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September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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1 week ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

2 weeks ago

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2 weeks ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattleâ...
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2 weeks ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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2 weeks ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Islands Trust defers policy statement

Clam Bay Farm, first surveyed in 1874, grows grapes and crops on 107 acres on North Pender Island with Navy Channel and Mayne Island in the background.

July 14, 2021 bySandra Tretick

Gulf Islands farmers have some breathing room to digest and comment on sweeping changes proposed for the Islands Trust policy statement.

Trustees soundly defeated first reading of the bylaw at a special meeting on July 8, with just six in favour and 16 opposed. Instead, trustees voted 24 to one to defer consideration of first reading until December 2021.

The decisions reflected growing concern from islanders about how the sheer volume and scope of changes would impact them.

A need to acknowledge First Nations and the trust’s commitment to reconciliation drove the proposed changes, as well as efforts to address concerns regarding climate change and the serious shortage of affordable housing on the islands. The current policy statement was adopted in 1994.

In the weeks leading up to the meeting, farmers raised alarms because they weren’t involved in drafting the proposed new agricultural land stewardship policies and were particularly uneasy that agriculture would no longer be recognized as a “traditional and valuable activity” in the trust area.

The Pender Island Farmers’ Institute (PIFI) is relieved that trustees moved to delay first reading.

PIFI president Barbara Johnstone Grimmer says the postponement gives institute members time to discuss the document and provide more meaningful and informed feedback.

“The farmers’ institute will be reviewing the proposed changes in detail then discussing this with our local trustees,” she says. “For sure we will be watching the process closely.”

The rush to first reading didn’t sit well with many islanders. A petition garnered 700 signatures asking trustees to halt first reading.

At a virtual town hall the evening before council met to discuss the proposed policy statement, most of the 47 speakers asked for first reading to be deferred and for in-person town halls to be held on each island.

While first reading has been deferred, work on the policy statement won’t stop. Trustees have requested that it be referred to First Nations, regional districts and other agencies having jurisdiction in the trust area.

Between now and September, trustees will also share the draft policy statement with their communities and ask for feedback, although it is unclear whether farmers will be specifically invited to comment on the agricultural policies that could impact their livelihoods.

“We can’t provide engagement specifics at this point,” says trust communications specialist, Vicki Swan. “The plan first needs to go to the Executive Committee for review and possible revisions before approval.”

The trust has allocated $75,000 for this new round of community and First Nations engagement.

 

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