Every morning at 6 a.m., Wayne Arsenault walks his 40-acre farm in Moncton’s outskirts. For three generations, the Arsenault family has supplied potatoes and carrots to local markets, and more recently, to New Brunswick’s network of food banks. But last Tuesday, Arsenault received an email that changed everything.
“They just told us they were pausing the contract. No real explanation,” Arsenault told me during an interview at his kitchen table. “That’s nearly 30% of my expected income this season – gone.”
Arsenault isn’t alone. More than a dozen New Brunswick farmers have had their food bank contracts suspended in what officials are calling a “temporary pause” while funding allocations are reviewed. The move has sent shockwaves through rural communities already struggling with rising equipment costs and unpredictable weather patterns.
The Food Depot Alimentaire, which coordinates distribution to 61 food banks across the province, confirmed that 12 farmer contracts have been paused. Executive Director Stéphane Sirois cited “budgetary reassessments” as the primary reason.
“We’re working with reduced provincial funding this quarter,” Sirois explained. “We had to make some difficult decisions to ensure we can maintain service levels through the winter months when need typically increases.”
According to data from Food Banks Canada, New Brunswick has seen a 32% increase in food bank usage since 2019, outpacing the national average of 26%. This surge comes as inflation on grocery items has hit 9.4% year-over-year based on Statistics Canada’s latest Consumer Price Index.
“The timing couldn’t be worse,” says Mary-Ellen Rose, an agricultural economist at the University of New Brunswick. “These farmers have already planted crops specifically for these contracts. They can’t just find new buyers overnight.”
The provincial government allocates approximately $2.1 million annually to food security programs, but critics argue this hasn’t kept pace with growing demand. Last year’s budget increased funding by only 3.7%, well below the food inflation rate.
At the Salisbury Community Food Bank, director Paula Thomson is concerned about what this means for both quality and supply. “Local produce is the backbone of our nutritional offerings. When we replace fresh carrots with canned vegetables, we’re not just changing inventory – we’re affecting people’s health.”
Behind the scenes, sources familiar with the decision point to growing tensions between centralized distribution models and local partnerships. One food bank coordinator, who requested anonymity, suggested the pause might be more about restructuring than budgetary constraints.
“There’s been talk about consolidating purchasing power, maybe even looking at cheaper imports,” they said. “But nobody wants to say that out loud when ‘buy local’ is such a strong message here.”
For farmers like Arsenault, the uncertainty has real consequences. Fields already planted with specific crop varieties can’t be quickly converted. Equipment leased for harvest sits idle, costing money with no return on investment.
“I’ve got three people I was planning to hire next month for harvest,” Arsenault says, looking out his window at rows of carrots planted specifically for food bank specifications. “Now I don’t know if I can afford them.”
A small protest organized by the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick drew about 30 farmers to Fredericton last Friday. They carried signs reading “Feed NB with NB Food” and “Don’t Pause Our Future.”
Premier Blaine Higgs addressed the issue briefly during an unrelated press conference, saying his government would “look into the situation” but noting that “operational decisions by non-profits receiving government funding remain at arm’s length from political interference.”
The opposition Liberals have seized on the issue. Agriculture critic Rob McKee called the situation “a failure of planning” and demanded emergency funding to restore the contracts.
“We’re talking about food security and rural livelihoods,” McKee said during question period. “This government finds money for pet projects but can’t ensure New Brunswickers have fresh, local food on their tables.”
The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries issued a statement acknowledging farmer concerns but stopped short of promising intervention: “We continue to support local agriculture through various programs and are monitoring the current situation closely.”
Back at his farm, Wayne Arsenault is contemplating difficult choices. “Maybe I let some fields go unharvested. Maybe I sell at a loss to processors. Either way, it’s going to hurt.”
Community supporters have launched a “Buy Direct” campaign encouraging residents to purchase directly from affected farmers. Local restaurants like The Pickle Jar in Moncton have announced special menu items featuring products from impacted farms.
“When I started farming with my dad thirty years ago, he always said communities and farmers need each other,” Arsenault reflects. “I still believe that’s true. I just hope the people making these decisions remember it too.”
Food banks across the province report they’re hearing concerns from clients about potential changes to fresh food availability. The Food Depot Alimentaire has promised a decision about restoring contracts by mid-September, but for farmers with harvests beginning in early October, that timeline offers little comfort.
For now, the fields continue to grow, and farmers like Arsenault continue their morning walks, uncertain about who will eat the food they’ve worked all season to produce.
