Representatives of agriculture organizations from across BC met with provincial cabinet ministers and staff today as part of a virtual BC Agriculture Day. With meetings continuing past 5 pm yesterday, the event organized by the BC Agriculture Council was set to include 35 meetings over two days with more than 50 farmers, ranchers and agricultural …
BC Agriculture Council
BC farmers have public trust
BC Agriculture Council’s fourth annual consumer research survey suggests consumers’ perceptions of farmers, the agriculture industry and the province’s food supply chain have strengthened since 2018. A key finding from this year’s survey is that British Columbians continue to have very positive views of BC farmers. The results show that 96% of respondents believe that …
BCAC shifts to advocacy
ABBOTSFORD – One of the biggest organizational shifts in BC agriculture since the 1990s will see the BC Agriculture Council focus on being an advocate for industry and exit the business of program delivery. “BCAC’s core role is that of an advocacy organization,” says Reg Ens, who will be stepping down as executive director of …
Government budgets support marketing
Budget speeches in Victoria and Ottawa this week didn’t use the word “agriculture” but the province did give a 5% boost to the provincial agriculture ministry. The provincial budget on April 20 gave a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million …
Gala event celebrates success
Agricultural excellence was celebrated at this year’s BC Agriculture Council gala on January 28, with 400 households tuning in after a day of seminars as part of the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association short course alongside the Pacific Agriculture Show. Bev Whitta, Gary Funk and Carmen Wakeling were honoured for their contributions to BC agriculture …
High confidence, high prices
Consumer confidence in Canada’s food system is at all-time highs, according to the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. CCFI released a report earlier this month indicating that 87% of Canadians feel the food system has come through COVID-19 able to deliver healthy food. Citing a study for the BC Agriculture Council, the report noted that …