This paper examines the relationship between productivity and export market participation of Canadian food processing plants using a plant-level panel dataset. We find that exporters are more productive than non-exporters, and have higher productivity growth prior to entering export markets. However, we find that plants do not experience higher productivity growth after entering export markets. The results have implications for policies targeted at enhancing R&D and innovation policy and lessening border restrictions, and the role of international trade openness. Acknowledgement :