At least 15 workers were infected with COVID-19 at Fraser Valley Packers Inc., a blueberry packing plant in Abbotsford, health officials announced on Monday. The plant is located at Short Road in Abbotsford. The investigation into the outbreak started on July 23. Teams from the Fraser Health Authority are working with the plant doing ongoing …
NEWS
Wineries reopen amid COVID-19
Tweaks to public health regulations governing bars and restaurants will mean few changes for the province’s wineries. A surge in cases prompted the province’s public health officials to clamp down and ban dancing and require patrons to be seated to receive service at bars, restaurants and other licensed establishments. In addition, parties are limited to …
BC youth offer perspectives
British Columbia has three representatives among the 25 members selected for the new Canadian Agricultural Youth Council. Sara Kate Smith, Jessica Leung and Marcus Grymonpré are the council’s three members from BC, and bring a diverse set of perspectives and skills to the council. Smith may well be the best-known, having made her mark as …
Top vet appointed
BC has a new top vet. Dr. Rayna Gunvaldsen was appointed chief veterinarian on July 10, succeeding Dr. Jane Pritchard, who had served as top vet since 2013. A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, Gunvaldsen specialized in herd health and regulatory medicine. Her studies also included specializations in large animal clinical sciences and swine …
Dairy selects new entrants
Three candidates have been selected to participate in the BC Milk Marketing Board’s new entrant program. The program’s selection committee interviewed a shortlist of seven candidates and chose Katie and Kelvin Lagemaat, Breanna & Jarrod Simpson and Marlayna Van Hoepen. The three have received invitations to establish themselves as producers and must formally accept the …
Insolvency concerns grow
While bankruptcies and insolvencies in the agriculture sector are down nationwide this year, BC has seen the number of businesses facing financial trouble grow. The first five months of 2020 saw 58 businesses in the province declare bankruptcy or make proposals to creditors, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, up from 45 …