut rules that outline how sellers and buyers should conduct themselves during the exporting/importing process.

Incoterms are used in many ways to facilitate a smooth and easy trade. Of primary importance, each term clarifies the tasks, costs, and risks to be borne by buyers and sellers in these transactions. Among the things that Incoterms brings is the clarification of each party’s financial and legal responsibilities, an essential advantage during international trade.

Some things the buyer or seller might be responsible for based on the Incoterms they use include are:
• Insurance
• Proper documentation
• Customs clearance
• Shipping costs
• Risk of Transit

Familiarity with Incoterms will help improve smoother transactions by clearly defining who is responsible for what in each step of the transaction.

The Incoterms Insurance and the DRC

While it is important to understand that the Incoterms are part of the contract, the Incoterms are not in themselves a contract of sale. Incoterms do not deal with whether the other conditions of the contract are met or not or the law of dispute resolution in the event of a breach of contract.

Unless otherwise agreed, DRC members must follow DRC’s Trading Standards, Transportation Standards, and other guidelines. Therefore, a DRC member, regardless of their Incoterms insurance obligations, must first prove a breach of contract following DRC’s Operating Rules or the written contract prior to the application of the insurance.

For example, when using the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) Incoterms, the seller is required to buy cargo insurance with the buyer as the beneficiary and share that policy with the buyer. In the event of a maritime transportation claim, since the risk of transit under this term falls with the buyer, it is up to the buyer to invoke the insurance to make the proper claim against the shipping line. If the insurance bought by the seller does not have the buyer as the beneficiary, the payment of the transaction may be jeopardized.

We strongly recommend that when negotiating a transaction with product shipped by maritime transportation, both parties dedicate some time to discuss the Incoterms to ensure that the buyer and their supplier understand what the right Incoterms are for them. Transparency and agreement are essential in establishing the rights and responsibilities of all parties. Lack of agreement and confusion over terms may not only cost you money, but valuable trading partners as well.

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Changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables

On July 7, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published a notice informing the fresh produce industry of changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables.

These changes reflect feedback received from industry, trading partners, and stakeholders, during the consultation period covering:

• A new standard for greenhouse miniature seedless cucumbers.
• Updates to the grades and requirements for greenhouse long seedless cucumbers, including changes to size requirements and clarifications to terminology for defects and tolerances.

The modified and new standards are found in the following:
• Part 2 Grade Requirements for Fresh Vegetables.
• Grades and Requirements for Greenhouse Long Seedless Cucumbers, paragraphs 148-154.
• Grades and Requirements for Greenhouse Miniature Seedless Cucumbers, paragraphs 200-206.

The CFIA is committed to providing industry with sufficient time to adjust product grading and labels. The transition period begins July 7, 2023, when this change came into force, and ends on January 6, 2024.

As of January 7, 2024, the previous grade requirements will cease to apply, and all regulated parties must comply with the new requirements.

Consult the notice to industry to learn more.

Questions or concerns can be sent to [email protected].

The DRC extends its thanks and appreciation to members of the fresh produce industry review team and other industry stakeholders who contributed to reviewing the existing grade standard and the development of the new grade standard for mini cucumbers. Publication of an updated standard for greenhouse tomatoes is expected in the coming months.

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Membership Updates for June 30th, 2023

Welcome new members!

From May 16 until June 30, 2023, the DRC welcomed the following 36 new members:

1022358 BC LTD.

BC

Canada

14953134 CANADA INC.

ON

Canada

2823899 Ontario Inc

ON

Canada

9468-9247 QUEBEC INC.

QC

Canada

AFROCAN DIRECT IMPORT INC.

ON

Canada

AGRIKO TRADING LIMITED

BC

Canada

ANUSAYA FRESH CANADA LTD.

BC

Canada

AWR GLOBAL (Also d/b/a 8499055 Canada Inc.)

ON

Canada

BAROHUP (Also d/b/a Love April)

CA

United States

BERRY PEOPLE LLC

CA

United States

BISKRA-DZ LTD.

ON

Canada

CATAB IMPORT INC. (Also d/b/a Catab)

BC

Canada

CQR LOGISTICS (A d/b/a of 9089365 CANADA INC.)

ON

Canada

EAST COAST GROWERS FAMILY OF FARMS, INC.

FL

United States

EXPORTADORA CRUZ BAUTISTA SRL

La Vega

Dominican Republic

FARM GIRL CANADA INC.

ON

Canada

FEXINCO INC.

ON

Canada

FRESH VER SAPI DE CV (También haciendo negocios como Fresh V)

Veracruz

Mexico

GEORGE REDIES

BC

Canada

GLEZ  FRESH (A d/b/a of 14111648 Canada Inc.)

