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September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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4 days ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

7 days ago

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7 days ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle...
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1 week ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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1 week ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Weather chills BC berries

June 8, 2022 byPeter Mitham

A cool spring has put a damper on this year’s strawberry crop, but growers hope a delayed start to the season will lead to a longer finish for what’s traditionally the first of the summer berries.

Normally, Maan Farms in Abbotsford would be two-thirds through its first pick by early June. This year, cool temperatures mean it is just about to start

“You do have these complications, but I’ve just never seen it this bad,” says operations manager Amir Maan, who notes that many older plants are showing signs of damage from the wet, cold winter.

“The plants just don’t have fruit on them,” he says.

Cool spring temperatures interfered with plant development and hampered the work of pollinators, reducing fruit set. This means many growers are expecting lower yields, although the ripening fruit appears excellent.

“The fruit getting from the outside, it looks beautiful even though there is rain,” says Maan.

Katie Leek, operations manager at Emma Lea Farms on Westham Island, agrees.

“Our strawberry crop looks great so far this season,” she says. “The plants and the berries we see coming look very healthy.”

But the provincial crop will be down from the 2.6 million pounds harvested last year, prompting growers like Maan to investigate alternatives for what remains a popular crop.

While it will continue with field production for its popular u-pick, Maan Farms built a 2.5-acre greenhouse this spring with a vertical growing system capable of producing seven acres of fruit. The first plants went in March 14 and berries were ready by May 18.

“That’s been our saviour, to be honest,” says Maan. “With the greenhouse, we’re able to produce berries and our berries don’t get rain on them, our flowers don’t die, we don’t get frost damage.”

While the immediate forecast calls for a continuation of cool, wet weather, Leek hopes the weather will turn to allow Emma Lea to welcome visitors over the Father’s Day weekend.

“We are hoping the weather turns around and we can have a dry next few weeks,” she says. “We are hoping to have fresh picked strawberries and our u-pick fields open for the Father’s Day weekend!”

An extended season could also mean a better consumer experience.

“We’re hoping for the weather to calm down and that’s going to help with the quality as well,” says Maan. “Something that stays on the plant longer and slowly ripens will have even more sugar content so hopefully it’s going to be more flavourful. So the customer experience should be higher.”

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