CHILLIWACK – A better quality product with fewer workers was the common rationale for the adoption of technology at four agri-food businesses showcased during a recent tour Chilliwack Economic Partners Corp. hosted. The day-long event September 9 treated more than 50 representatives of government, business and the media to tours of Dutch Heritage Greenhouse, which …
Plant health centre breaks ground
Ground has broken in North Saanich on a new Centre for Plant Health, Canada’s first line of defence against plant diseases. Representatives of the federal government and local First Nations gathered on site September 22 to mark the start of construction on a new diagnostic and research facility, operated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency …
Disaster preparedness lacking
Canada is among the top 10 most food-secure countries in the world, but it is among the least prepared for a major disaster. While the country gets top marks for its political commitment to managing risks to the agriculture sector, an analysis released last week by Economist Impact with the assistance of Corteva Agriscience gave …
Average crop for BC cranberries
BC’s cranberry harvest kicked off September 23 with Lower Mainland growers harvesting the first of this year’s crop. “Harvest is on target with quality and quantity,” says Kalpna Solanki, chair of the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission. The commission reports that a cool, wet spring delayed this year’s harvest by more than a week. The harvest …
Milk board picks new entrant finalists
ARMSTRONG – The idea of seeing their children grow up to pursue dairy farming as a viable career was John and Candice Riemersma’s core motivation in applying for the BC Milk Marketing Board’s New Entrant Program. It also won the couple a spot among the three families selected as finalists in this year’s program, which …
Avian influenza returns
Poultry producers across the province are once more on high alert for highly pathogenic avian influenza after three positive test results in the past week. The industry went back to red level biosecurity protocols September 12 following a potential case in the Fraser Valley. The disease was confirmed at a commercial flock in Chilliwack with …