KELOWNA – A retired accountant from Vancouver has given a mature orchard a new lease on life with a vodka that’s finding a niche in local and international markets. Blair Wilson and his wife moved to southeast Kelowna about 10 years ago after several business ventures in Vancouver and a career in federal politics, including …
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Victoria food hub gets funding
Relief is on the way for Vancouver Island farmers caught out by the closure of restaurants and other organizations that usually buy their product. A rapid relief fund administered by the Victoria Foundation will help the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRfair) establish what’s currently known as the South Island FoodHub at 808 …
COVID-19 spread tracked
Broad testing has shown the extent of COVID-19 infections at the various agri-food businesses hit hard by the disease. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced April 28 that testing of workers at United Poultry in Vancouver and Superior Poultry in Coquitlam had yielded a total of 80 cases. The two plants represent a small …
BC Veg names officers
The BC Vegetable Marketing Commission is holding its annual general meeting today, but the election of officers has already taken place. Originally slated for the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, the meeting will proceed by videoconference. The agenda for the two-hour meeting is packed. It includes a presentation on FeedBC, the province’s institutional buying initiative and accountability …
Plant closures a crisis for cattlemen
Ranchers are asking Ottawa to consider two programs to support the industry following significant reductions in processing capacity this week. “The situation has gone from serious to critical,” says Fawn Jackson, director of government and international relations with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). She says the federal government appears to be looking to the provinces …
BC cranberries get green verification
Cranberries are traditionally red and sometimes white – but this week, those grown for Ocean Spray in BC and elsewhere were verified as green. “The cooperative has received a verification that 100% of the cranberries from its farmer-owners qualify as sustainably grown using the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment,” the Massachusetts-based cooperative announced. …