A team led by Simon Fraser University plant genomics researcher Jim Mattsson is taking its research on greenhouse grown berries to the next level with a $5 million grant from the Weston Family Foundation. The grant will support the scaling up of a production system fine-tuned during a previous phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, …
Apple growers vote on marketing commission
BC apple growers will soon vote whether or not to establish an apple marketing commission, following a public consultation this spring led by Inner Harbour Consulting Inc. “A recent survey of apple producers, conducted from March 15 to April 4, 2025, indicated support for such a commission,” a May 28 memo to growers from Inner …
Fraser Valley recycles ag plastics
A long-standing plastics recycling program in the District of Kent is expanding to the Fraser Valley at large with the backing of the provincial and federal governments. Cleanfarms, which has worked with dairy farmers in the District of Kent to recycle agricultural plastics since 2023, has now partnered with the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) …
BC minimum wage increases
Seasonally adjusted figures indicate rising employment in the BC farm sector this year, and those earning minimum wage can look forward to bigger paycheques this month. The province mandated a 2.6% increase to the minimum wage on June 1, lifting it to $17.85 an hour. This is the highest minimum wage of any province in …
Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower
KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to share it with the industry. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should …
Algoma comes to BC
Canada’s largest independent apple grower is moving into BC following the purchase of the last remaining assets of BC Tree Fruits Co-op to Penticton construction and development company Wildstone Construction Group. Wildstone paid $22.75 million for BC Tree Fruits’ newly renovated packinghouse in Oliver, as well as receiving stations in Summerland and Keremeos in a …