Country Life in BC

Metro Vancouver a food gateway

June 24, 2020

A report to Metro Vancouver’s regional planning committee on June 12 highlights just how much…

Mexico sticks with BC

June 17, 2020

Mexico’s decision to withhold seasonal workers from Canada will have a minimal effect on BC…

Agriculture first for support

June 17, 2020

Close to three-quarters of BC residents believe agri-food companies should be first in line for…

Kelowna readies exclusion bid

June 17, 2020

Kelowna wants the Agricultural Land Commission to approve the exclusion of 40 acres for the…

Province boosts online grants

June 10, 2020

Overwhelming demand for provincial funding to support online sales activities has led the province to…

Hurry up and wait

June 10, 2020

Ottawa isn’t in a rush to disclose details on various programs designed to support the…

Record nutrition coupon funding

June 10, 2020

This week marks the start of another season for the BC farmers’ market nutrition coupon…

Grand Forks ducks flood

June 3, 2020

The flood watch is not completely over for farmers and residents in Grand Forks, but…

Raspberry traits assigned values

June 3, 2020

BC produced nearly 15 million pounds of raspberries last year with an average farmgate value…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

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Interior Health has issued a public health order regarding Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver after two workers tested positive for COVID-19. The infections are being linked to cases in Kelowna, with Interior Health noting that 36 seasonal workers at the orchard and packing house had undergone quarantine and tested negative prior to arriving for work. However, a staff member living in the community had recently travelled to Kelowna. Krazy Cherry chief operating officer Harman Bahniwal said the farm is working closely with Interior Health to address the situation. "We are taking every precaution to mitigate any risk to our employees, their families and the public,” he said. A total of 45 people are now in isolation and Interior Health has restricted access to the farm. It says the risk to the community is low and reminds everyone, including those working on or visiting farms, to continue following all public health recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more, sign up for free FARM NEWS UPDATES, delivered Wednesday mornings to your inbox. [KRAZY CHERRY FRUIT CO photo] ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

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The first full year of legal recreational cannabis sales boosted BC’s farmgate receipts to a record $3.9 billion in 2019, a 13% increase over 2018. The most significant contributor to the growth was cannabis, which saw an additional $300 million in sales. This accounted for 65% of the sector’s additional revenues. Dairy was a distant second, with additional revenues of just $47 million. Ranchers saw an additional $25 million in revenue, ranking third in terms of absolute dollar growth. While the province framed the growth as grounds for resilience during the current pandemic, the woes of the cannabis sector and labour shortages are barriers to growth. However, the province has cast votes in favour of both, granting $500,000 to a $1.75 million craft cannabis cultivation project in Williams Lake and spending more than $10 million to date to accommodate seasonal workers and attract domestic workers to the sector. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers -- including cannabis growers. ... See MoreSee Less

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Hmm stats are easily manipulated. Any monies that are sent out to support various sectors will no doubt also be included in these "sales" figures. How about those sectors who, when they cant find locally produced product, bring in ingredients to sell as "local". Some sectors have supply management which helps farmers get a decent price. We shall see what the new trade deal does to agriculture sectors.

Leaving on a jet plane. Foreign farm workers trying to return home are facing challenges thanks to airport closures and reduced flight capacity. The international airport in Guatemala, for instance, is closed to commercial flights until August. This means employers need to charter return flights, which fly out of Montreal. The extended travel time means workers face an extended commute this year to put food on our tables, and support their families. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

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BC growers continue to face challenges securing labour thanks to COVID-19. Processing delays in June have been followed by the closure of the Canadian Visa Application Centre in Mexico City until at least July 13. Mexico City has been hit hard by the disease, with 579 cases per 100,000 residents. This compares to just 60 per 100,000 in BC. Approximately 6,000 workers have arrived in BC from Mexico since the start of the year, with hundreds more expected this summer. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

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Provincial measures to protect the health of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic this summer could top $20 million. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham said the province has spent $9.5 million to date housing more than 3,000 foreign workers destined for BC farms, and she expects the spending to double before the season’s over. Meanwhile, the province has allocated $1.6 million to secure campgrounds for domestic workers, who will be required to take a free, online COVID-19 safety course offered through AgSafe BC in order to stay at one of the campgrounds. “We’re asking farmers to also request the certificate,” says Popham. “It’s not a law, but we’ve been working hard with farmers and all the associations to say, ‘This is to protect you, so make them show the certificate.’” Ottawa, which has promised employers $1,500 per foreign worker to cover quarantine costs, has disbursed just $890,000 to BC – enough to cover fewer than 600 workers. Sign up for free weekly FARM NEWS UPDATES. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

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FARM NEWS UPDATE

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