The floodwaters are finally receding in the Lower Mainland, but farmers across southwestern BC now face the monumental challenge of cleaning up their properties. Just 500 properties in the Fraser Valley remained under evacuation orders on December 7, according to the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Those farmers who have returned have been …
Lana Popham
Creston food hub opens
A long-awaited food hub officially opened its doors in Creston on October 15, the fruition of eight years of discussion, study and advocacy on the part of locals. Spearheaded by Fields Forward Society of Creston, the Kootenay Farms Regional Food Hub and Innovation Centre provides local growers and processors with processing equipment and facilities, an …
Feed BC connects producers with opportunities
VICTORIA – The government’s Feed BC program is gaining momentum as more food hubs come online and post-secondary partners express interest in offering more local products to students. “We have a dozen food hubs that are underway right now,” says BC Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Lana Popham. “With the increased budget that we …
Premises ID to be mandatory
All livestock producers will be required to register for Premises ID by next year. Participation is currently voluntary, but BC agriculture minister Lana Popham says industry demand has prompted the government to develop new regulations under the BC Animal Health Act making it mandatory. “BC farmers and ranchers have been clear that a new regulation …
Feed BC expands to post-secondary institutions
Nine post-secondary institutions have signed on with the province’s FeedBC program, with a goal to increasing the use of BC food in campus kitchens to 30%. Participating institutions include BCIT, Camosun College, Selkirk College, SFU, Thompson Rivers University, UBC, University of the Fraser Valley, University of Northern British Columbia and Vancouver Community College. The schools …
Raspberries get replant funding
A long-awaited raspberry replant program kicked off BC agriculture minister Lana Popham’s second term in cabinet this week. Popham announced $90,000 in funding for the program December 1 as part of a suite if announcements positioned as helping farmers recover from the effects of COVID-19. The program will also see $72,000 contributed by industry for …