AB

Canada

GWILLIMDALE PRODUCE LTD.

ON

Canada

KONOL INDUSTRIES LTD.

BC

Canada

LE SOLEIL INTERNATIONAL INC.

ON

Canada

LEGEND PRODUCE LLC (Also d/b/a Legend Produce / Sweet Legend)

AZ

United States

MITTAL IMPEX (A d/b/a of 10517232 Canada Inc.)

ON

Canada

NEW CARROT FARMS, LLC

CA

United States

PATTERSON PRODUCE INC.

QC

Canada

RENSO TECHNOLOGY (CANADA) CORPORATION

BC

Canada

S. S FOOD TRADING (Also d/b/a 1129977 B.C. Ltd.)

BC

Canada

SANTIS PRODUCE LLC.

TX

United States

SCARLA FRUIT (A d/b/a of 9492-9122 Québec Inc.)

QC

Canada

VALLEY FIELD FOODS (A d/b/a of 9386-4171 Quebec Inc.)

QC

Canada

VERKA FOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (Also d/b/a Verka)

BC

Canada

VIETNCA TRADING LTD. VIETNCA TRADING LTD. (Also d/b/a Viet S)

BC

Canada

VPCUPE INC.

ON

Canada

ZOL GLOBAL TRADING (A d/b/a of 1000257126 Ontario Corp.)

ON

Canada

DRC Membership: change in status

As of June 30, 2023, the following organizations no longer hold a DRC membership:

AGUACATES CORREY SA DE CV
(También haciendo negocios como Aguacates Correy)

Michoacan

Mexico

BDF INTERNATIONAL LTD.

BC

Canada

CDMG BUSINESS LTD.

BC

Canada

FRUITS ET LÉGUMES ALIOUNE INC.

QC

Canada

GREEN VISION PRODUCE DISTRIBUTORS INC.

ON

Canada

ILYANA WHOLE FOODS (A d/b/a of 11148311 Canada Inc.)

ON

Canada

LES ALIMENTS FAIGNON INTERNATIONAL (Faisant également sous Faignon Putchu)

QC

Canada

MARCHE JUNAID (A d/b/a of Tariq Mahmood)

ON

Canada

MILL CREEK FARM (A d/b/a of 2202558 Ontario Limited)

ON

Canada

NOON & NOOR (A d/b/a of Noon & Noor Trading Limited)

BC

Canada

PELSA AGROPECUARIA S.A. De C.V.

Jalisco

Mexico

ROYALHALO PRODUCE LTD. (Also d/b/a Royalhalo)

BC

Canada

SAGHI KARIM

QC

Canada

SAIRAJ ENTERPRISE CORPORATION

BC

Canada

SUN-RYPE PRODUCTS (A Division of A. Lassonde Inc.)

BC

Canada

TAYLORS CONTINENTAL FOODS

ON

Canada

THE GLOBAL GROCERS INC.

ON

Canada

TOP STAR INTERNATIONAL TRADING (A d/b/a of 10612952 Canada Limited)

ON

Canada

UNITED WORLD CARGO LIMITED

BC

Canada

VAN CHEONG TEA INC.

BC

Canada

VISION IMPORT EXPORT TRADE INC.

ON

Canada

For details regarding a change in status, please contact the office (see details below).

Important note: Following membership termination, the former member remains liable for claims arising prior to their termination if the claim is submitted to DRC by way of a Notice of Dispute within nine (9) months from when the claim arose or within nine (9) months from when the claimant ought reasonably to have known of its existence.

About DRC

DRC is a non-profit membership-based organization whose core work is business-to-business commercial dispute resolution for produce. DRC is a referee between parties when a purchase and sale do not go according to plan. Members adhere to a common set of trading standards and member responsibilities that promote fair and ethical trading for produce entering the North American marketplace. In Canada, membership in the DRC is a regulatory requirement to trade fresh fruits and vegetables (i.e.: buy, sell, import, export) unless excepted from the regulations. Today, DRC has members in 16 countries outside of North America, and membership continues to grow annually. Anyone exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada must sell to a DRC member.

In addition to the DRC’s Operating Rules and Trading Standards, DRC offers a comprehensive, tailored suite of tools to build the knowledge and capacity of members to avoid or resolve disputes, including education, mediation and arbitration. DRC has the ability to impose sanctions and disciplinary actions towards members who do not conduct business in accordance with the terms of their membership agreement.

