New leadership is in the offing at the BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.
During the association’s annual general meeting in Tsawwassen this week, chair Bill Zylmans announced his resignation and members approved the board’s expansion to nine members to better handle the association’s work on behalf of the sector.
Speaking with emotion, Zylmans was grateful for the chance to build the profile of the sector since he took the helm of the association 12 years ago but emphasized the significant work it’s taken. It’s now time for him to spend more time with his family, and give younger growers a chance to serve.
“It’s time,” he said.
However, he won’t be going away just yet. The next six months will be a chance to identify a successor and mentor them in what the work entails. He’ll also continue to represent seed potato growers on the association’s board for the foreseeable future.
Among the association’s achievements of the past year has been collaborating with other farm groups to address labour issues and securing $150,000 worth of provincial funding over five years, cash that will support the association’s ongoing work and research on behalf of growers.
The association’s new board includes Ab Singh and Blake Lundstrom; Judy Galey, Cory Gerrard, Blair Lodder, Hugh Reynolds and Randy Sahota; and Peter Guichon of the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission as well as Zylmans representing seed potatoes.
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