The province launched the latest edition of the Agritech Innovation Challenge on April 17, after a soft launch at the BC Tech Summit in Vancouver a month earlier. Overseen by the BC Innovation Council with $150,0000 in funding from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the challenge targets three areas for innovation: food processing, food traceability, …
NEWS
Cowichan Valley seeks sub-appellation
Cowichan Valley wineries and grape growers are rallying behind a proposal to create Vancouver Island’s first sub-appellation. A proposal to designate the Cowichan Valley a sub-geographical indication (GI, or appellation) of the larger Vancouver Island appellation was filed with the BC Wine Authority on April 16. “The proposed sub-GI has been identified as a unique …
Greenhouse vegetables rebound from cannabis
Vegetable production isn’t going to pot in the Lower Mainland, attendees of the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission’s annual general meeting heard April 10. A year ago, the removal of 96 acres of regulated greenhouse acreage – primarily sweet bell peppers – for cannabis production threatened to squeeze commission revenues. “We can speculate that that number …
Speculation tax a concern
BC farms that employ seasonal workers have received greater clarity regarding the impact the province’s speculation and vacancy tax could have on their operations. Responding to questions from the Western Agriculture Labour Initiative, BC Ministry of Finance staff clarified the terms under which worker housing might be subject to the tax. The clarification says that …
BC Tree CEO builds team spirit
Building team spirit is high on the agenda of BC Tree Fruits’ new CEO. Todd McMyn joined the co-op on April 1 and recently spoke to Country Life in BC in one of his first media interviews following the announcement of his appointment on April 9. “My short-term goal is to bring the idea of …
Piece rates won’t change – yet
BC’s long-standing piece rate system won’t be overhauled by June 1, as recommended last year by the Fair Wages Commission. BC labour minister Harry Bains endorsed the commission’s recommendation last year that all harvesters be paid minimum wage by June 1, 2019. However, he also said too little was known about the existing system, created …