You might already be consuming Canadian food products every day, even if you don’t realize it.
In 2013, Canada exported twobillion dollars worth of agricultural food products to Mexico, said Juan Carlos Muñoz, the trade commissioner with the Canadian Consulate. About 60 percent of exports are commodity grains like wheat, canola seeds, lentils, flaxseed, beans and barley. They’re sold in bulk to Mexican companies that package and distribute them under their own brands, like Verde Valle, and sell them in supermarkets. Canola oils like Canoil and Capullo both contain Canadian product, Muñoz said.
If you’re eating high quality meat or pork in Mexico, there’s a pretty good chance it’s from Canada. When Mexican buyers want a top quality cut of beef, they often turn to Canada because the entire production chain, from growth to slaughter, happens inside the northern country, something that appeals to high-end meat buyers in Mexico, Muñoz said.
And new taxes on sugary beverages and high-calorie foods are opening even more doors for Canadian food companies, Muñoz said.
“Mexicans are moving toward consuming more healthier products with healthier ingredients and healthier processed food, and Canada has a lot to offer,” Muñoz said.
As it turns out, some food items associated with different countries originate from Canada. Nutella’s hazelnut chocolate spread is made in Canada, though an Italian company owns it. Sapporo beer, which is often sipped while eating sushi or Japanese food, also comes from Canada.
Value-added products, like cookies or ready-to-eat foods, make up a smaller percentage of Canada’s exports than meat or grains and they’re often targeted at wealthier consumers who have money to pay for an imported, premium product.
Extra Special—Superama’s higher end private label—offers biscotti and ice cream that both come from Canada and Walmart’s store brand, Great Value, has wheat crackers made with Canadian grain.
It’s not just expatriates eating Canadian food. Given the prevalence of imports in wheat for bread, canola seed for oil, barley in beer, and their growing appetite for high-quality meats, Mexicans are eating a lot of Canadian products as well.
“You might not know it but you consume five products per day,” Muñoz said he tells Mexicans when talking about Canadian products here.
A taste of Canada in Mexico
Sometimes the best way to find out if a product comes from Canada is to carefully read the label. There’s no way to guarantee any store will have a certain item in stock, but here’s a breakdown of where the Canadian Consulate says you might find some of these products in Guadalajara. Looking for something specific? Contact Juan Carlos Muñoz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Cleary’s maple cream cookies and maple waffles: La Europea, Liverpool, Superama and Soriana.
- Leclerc cookies: Liverpool, El Palacio de Hierro, Comercial Mexicana and Superama.
- McCain frozen vegetables and prepared items, including French fries, onion rings and mozzerella sticks: Soriana, Superama, Walmart, Comercial Mexicana and other supermarkets.
- Crown Royal Canadian blended whisky: La Europea, Vinoteca, Walmart, Superama, Soriana.
- Domaine Pinnacle ice apple wine: La Europea, Liverpool.
- La Ferme Martinette maple syrup: El Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool, La Europea, Comercial Mexicana.
- Cattle Boyz barbecue sauce: El Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool, La Europea, Comercial Mexicana.
- Four O’clock organic teas: Walmart, Liverpool, El Palacio de Hierro, Comercial Mexicana.
- Beer: For Canadian beer your best bet is to head to specialty store the like the Beer Box.