Making trade easier: Export opportunities for Canadian apples to Mexico
News release
February 17, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario
The Government of Canada is taking action to expand and diversify markets for Canada’s apple sector, supporting producers in exporting their high-quality Canadian products to international markets. Today, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that following engagement with CFIA officials, Mexico has updated its import requirements for eligible apples from Eastern Canadian provinces. The change allows the CFIA to inspect and register cold treatment facilities, eliminating the need for in-person inspections by Mexican officials and reducing costs for Canadian exporters.
The CFIA will maintain a list of the registered facilities in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. To export apples to Mexico, those grown in these provinces must undergo cold treatment at one of the CFIA registered facilities.
During the October 2025 trade visit to Mexico by Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, both countries agreed to enhance regulatory and technical cooperation as part of the Canada-Mexico 2025-2028 Action Plan to facilitate commercial ties between the two countries.
Supporting Canadian exporters’ access to international markets remains a priority for the CFIA. The Agency negotiates market access requirements with trading partners, provides Canadian growers and packing facilities with information on foreign import requirements, and verifies compliance with importing countries’ regulations through inspections. As Canada’s national plant protection agency, the CFIA is also dedicated to protecting Canada’s plant resources, and working with international counterparts to prevent the movement of invasive species that could pose risks to our environment, forests, and the economy.
Quotes
“Growing demand for Canadian products at home and abroad is a testament to the quality of our agriculture industry. Our Government is committed to supporting the hard work, dedication, and prosperity of our farmers and food producers as they pursue new markets in Canada and around the world.”
- The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"The Canadian Produce Marketing Association is pleased with the recent update on export requirements for Canadian apples to Mexico. Easing trade barriers is crucial for market expansion, and this new protocol will streamline the export process, diversify Canadian apple exports, and meet the evolving preferences of Mexican consumers."
- Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Quick facts
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Apples are Canada’s largest fruit crop in terms of production volume, and they generate the second highest farm gate value for fruit crops. In 2022, the value of fresh apple exports was $51.3 million Canadian dollars.
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In 2024, there were 43,700 acres of cultivated area for apple production in Canada. This is about 177 square kilometers. For context, Toronto Pearson airport is 18 square kilometers. This would be like 111, 974 NHL-sized hockey rinks covered in apple trees!
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In 2024, Canada produced 416,047 tons of marketed fresh apples. Imagine more than 20,000 transport trucks lined up—that’s a stretch reaching from Toronto to Winnipeg and beyond!
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The CFIA will register cold treatment facilities in line with Mexico’s work plan for importing fresh apples from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick under cold treatment. The Agency will assign a unique registration number to each approved cold treatment facility. Exporters are required to use one of these approved facilities when shipping apples to Mexico.
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Growers who are interested in shipping apples to Mexico can contact their local CFIA office.
Associated links
Contacts
Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-773-6600
cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca
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Each day, hard-working Canadian Food Inspection Agency employees—including inspectors, veterinarians, and scientists—inspect food for safety risks, work to protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada’s animal resource base and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency verifies that food sold in Canada is safe while supporting access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit inspection.canada.ca