BC Veg denies greenhouse application

Ontario-based greenhouse grower Mucci Farms has had its application to market produce in BC denied by the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission.

Mucci currently supplies produce to the BC market as a wholesaler through Country Fresh Produce Inc. of Delta.

Mucci’s application to be a marketer, originally submitted May 29 and subsequently amended prior to final submission on July 11, argued that designating it as an agency would create a more competitive marketing landscape in BC and expand opportunities for BC growers.

However, BC Veg dismissed the application, arguing that Mucci lacked sufficient producer support and did not fully understand the BC market or the regulations governing it.

The decision, signed by BC Veg chair Derek Sturko, noted that letters of producer support for Mucci’s proposed agency were absent from its application.

Moreover, by shifting from a wholesaler to an agency, Mucci threatened the existence of the agency it currently supplies.

“The Panel does not agree that Mucci has provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the market for BC product is underserved and that providing more choice to producers by increasing the number of designated agencies would lead to higher returns,” BC Veg stated. “On the contrary, excessive competition among agencies may be detrimental to orderly marketing.”

The decision in support of orderly marketing for greenhouse-grown vegetables comes as the greenhouse sector considers establishing its own marketing commission on the grounds that greenhouse interests don’t receive due attention from BC Veg.

The decision, issued August 13, is open to appeal within 30 days.

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