To date, DRC has resolved claims in excess of $105 million dollars. Although arbitration is available, 80% of these claims have been settled in an average of 26 days through our informal consultation/mediation services. Arbitration awards are court enforceable in countries that are signatories to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards or subsequent conventions.

To learn more, reach out to our Help Desk at [email protected] or (+1) 613.234.0982.

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What Triggers the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation’s (DRC’s) Bonding Policy?

Any membership applicant, current member, or a Responsibly Connected Person, who fail to meet the conditions outlined in the DRC’s Operating Rules may be subject to the DRC’s bonding policy.

The DRC bonding policy requires that bonds or other forms of financial security be provided as an assurance to the membership that the entity posting the security will conduct under the DRC’s By-laws & Operating Rules. Depending on the circumstances, a bond may be posted by an applicant, a member, a responsibly connected person in respect of a member, or an employee of a member.

These are the most common circumstances that may trigger DRC to request financial security:

Membership applicants which:
• Have a CFIA Food safety license issued under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) or a PACA license revoked or suspended within the last five years from the day a membership application is submitted.
• Have been terminated with cause or expelled from membership in the DRC within the last five years from the day a membership application is submitted.
• Have failed to comply with an arbitration award or a mediated agreement within the last five years from the day a membership application is submitted.
• Have filed for bankruptcy or suspended the payment of debts within the last five years from the day a membership application is submitted.
• Have suspended the operations of a business without fully meeting its financial obligations within the last ten years from the day a membership application is submitted.

Members which:
• Have failed to comply with an arbitration agreement or mediated agreement.
• Have failed to comply with DRC Trading Standards General Rules of Conduct.

If a member who has posted financial security violates a provision of DRC’s By-laws and Operating Rules during the bonding period, the DRC may distribute the funds, as provided in the Security Agreement between the member and the DRC.

For more information about the DRC’s Bonding Policy, call 1.613.234.0982 or submit an inquiry through our Help Desk General Inquiry form. 

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Canada’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grade Standards – Beyond the Obvious.

The DRC continues to work toward the modernization of Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables (Compendium) in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and industry.

The grade standards are the lexicon, or recognized language, for describing fruit and vegetable commodities and associated defects. This common lexicon is necessary for federal inspectors, private inspection firms (i.e., insurance adjustors, marine surveyors), buyers, sellers, and others to communicate in a common language.

The Compendium establishes expectations for arrival condition given that fresh fruit and vegetables are generally purchased unseen. Grade standards are the basis for establishing a breach of contract and are an essential business-to-business tool. The Canadian and US fruit and vegetable grade standards are foundational to the DRC’s Good Arrival Guidelines and Trading Standards, which serve to establish evidence in the mediation and arbitration of trade disputes.

For vendors who have contracts with their respective buyers with specific acceptance requirements, it is important to keep in mind that the specifications outlined in those agreements generally far exceed the standards contained in the Compendium. The Compendium outlines the minimum requirements and are intended to serve the entire supply chain. Grade standards also provide a measure of consumer confidence.

Growers, shippers, and packers who may not have quality-related vendor contracts rely on the Compendium as their point of reference to meet grade. For small/medium/enterprises (SMEs) and new entrants to the produce industry in particular, the grade standards and associated CFIA quality inspection manuals are their sole guides. Private contracts and the Compendium are not in competition with each other.

Grade standards are important because they serve as Canada’s minimum import requirements for the fruit and vegetable grade standards found in Compendium. In other words, products subject to grade standards coming into Canada must meet those grade standards. In the absence of Canada’s grade standards, there would be no minimum import requirements. Under certain circumstances, this could present opportunities for various types of market disruption. When considering the importance of the grade standards, this trade-related aspect is generally not top of mind and must not be overlooked.

To learn more about the current Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables, click here. 

For more information regarding the Proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables, click here. 

As a member of DRC since our inception we have found the resources and protection DRC provides us as both a broker and carrier to be invaluable! You shouldn’t be in the produce business without a membership, regardless of your role!

Joe Rubini
Joe Rubini
President
Rally Logistics, Inc.

In dispute situations with our clients, the services provided by DRC have fulfilled Meridian Fruits SPR de RL Expectations and the results have left us with great satisfaction. For the above reasons, we put our trust in DRC for further assistance.

E. Fabricio Blanco Gallegos
E. Fabricio Blanco Gallegos
Legal Representative
Meridian Fruits SPR de RL.

DRC Membership is an important part of our screening for new trading partners. DRC has been a great help, not only in resolving disputes, but also with their educational initiatives and involvement in developing best practices within the industry.

Mark Reasons
Mark Reasons
Plant Manager
Ocean Mist Farms
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