Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
Asian markets in Western Canada rely on imported produce and specialty goods.
There are empty boxes in the fruit section of a grocery store.
REUTERS files
Two trucks carrying ginger from China and dragon fruit from Vietnam left for Canada on Thursday. The cargo was sitting in port on the B.C. coast for nearly two weeks.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
Thomas Fresh Inc., which imports Asian fruits and vegetables and sells them to retailers across Western Canada, is happy that the two truckloads are no longer on the road. The company has been unable to get a single container out of the city since the floods and mudslides.
As B.C. braced for another wave of storms, Thomas Fresh's chief operating officer said he wouldn't be surprised if the Locusts came.
The crisis in B.C. has left grocery shelves empty in hard-hit communities and in Asian markets across Western Canada, which heavily depend on imported produce and specialty goods coming through the city.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Locusts show up.
>
The person is Thad Kaniewski.
99 supermarket limited produce purchases to two per customer as supplies dwindled.
General manager Jordan Tran said there was some panic buying. The news spread quickly. It became a domino effect. I was unable to get shipments out of the city.
Due to the Pandemic, it has been difficult to get imported products into the store. Everything was worse because of the floods.
He said that up to 30% of the shelves are empty, and that some items are out of stock. The produce shelves were empty over the weekend.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
He has an order of salted duck eggs on a ship that is still waiting to be unloaded in Vancouver. He will have less time to sell them because the eggs have a shelf life of six months.
The highway between B.C. and Alberta has reopened, but only one lane in some stretches.
The Great Asian Market inRegina is part of a chain of stores in the province. Daikon and winter melon have been sold out at the store, according to Tony Lin, the store manager.
He said that last week his produce almost sold out so he ordered a lot from Toronto.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
Everyone will be affected by it. The little guys will get screwed.
>
Lance De Waal is from the Netherlands.
The Minister of B.C. transportation and infrastructure said on Friday that 4,000 commercial trucks had used the repaired Highway 3 corridor. The route was temporarily shut down due to a serious accident that morning.
Air Canada increased cargo capacity in and out of the city by 45 per cent this week. Canadian National Railway Co. is expected to resume service within a few days, Fleming said. The railway is trying to clear a back up of cargo shipments and is planning a move to full operations over the coming days, said Salem Woodrow, a spokesman for the railway.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
The first of many atmospheric river weather events is expected to hit the province this weekend. The worst of the storms are predicted to land early next week, with provincial authorities warning of the heavy rain and high winds that could cause more damage.
Fleming said at a Friday news conference that crews are repairing and upgrade corridors.
Poor conditions and road closings have made trips through B.C. longer for trucking companies.
Your article continues below even though the advertisement has not loaded yet.
Lance De Waal, co-owner of East West Express Inc., said that the company has raised its rates by 30 percent.
He said that they have more hours and miles. I can't absorb that.
East West, which specializes in hauling food, has been overwhelmed this week with requests to pickup all types of imports from the coast. He said that he gets calls all day from people who want to move truckloads of freight. There are no trucks to haul the backlogged items.
He said that the independent Asian grocers are the hardest hit by the supply chain's backlog.
De Waal said it was insanity. Everyone will be affected by it. The little guys will get screwed.
Email: jedmiston@postmedia.
