CanadaGAP is a linchpin of foodsafety for many horticulture operations across Canada, and BC’s flourishing fruit and vegetable farms make it one of the best-represented jurisdictions in the program. But last year also saw it log one of the steepest declines of any province in the country. CanadaGAP’s annual report for the year ended August …
CanadaGAP
The perfect solution for farmers on the go
NORTH SAANICH – Out in the fields of the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in North Saanich, something innovative is happening. If you drive by the 83-acre site on Glamorgan Road, once home to the Sandown Racetrack, you’d be hard-pressed to see anything out of the ordinary. Sure, there are two new 10-foot shipping containers …
CanadaGAP expands options
Many small fruit and vegetable producers say CanadaGAP requirements are complex and onerous. While the major grocers require that suppliers participate in the national food safety certification program, many growers are opting out. Program participation fell for the first time since inception last year, with BC – home to the largest proportion of CanadaGAP participants …
CanadaGAP participation drops
While retail sales channels demand more from producers, CanadaGAP statistics indicate more producers in BC are demanding less regulation. The food safety certification program debuted in 2008 and includes 3,000 participants from across North America’s fresh produce sector. The annual report for the program year ended August 31, released in advance of CanadaGAP’s annual general …
Small farmers raise concerns about CanadaGAP
VERNON – Government efforts to provide greater assurances of food safety are creating apprehension among smaller farmers regarding the additional work they will face in order to satisfy customer requirements. Randy Irwin, corporate retail operations manager with Vernon-based Nature’s Fare Market, sums up the situation well. “The problem with CanadaGAP is that it is government-supported …