Country Life in BC

“Big number” tough to get

May 20, 2020

Ottawa’s support for agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn mixed reviews. Many critics say…

IAFBC over-subscribed

May 20, 2020

A shift to online sales among BC food producers has led to the rapid exhaustion…

Flood buyout bypasses farmers

May 13, 2020

May is the month when Grand Forks residents watch the Granby and Kettle rivers for…

Industry mourns abattoir champion

May 13, 2020

A young champion for more meat processing capacity in the Southern Interior has died. Chad…

Province boosts online funding

May 13, 2020

The province has announced an additional $300,000 through the Buy BC program to help producers…

Cattle industry seeks cash

May 6, 2020

There was some hope for the BC cattle industry in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement…

Federal assistance falls short

May 6, 2020

Business continuity was a high priority for farm leaders when COVID-19 first disrupted access to…

Beefsteak tomatoes get smoked

May 6, 2020

Projections from the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission indicate declining greenhouse vegetable acreage this year as…

Distillery shows resilience as it adapts to market

May 1, 2020

KELOWNA – A retired accountant from Vancouver has given a mature orchard a new lease…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

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Demand for local food has soared in recent months, and Delta South MLA Ian Paton hopes a bill he introduced in the legislature in July will make it easier for artisan foods to get into the hands of local communities. The Home-Based Craft Food 2.0 Act is a bill that would allow individuals to sell foods prepared in home kitchens as long as the producers have the appropriate FoodSafe certification and a local business licence. "Right now, if someone cannot afford an industrial kitchen they are incredibly limited in where they can sell their products,” says Paton. "My bill would remove these barriers and allow individuals and families to supplement their income and give British Columbians access to a greater variety of fresh, local food.” He says the bill promotes food security, support local economies during the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and help grow the province’s farm sector. ... See MoreSee Less

4 hours ago

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Thank you Ian Paton!

Vivian and Martin from Edmonton stopped to pick some Staccato cherries at the Jeet family u-pick in Kelowna earlier this week. The Jeets have 10 acres of cherries. The three-year-old eight-acre block had enough production in the young urban-located orchard this year for 12-year old Abhay Jeet to operate a u-pick with his family. ... See MoreSee Less

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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

4 weeks ago

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FARM NEWS UPDATE

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