BC tree fruit growers are seeing extremely poor returns on their first pool advance from BC Tree Fruits Cooperative. Payouts as low as nine and 10 cents a pound for Gala apples were reported by top growers for extra fancy pack-outs. These figures are being called the lowest ever in real terms and are well …
Reeve leads BC Young Farmers
BC Young Farmers has a new executive director. Ava Reeve, a farmer in Langley, succeeded Christine Koch on February 1. She will attend her first board meeting in her new role on February 20. Reeve has developed significant experience with farm organizations as a vice-president with the Langley Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, agriculture program coordinator with …
Ingratta heads dairy commission
Bob Ingratta is back in the dairy industry. Ingratta was CEO of the BC Milk Marketing Board for almost six years, from December 2011 to March 2017. Three years later, he has been appointed as the new chair of the Canadian Dairy Commission. Saying strong leadership is required in the coming year, federal agriculture minister …
Black walnuts are an option for water-logged land
KELOWNA – After 10 years in the growing phase, a Kelowna agro-forestry producer is gathering the seeds of her labour and looking at increasing processing capability for herself and others. Twenty years ago, Brenda Dureault, then a nurse, moved to a 26-acre property owned by her father to raise her children. Curly Frog Farm, as …
Halal demand rising
A report by Nourish Marketing Inc. indicates that the market for halal products in Canada could exceed that for Chinese foods by next year. Halal products are those deemed ritually clean for consumption by Muslims. The sixth annual study of halal trends by Nourish notes that the segment is one of the fastest-growing in the …
Province consults on trails
Growing demand for access to the wilds of BC has prompted the province to seek public input on the province’s seven-year-old trails strategy. “The intent of the review is to ensure the continued relevance and importance of the trail strategy to First Nations, recreationists, communities, tourism proponents and the province as a whole,” the BC …