Friends and family of a Canadian jailed in Lebanon over alleged produce offences say that it's time for the federal government to step in and help bring him home.

Henk Tepper, who hails from New Brunswick, has been in custody since March, when he was arrested on an international warrant after entering into Lebanon on business.

Officials allege that Tepper was involved in the sale of rotten potatoes to Algeria four years ago. Algerian officials also claim Tepper forged export documents for potatoes grown in Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

Tepper has denied any wrongdoing in the case and his lawyer has said that the potatoes in question were inspected in Canada and met all of Algeria's standards.

Though this is the busy season in potato country, Tepper's family staged a rally at the family farm Sunday to pressure the federal government to help.

"When he arrived in Beirut and they swiped his passport, the red alert notice came up," said Harmien Dionne, Tepper's sister.

While Dionne has been leading the efforts to get her brother back to Canada, she admitted that the seven-month affair has been challenging.

"Many days we have to put on a big front. Yes, we are doing good. Mentally we are not. It's taking a huge toll. I never dreamed that this was going to last this long," she said.

So far, petitioning the federal government has done little.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that it is monitoring the situation and is ensuring that Tepper is treated humanely in custody.

"We will continue to be in contact with senior Lebanese authorities both in Canada and in Lebanon to request due process and a timely and transparent handling of his file," the department said in a statement.

But Liberal New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc said not enough has been done.

"He's accused of nothing in Lebanon. For the Lebanese government to decide to expel him and send him back to Canada would be a very normal thing for them to do."

Family and lawyers have been to Lebanon to visit the 44-year-old farmer, and they have recently noticed a change in him.

"He seemed withdrawn, and kind of, well, just from his comments, it struck me as perhaps he was suffering from a little bit of paranoia," said lawyer Jim Mockler.

Meanwhile, Tepper's farm in Canada is facing debt issues and a court recently extended protection from creditors.

With files from The Canadian Press