Sector events start growing

This summer could see a revival of agricultural fairs and trade shows, following last week’s announcement of BC’s reopening plans.

BC Fairs members met June 1 to discuss plans and protocols as BC prepares for a full reopening of the province by September. Many fairs that usually happen later in the summer are planning to go ahead, with modifications and flexibility in their plans. There will be ongoing sector engagement with the government into July to determine how reopening will unfold.

Playland, the amusement park at the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds in East Vancouver plans to reopen June 11, and organizers have signaled that the PNE itself may take place this fall. Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Country Fest plans to run over two weeks (rather than two days) at the end of July.

WorkSafeBC industry specialist Rose McDonald told BC Fairs that if the province lifts public health orders this summer, fair health and safety plans won’t need to be approved externally prior to events taking place.

Trade shows are also gearing up for a fresh start.

On May 20, the BC Landscape and Nursery Association announced the rebranding of the CanWest Horticulture Expo as Grow West Coast.

“This exciting new event will deliver an exceptional outdoor market-style trade show combined with educational seminars and sessions to the horticulture industry,” organizers state. “The redesigned experience will allow for in-person education sessions, a marketplace for exhibitors and much more.”

The first promotional e-mails were sent out this week, inviting exhibitors to register for the event scheduled for Surrey City Hall Civic Plaza on September 15-16.

Protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19 will be in force, in keeping with provincial health orders in force at the time.

With files from Barbara Johnstone Grimmer

All content on this website is copyrighted, and cannot be republished or reproduced without permission.

1 week ago

Canada's mushroom growers will have to post countervailing duties next week following a US Department of Commerce determination that Canada's tax regime effectively subsidized growers, allowing them to cause "material injury" to US growers through their exports. Canada is a major exporter of mushrooms to the US, with the countries effectively operating as a single value chain thanks in part to one of the largest mushroom producers, South Mill Champs, headquartered in Pennsylvania.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

View Comments

Likes: 2
Shares: 2
Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 6
Shares: 0
Comments: 0

The Jura Ranch near Princeton sold for nearly $5.3 million on May 12, the largest online ranch sale in BC in months, according to CLHBid.com, which handled the sale. The buyer was not named. Formerly owned by Rob and Kelly Lamoureux, which developed the successful Jura Grassfed brand, the ranch includes 2,625 deeded acres and a grazing licence totalling 83,698 acres. Originally offered at $4.2 million, the competitive bidding process delivered a higher value than the current market would suggest. Farm Credit Canada’s latest farmland value survey pointed to 1.7% decline in BC last year, which observers have attributed to tight margins and uncertainties related to Crown tenure.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 40
Shares: 10
Comments: 4

I sure hope it remains as farm land rather than a wind or solar installation.

Great grassland

yeah, who bought it? where are the checks and balances that ensure a ranch can continue being a ranch?

Uncertainty about crown land, aka native land grabs and unceded land claims being tossed around like it wasn't meant to destabilize the country?

2 weeks ago

American businessmen have quietly accumulated nearly 4,000 acres of farmland in the Robson Valley community of Dunster, sparking calls for restrictions on foreign and corporate agricultural land ownership in BC. Residents say the buy-up has driven population decline and priced out young farmers. MLAs from both parties and a UNBC professor are pointing to Quebec's new farmland protection legislation as a model BC should follo#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Foreign land buyers hollow out Dunster

www.countrylifeinbc.com

DUNSTER – Purchases of swathes of farmland in the Robson Valley by wealthy American businessmen have some in BC demanding restrictions on foreign and corporate ownership of agricultural land.

Likes: 26
Shares: 3
Comments: 1

This is a serious issue in Dunster and one that has impacts for wildlife and human neighbours.

Representatives from Quail's Gate Winery Estate Winery in West Kelowna were panellists during the Okanagan Cultivates event held at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus on May 7. The college has been hosting events like this to help elevate conversations in the community about what's grown locally and its impact on the region's food, wine and tourism industry. The Quail's Gate panel, which included Ben Stewart, discussed the long history of grape growing and winemaking in front of a large crowd who came to listen, learn and taste products from a number of local wineries and restaurants. A new $48.8M food, wine and tourism centre is now under construction at the college to open in fall 2027. The building will have modern food labs, a student-led restaurant and café and specialized training spaces for culinary, viticultu#BCAgd tourism studies.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 8
Shares: 0
Comments: 0