NANAIMO – A farm property should be taxed as a farm even if the farm operation includes value-added processing, according to a Nanaimo cidery facing a big boost to its property tax bill. Big Bang Cider sits on 17.5 acres at 1235 Nanaimo Lakes Road, a location chosen because it lies within the Agricultural Land …
NEWS
BC women break barriers in agriculture
ABBOTSFORD – The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) wants to see more women assume roles in agriculture, not only to achieve gender parity throughout the industry, but also to help reduce labour and skills shortages. The organization’s March 2025 report, From the Field to the Boardroom: Women Driving Change in Agriculture, cites Statistics Canada …
Chilliwack grower named BC-Yukon OYF
Corne Quik, co-owner of Chilliwack-based flower growers, Quik’s Farm Ltd., was named the 2026 BC-Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer on January 22 at the Pacific Agriculture Show. “I’m in business with my two brothers, Andries and Leo, and Mom and Dad are still there as well,” he said in his presentation to about 50 people. “Our …
Cherry growers focus on labour
Securing labour for the 2026 season will be critical to avoiding a repeat of last season’s lost opportunities, cherry growers say. Some 65 members of the cherry industry, including growers, packers and brokers, gathered for a townhall meeting the BC Cherry Association hosted January 26 to discuss the 2025 season, which delivered a record crop …
Monette Farms sale extended
The auction of a dozen ranches totalling close to 45,000 acres held by Monette Farms Ltd. of Saskatchewan is moving to the next phase after none of the properties were sold by January 9. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. announced that it would offer the properties for sale on December 2 and set an initial deadline …
Delta grower inspires salad start-up
DELTA – A next-generation salad producer is growing his business with the help of some time-honoured BC expertise. Growing up in Saskatoon, Jon Karwacki was schooled in the importance of delivering the freshest produce to consumers by his father, Star Produce Ltd. founder David Karwacki. After graduating from university, he joined the business and worked …