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MAY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 4

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1 week ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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2 weeks ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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2 weeks ago

BC wool shipments drop sharply in 2023, according to StatsCan data released in mid-April. Local producers shipped just 5,200kg at 37¢/kg, down from 18,600kg at $1.08/kg in 2022. While many farmers now use wool on-farm or dispose of it due to low market value, innovative producers like Emily McIvor point to untapped opportunities. Read more in our Farm News Update from Country Life in BC.

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BC wool value, volume drop

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BC sheep producers shipped less wool for less in 2023, reversing strong growth a year earlier. BC producers shipped 5,200 kilograms of raw wool in 2023, according to Statistics Canada data released on...
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2 weeks ago

Eric Feehely and Miho Shinbo are growing 30+ crops on 2.5 acres in Vernon. Writer Myrna Stark Leader takes a look at how Silverstar Veggies is balancing CSA programs, farmers markets and restaurant sales while planning smart expansions in challenging economic times in Market farm works smarter, not harder.

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Market farm works smarter, not harder

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VERNON – Silverstar Veggies, a five-year-old mixed vegetable and herb farm in Vernon, thrives on passion and innovative ideas. A former watersport and adventure sport instructor…
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4 weeks ago

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Okanagan egg producers chosen

October 4, 2023 byPeter Mitham

Residents of BC’s Okanagan Valley will soon have two new commercial egg producers shipping to grocers, with the BC Egg Marketing Board’s recent selection of Chris Grohmueller of Armstrong and Sajid Hameed of Salmon Arm as new entrants.

“Both Sajid and Chris are already well known in their communities for the quality of eggs they produce from their small flocks,” says Gunta Vitins, BC Egg’s Chair. “They have solid business plans as well as dedicated customers and we’re sure that with the extra hens provided by the New Producer Program, they are going to be successful egg farmers.”

The two farms will be eligible to grow their operations to 3,000 hens through the new producer program (NPP). Both farms were registered with BC Egg with the long-term hope of expanding production.

“It was in the blood,” says Hameed, who grew up on his family’s farm in Pakistan and has worked in the poultry industry for 20 years, first with feed mills then with broiler-breeder and egg operations in Canada.

Since 2015, he has run his own small-lot farm in Salmon Arm and now has 399 layer hens whose free-range eggs he sells at the Kelowna farmers market.

“Free range was the best option for me, and I had a good opportunity with my farm because we have lots of area where my birds can graze,” he says. “There is a huge requirement, especially for free range, because there are very limited free range facilities in the Interior.”

Relations with neighbours have been good, who have welcomed his expansion.

Grohmueller grew up on a squab farm in Abbotsford and raised squab in the Okanagan until the pandemic shut down restaurant sales. The farm then pivoted to sweet corn and pumpkins. It recently added laying hens to its operations, and will enter commercial production next year.

BC is home to 150 egg farms, 80% of which are in the Fraser Valley. The new Okanagan quota adds layers to the province’s food security, with both growers set to grade their own eggs for local distribution when they begin exercising their quota next year.

“In 2023, the goal was to start new egg farmers in areas outside of the Fraser Valley,” BC Egg says. “In order to prove that the applicants are capable of looking after hens, only people with a small lot permit would be accepted.”

The program received four applications this year, all of which were reviewed by a committee to ensure applicants demonstrated a capacity to care for hens and run a small business. Applications meeting the requirements were entered into a random draw.

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