Organic growers hold conference

“Organic Solutions for a Complex World” was the theme as 250 participants from across BC, Canada and the US gathered for the BC Organic Conference in Harrison Hot Springs, November 25-27.

Gillian Flies and Brent Preston set the tone for the event with the story of transforming their  profitable organic vegetable farm near Creemore, Ontario, into the New Farm Centre, a non-profit research and education organization that promotes regenerative farming.

Paul Holmbeck, the former director of Organic Denmark, described how organic foods now claim a 30% to 60% share of the country’s grocery market and account for 60% of meals served at public institutions.

Closer to home, Jacob Beaton discussed the work of Tea Creek, an Indigenous-led farm in the Kispiox Valley.

Two dozen small-group sessions tackled topics ranging from cover crops, soil management and the supply chain for growing demand for local organic products, to IPM practices and biosecurity for organic livestock.

The conference banquet saw a number of awards presented.

Jim Grieshaber-Otto of Cedar Isle Farm in Agassiz received the Brad Reid Award in honour of his passion, leadership and advocacy work that has achieved real, positive change in the organic community.

The Organic Champion Award, a new honour for 2025, was presented to Country Life in BC columnist Anna Helmer of Helmer’s Organic Farm in Pemberton for her exemplary support of organic agriculture in BC.

The Innovation Award, also new this year, was presented to Tanya Belanger, owner of Vancouver-based organic bakery A Bread Affair, for her “creative and novel approach [that] has advanced solutions in the organic agriculture sector.”

The conference was Organic BC’s first in two years, and the first since separating from the Certified Organic Association of BC (COABC) to focus on policy, production and marketing, while COABC continues to focus on certification.

The new organization was the topic of much discussion at the conference, including multiple strategic planning meetings.

“I hope you are as excited as I am for the potential of this new organization,” COABC board member Jordan Marr said in his role as conference MC.