Contributors to Country Life in BC once again made a strong showing at the Canadian Farm Writers Federation awards, presented during its annual conference in London, Ontario, on September 19. They won gold awards in both print and photography categories, led by repeat winner Anna Helmer for her column, “Slips twixt the cup and the …
BCFGA hosts candidate forums
Water management was front and centre at two forums BC Fruit Growers Association hosted for candidates in this month’s civic elections in Vernon and Kelowna. Sixteen candidates for mayor and city council of Vernon assembled at Lakers Clubhouse to answer questions from both BCFGA and the audience about how they will support agriculture if elected. …
Bright cranberry harvest begins
This year’s cranberry harvest began early and strong, with higher yields expected thanks to favourable conditions for pollination this spring and a temperate summer. “We’ll probably have our largest crop to date,” says Brian DeWit of Riverside Cranberry Farm in Langley. “This year all the fields look like they’re firing pretty good, so we’ll …
Opening farmland to processors draws pushback
BURNABY – The Agricultural Land Commission has come out swinging against the province’s proposal to eliminate a rule requiring processors located in the Agricultural Land Reserve to source at least half their ingredients from BC growers. “The proposal represents a significant policy shift that has not been supported by evidence demonstrating the need for change …
Orchard embraces leasing to preserve family legacy
KELOWNA – When equipment was removing the apple trees from his orchard in spring 2025, Shayne Witzke largely stayed inside the family farmhouse, grieving the end to three generations of apple production. The Kelowna orchard had earned industry awards for fruit quality and innovation, but with declining margins, external pressures such as loans, pests and …
ALC opposes province’s rule change
The Agricultural Land Commission has come out swinging against the province’s proposal to eliminate a rule requiring processors locating in the Agricultural Land Reserve source at least half their ingredients from BC growers. “The proposal represents a significant policy shift that has not been supported by evidence demonstrating the need for change or showing that …