Province boosts online funding

The province has announced an additional $300,000 through the Buy BC program to help producers take sales online.

The new funding, administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, will “support industry-led Buy BC e-commerce activities” by providing up to $5,000 to successful applicants. The intake period will be just two weeks, from May 15 until May 29, or until the funds are completely allocated.

“The application window is going to be short as the aim is to get the funding to clients ASAP,” staff with IAFBC told Country Life in BC.

Applicants must have at least two years of business revenues, be licensed to do business in B.C. and be growing or processing one or more products in the province. The funding will support at least 60 projects, though the list of eligible projects means the number will likely be far greater.

IAFBC notes that eligible costs include fees associated with listing products on existing e-commerce platforms or associated with online payment systems for e-commerce activities (credit card fees are excluded).

Packaging costs associated with online shipments up to a maximum of $2,000 are allowed. Costs incurred to promote online ordering are also allowed, to a maximum of $1,000.

With many agri-food businesses from wineries to food processors offering direct sales, the latter two are likely to be popular categories.

Projects must be implemented and complete between June 8 and September 30.

The program follows $55,000 in funding announced March 27 to assist BC Association of Farmers Markets members launch online stores on a platform provided by Ontario tech firm Local Line.

For more information on how to apply, visit https://bit.ly/2YYKhYc.

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Pioneering grape grower Dick Stewart, the founding chair of the old BC Grape Growers' Marketing Board as well as a founding member of the BC Grape Growers Association, has died. Originally a nurseryman, working in the family business, he became interested in viticulture and in 1956 bought the old Alison Ranch property in West Kelowna and planted a vineyard. This was the foundation for the launch by his son Ben of Quails' Gate Estate Winery in 1989. The business has since grown, with Stewart Family Wines expanding beynd BC to Sonoma County in California in 2012. He is survived by his wife Rosemary and sons Ben and Tony and daughters Cynthia Walker and Andrea McFadden. ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

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A family, a community and an industry are mourning the sudden death of Chad Maarhuis of Rock Creek on May 10. Chad and his wife Erika own Magnum Meats, a provincially inspected class B slaughter plant. The Maarhuis’ also offer cut and wrap services at their independent butcher shop. “Chad was loved by many and will be incredibly missed by anyone who had the pleasure to know him,” says Nova Woodbury, the executive director of BC Meats, where Chad was also a director. A graduate of the meat cutting program at TRU, Chad was building a business with Erika and local employees to serve the Boundary and south Okanagan regions. One of his goals was to provide sausage and smoking services and he had just returned from a trip to purchase equipment to expand that part of his business. He and Erika have three young children. He was 37. [Shari Saysomsack photo/ Magnum Meats Facebook] ... See MoreSee Less

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So sorry to hear. Is there anything we can do to help?

Our condolences to this young family..... praying for comfort and strength for such a great loss for the Rock Creek community and extended area. 🙏💞

Ohmygoodness, how sad. They live nearby but I never had the pleasure of meeting him. I had heard that their shop was well liked.

So sad to hear this. I pray you and your family find comfort in the arms of God in this time of great grievance.

So sorry to hear such sad news ! 😥 My heartfelt condolences to the family & friends .

I am so sorry for your loss Erika and family. This is heartbreaking. 😔

So sorry to hear about this!! Thoughts and prayers to such a young family..💔😞

I'm so sorry to hear that..my condolences to the family

So very sad, condolences to his family

Condolences to the Maarhuis family from all of us at Island Cattlemens.

Such a lovely man! My condolences!

Many condolences. Heartbreaking.

Such a huge loss to the industry.

Awful news. My sincere condolences.

So sorry for your loss Erika & family. ❤

So sad condolences to the family friends community

Sorry for your loss!! Thoughts are with your family

R.I.P He will be missed

So heartbreaking 💔

This is so sad!

So sorry

💔

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

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While the federal government’s $256 million aid package for agriculture announced earlier this week gives some support for the livestock industry, other agriculture sectors, including BC fruit growers were left out. “The announcement addresses the immediate needs for the beef and livestock producers and processors, but has not addressed the immediate needs of the fruit, vegetable and grain sectors,” says Pinder Dhaliwal president of the BC Fruit Growers Association. As fruit trees blossom across the province, orchardists are at the stage in the growing cycle where they must make a decision on whether to start to manage their crops (thinning, fertilizing, spraying and summer pruning) or abandon them. This is the third year of low returns in the apple industry and many growers are left with few financial resources to pay for crop inputs. While the BCFGA acknowledges the government support that helped with the late arrival of temporary foreign workers, the sector is still short of labour and is facing increased costs in all areas. “The Canadian government needs to recognize that the reliable supply of food from other countries is at risk,” says Glen Lucas BCFGA General Manager. “Now more than ever there is a need to support a secure safe food supply produce in Canada.” Sign up for free FARM NEWS UPDATES delivered to your inbox every Wednesday morning. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

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The Canadian cattle industry is pushing the federal government for more support. “Right now, we have the demand for beef, but the hitch is in the processing,” says BC Cattlemen’s general manager Kevin Boon, referring to the impact COVID-19 is having on processing plants in Alberta and across the country. To manage the possibility that there might be a backlog of animals unable to be processed, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is proposing the federal government support the development of a side-aside program. A set- aside would give producers financial support to keep animals on feed longer if there is not room for them to move along through the supply chain, Boon explains. “We are not sure how it will run or who would be eligible,” says Andrea van Iterson of the BC Association of Cattle Feeders, adding that a set-aside would have a varied outcome depending on what role a producer played in the supply chain. “This uncertainty in the supply chain creates a lot of volatility in the markets,” Boon adds. That is raising the premiums for Western Livestock Price Insurance from an average of $15-$20 per head to $75. CCA is asking the government to cost share WLPI premiums to make them accessible to producers who don’t see a current value in this important risk management tool. CCA is asking for support in other ways. Tom Walker is following this story for our May edition of Country Life in BC. Subscribe here: buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced that the federal government is providing $20 million to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to support critical food inspection. “This will help make sure Canadians have access to safe and high quality food,” says Bibeau. The funding will help meet capacity challenges in processing plants. It will allow the CFIA to hire, train and equip more staff, including retired CFIA inspectors and veterinarians, and permit more overtime and extra shifts and it will support the sharing of resources between CFIA and their provincial counterparts. “There is no doubt that this pandemic has caused a shock in terms of how our supply chains function and has caused significant fluctuation in demand,” Bibeau says. “The men and women who work in all aspects of this supply chain are doing an essential service to the nation, and we are truly grateful.” Subscribe to buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

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Hana Lean

Local plants need to be taking our beef, returning phone calls and clean up their act. This is ridiculous. Consumers want meat processed the most ethically and clean way possible. On farm is the VERY best way. Our gov needs to hear their voice and allow this again legally.

What about the farmers that produce the food. Without us the food inspection is null and void. No food to inspect no inspectors needed

Class D and E licenses still exist, especially in rural communities

If they want to ensure Canadians have access to safe and high quality food, they need to step up inspections of food entering Canada - no more fake honey, fake rice, mislabelled fish ...