New executive director for Small-Scale Meat Producers

Three years after its formation, the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association has hired an executive director to coordinate advocacy on behalf of members.

Ava Reeve, a veteran of small-scale agricultural organizations, has been hired for the role with the assistance of funding from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

Reeve also serves as executive director with BC Young Farmers and was instrumental in relaunching the Langley Farmers Institute. She also has personal experience producing lamb, pork and eggs on a small scale.

“Ava has been custom-tailored for this role,” says Tristan Banwell of Spray Creek Ranch, who chaired the association’s hiring committee. “SSMPA is very fortunate to hire an executive director with such a personal passion for our sector with the knowledge, skills, and experience to move things forward.”

Reeve’s first task will be overseeing a survey of small and medium-scale meat producers in BC, a project also funded by IAFBC.

“SSMPA has done a fantastic job of gathering information about the sector through informal channels,” says Reeve. “The survey will help us identify areas where we can provide support and better represent small-scale meat producers.”

The survey will gather information on producers across the province and gather concerns with a view to improving advocacy. The association formed in 2017 to address the lack of slaughter capacity, an issue remains unresolved and ever more dire. The survey will guide Reeve’s efforts to help small producers become better-connected and speak as one.

Reeve originally planned to meet with producers at up to nine regional town hall events but restrictions related to the pandemic changed that. She’s now considering alternative approaches to gathering local insights from producers around the province.

A final report documenting both regional and industry-wide trends and needs will be published at the conclusion of the process. SSMPA also plans to develop a map to help consumers contact producers directly.

All content on this website is copyrighted, and cannot be republished or reproduced without permission.

5 hours ago

Premier David Eby has promised to loosen local-sourcing rules for food processors in the ALR if re-elected, even before results of the province’s public consultation have been released. The BC Agriculture Council says the pledge undermines a process farmers took part in good faith. Today's Farm News Update from Country Life in BC looks at where the parties stand on agriculture ahead of the October 24 vote. www.countrylifeinbc.com/premier-called-out-over-alr-pledge/

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

View Comments

Likes: 4
Shares: 1
Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

But he doesn't support local organizations that allow residents to grow their own food like the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre

1 day ago

It was another sell-out at the 31st annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival on Saturday with organizers selling 5,000 pounds of locally-grown, fresh berries in less than five hours. Youth from the Fort Langley Lions Club's Young Lions program scooped, bagged and weighed several pallets' worth of cranberries. Ocean Spray donated the berries, which the public bought to benefit the community. Local grower The Bog was also selling fresh berries, having brought 2,700 pounds, which were on track to sell out by the end of the#BCAgt.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 5
Shares: 0
Comments: 0

6 days ago

There was a lot of reminiscing and appreciation of how far BC's turkey industry has come at a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BC Turkey Association and the 60th anniversary of the BC Turkey Marketing Board yesterday in Abbotsford. With a slideshow of events and people over the years, guests laughed and had a lot to be thankful for. "It's an opportunity to celebrate the industry at a time of year that's known for turkey. It's a culmination of all the year's work," says Natalie Veles, executive director with BC Turkey Marketing Board.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 17
Shares: 0
Comments: 1

Love it - Deb Etsell I see you 🤩

1 week ago

BC was the sole province to see farmland values decline in the first half of this year, dropping 1.9% according to a Farm Credit Canada report released Octover 7. This represented an acceleration in value declines from last year, and contributed to a 3.9% decline in the 12 montsh ended June 30. The drop follows on a 1.7% decline last year, which Farm Credit Canada attributed to tougher times in the fruit sector. However, the mid-year report points to a broader slowdown in value growth diven by higher production costs, tighter margins and uncertainty around trade, tariffs and international markets.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 3
Shares: 1
Comments: 1

Ndp

3 weeks ago

Channels of communication remain open between the provincial and federal governments with respect to financial relief for extraordinary costs stemming from this summer's ongoing drought and wildfires, but the BC Cattlemen's Association is urging producers to register for AgriStability to position themselves for any AgriRecovery package. "Hardworking families in the ranching and agriculture sectors, who provide food for the province, need the AgriRecovery program in place as soon as possible," says BC Cattlemen's president Alex Kuchar. But the provincial election creates an unfortunate delay. "It's not fair, in any form of the word, to see all those people who have lost so much in the fires to have to wait in limbo," says BC Cattlemen's general manager Kevin Boon.

Photo | Barb Edmonson / Firefly Ranch, Clinton

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 6
Shares: 7
Comments: 0