A popular agri-tourism destination and demonstration farm in Abbotsford has rebranded to reflect its growing scope of operations.
Bill Vanderkooi, chair of the non-profit EcoFarm Innovation Association (formerly EcoDairy Innovation Association), made the announcement on Earth Day, April 22, with special guests including Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens, Abbotsford MP Ed Fast and former Science World CEO Bryan Tisdale.
“What began as EcoDairy has grown and diversified into the EcoFarm,” said Vanderkooi at an on-farm event called EcoFarm Fest 2023. “As the years have gone by, we have been enhancing what we do and what we have to offer visitors to the farm.”
Following the announcement, the festival featured farm tours, children’s activities, live music and food. Tours showcased the on-site anaerobic digester, robotic milker and calf feeding system, an automated hydroponic wheatgrass system called HydroGreen, herds of dairy and grass-fed beef cows, layer barn, beehives, berries and rice fields.
EcoDairy manager, Nikki Cheater, told Country Life in BC that the event “was a great success with lots of young families in attendance, as well as many other folks of all ages.”
EcoFarm, founded in 2010, is guided by a board of directors representing local businesses, the community and education sector. It leases the agri-tourism building from Bakerview Farm, one of the business units under the Nutriva Group umbrella, which also includes Vitala Foods and a variety of agri-businesses including Diverse Feed Solutions, Nutritech Solutions, Bradner Milk Transport and Fraser Analytical Services. Vanderkooi is also CEO of Nutriva.
EcoFarm will be transitioning its web content to a new website over the coming months.
“We will continue to stay focused on our mission and vision of inspiring a love for farming and food and to be a celebrated community partner,” said Vanderkooi.
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