NANAIMO – A farm property should be taxed as a farm even if the farm operation includes value-added processing, according to a Nanaimo cidery facing a big boost to its property tax bill. Big Bang Cider sits on 17.5 acres at 1235 Nanaimo Lakes Road, a location chosen because it lies within the Agricultural Land …
NEWS
BC women break barriers in agriculture
ABBOTSFORD – The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) wants to see more women assume roles in agriculture, not only to achieve gender parity throughout the industry, but also to help reduce labour and skills shortages. The organization’s March 2025 report, From the Field to the Boardroom: Women Driving Change in Agriculture, cites Statistics Canada …
Chilliwack grower named BC-Yukon OYF
Corne Quik, co-owner of Chilliwack-based flower growers, Quik’s Farm Ltd., was named the 2026 BC-Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer on January 22 at the Pacific Agriculture Show. “I’m in business with my two brothers, Andries and Leo, and Mom and Dad are still there as well,” he said in his presentation to about 50 people. “Our …
Cherry growers focus on labour
Securing labour for the 2026 season will be critical to avoiding a repeat of last season’s lost opportunities, cherry growers say. Some 65 members of the cherry industry, including growers, packers and brokers, gathered for a townhall meeting the BC Cherry Association hosted January 26 to discuss the 2025 season, which delivered a record crop …
Delta grower inspires salad start-up
DELTA – A next-generation salad producer is growing his business with the help of some time-honoured BC expertise. Growing up in Saskatoon, Jon Karwacki was schooled in the importance of delivering the freshest produce to consumers by his father, Star Produce Ltd. founder David Karwacki. After graduating from university, he joined the business and worked …
Traceability reprieve for livestock
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has hit pause on amendments to traceability regulations under the Health of Animals Act. “The CFIA will pause any publication of the regulations until the proposed changes are more widely understood and concerns are heard and taken into consideration,” the agency announced January 10. The changes have yet to …