As Canada enters its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, meat processors continue to struggle with virus transmission among employees. Reported custom order cancellations and lower staff numbers exacerbate the ongoing capacity crunch small-scale producers face. While no new outbreaks have been declared at Lower Mainland abattoirs or meat-packing facilities since an outbreak at the …
meat processing
New executive director for Small-Scale Meat Producers
Three years after its formation, the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association has hired an executive director to coordinate advocacy on behalf of members. Ava Reeve, a veteran of small-scale agricultural organizations, has been hired for the role with the assistance of funding from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Reeve also serves as executive director with …
Province expands slaughter licences
PORT ALBERNI – The BC Ministry of Agriculture has announced the opening of three new regions for class D on-farm slaughter licences. Farmers within the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, as well as electoral area D in Central Kootenay and electoral area H in Fraser-Fort George Regional District, will now be eligible to apply for class …
Island farmers renew request for local abattoir
PORT ALBERNI – The Alberni Farmers’ Institute is renewing a request to have the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) designated a Class D and E licensing area under BC’s Meat Inspection Regulation. “The regional district first made a formal application to the government back in 2017,” says Lisa Aylard, president of the Alberni Farmers’ Institute. “They …