The planned closure of Sun-Rype Products Ltd.’s juice-packing line in Kelowna is raising concerns among fruit growers. Lassonde Industries Inc. of Quebec announced April 16 that 80 of the plant’s 215 staff would be laid off as part of a move to consolidate juice packing at facilities in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Lassonde told Country …
Dry start to wildfire season
Temperatures across southern BC are set to soar this weekend, just in time for Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9), a national initiative led by Public Safety Canada. In a memo to producers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Emergency Management urged all agriculture sector stakeholders “to strengthen their readiness for emergencies.” While early forecasts suggest a …
Foreign land buyers hollow out Dunster
DUNSTER – Purchases of swathes of farmland in the Robson Valley by wealthy American businessmen have some in BC demanding restrictions on foreign and corporate ownership of agricultural land. The issue centres on the small, remote community of Dunster, where Fraser River Landholdings Ltd. has purchased approximately 3,850 acres – much of it agricultural land …
KPU study explores dry farming potential
COMOX VALLEY – Research on dry farming practices in the Comox Valley is helping an international study foster more resilient production systems. “We need a very large set of tools to adapt to climate change. We know it’s not going anywhere, and we know that droughts are going to become increasingly a source of stress …
BC greenhouse growers join forces
BC greenhouse vegetable growers joined forces with their counterparts across Canada last month to form the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada (GPAC). Created to be the national voice of Canada’s greenhouse fruit and vegetable growers, the group met for the first time during the Fruit & Vegetable Growers Canada (FVGC) annual general meeting in Ottawa, …
Maple Ridge farm fined for raw milk sales
Raw milk remains off the table for dairy producers, with the BC Milk Marketing Board (BCMMB) taking action against a Maple Ridge producer for illicit sales. An undercover investigation of Maple Ridge producer Kevin Davison resulted in Davison Farms ordered to pay $7,512 in expenses related to a show-cause hearing last month. The farm has …