While it cut funding to the agriculture ministry this year, the BC NDP is pledging to expand many of its existing initiatives for agriculture if re-elected in the October 24 election. The three planks of BC NDP agriculture programming – Grow BC, Feed BC and Buy BC – will be “strengthened,” according to the platform …
US investigating blueberries
BC blueberry exports are being investigated as a possible source of economic injury to US growers. US Trade Representative Robert Lightizer announced the investigation September 29 following the release of a report jointly authored by his office, the US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Commerce. “It’s very difficult to say what the impact …
Election delays funding
The provincial election means BC farmers will have to wait for their share of $35 million in emergency funding the federal government announced at the end of July. “During the interregnum, it would not be prudent for the Ministry of Agriculture to take on administration commitments that would bind an incoming administration,” a statement from …
Turkey sales up
Retail sales of turkeys are up versus a year ago as Thanksgiving approaches, according to the BC Turkey Marketing Board. Nationally, the industry has seen a 10% cut in production this year as the COVID-19 pandemic scaled back foodservice demand. More recently, government warnings regarding the importance of smaller gatherings at Thanksgiving to limit the …
Unprecedented rise in machine harvesting
ABBOTSFORD – Blueberry growers have turned to mechanical harvesting in unprecedented numbers this year due to a shortage of labour and impacts of COVID-19. While growers usually employ thousands of hand harvesters, this year saw hundreds of machines harvesting berries across the Fraser Valley. Although farmers have been using machines for several years, many did …
BC Tree Fruits prepares to sell assets, apples
KELOWNA – As the apples turn red across the Okanagan, Similkameen and Creston valleys and trucks start to move them to packinghouses, BC apple growers face their busiest time of year. But the management team at BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, which sells more than $100 million worth of apples annually, is also busy. This year …