To raise awareness of the challenges faced by the apple growers in Okanagan, the BC Fruit Growers Association sold apples at 12 cents a pound in Kelowna on Thanksgiving weekend. BCFGA billed the sale at the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market on October 10 the “BC Apples Farewell Tour” to highlight how low returns are forcing …
NEWS
Turkey farm draws protestors
A poultry grower in Kelowna is the latest target of one of the four activists charged in the invasion of an Abbotsford hog farm last year. Amy Soranno led a protest on Thanksgiving weekend against Patton Farms Inc. in Kelowna, which is building a barn and provincially inspected Class B slaughter facility set to come …
Parties unveil agriculture platforms
While it cut funding to the agriculture ministry this year, the BC NDP is pledging to expand many of its existing initiatives for agriculture if re-elected in the October 24 election. The three planks of BC NDP agriculture programming – Grow BC, Feed BC and Buy BC – will be “strengthened,” according to the platform …
US investigating blueberries
BC blueberry exports are being investigated as a possible source of economic injury to US growers. US Trade Representative Robert Lightizer announced the investigation September 29 following the release of a report jointly authored by his office, the US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Commerce. “It’s very difficult to say what the impact …
Election delays funding
The provincial election means BC farmers will have to wait for their share of $35 million in emergency funding the federal government announced at the end of July. “During the interregnum, it would not be prudent for the Ministry of Agriculture to take on administration commitments that would bind an incoming administration,” a statement from …
Turkey sales up
Retail sales of turkeys are up versus a year ago as Thanksgiving approaches, according to the BC Turkey Marketing Board. Nationally, the industry has seen a 10% cut in production this year as the COVID-19 pandemic scaled back foodservice demand. More recently, government warnings regarding the importance of smaller gatherings at Thanksgiving to limit the …