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 …
NEWS
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. …
Agrologists unveil new designation
The BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) announced a new professional certification this spring, the Registered Technologist in Agrology (RTAg). The new designation will align the profession of agrology with other applied science professionals that also have a technologist designation. The RTAg certification typically requires a two-year college or university education in a variety of approved …
Province covers quarantine costs
BC will cover the cost of quarantining seasonal farm workers arriving in BC this spring. “The province will fund hotel and food-service costs during the 14-day self-isolation period,” the province announced in an information bulletin issued April 14. The announcement follows a federal announcement this week that employers in the agrifood sector would receive $1,500 …