The federal government is providing $1.7 billion in compensation to supply-managed sectors for market access granted under the Canada-US-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA) that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2020. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau made the announcement November 14 at a dairy farm in Quebec. Dairy producers will benefit the most from …
The price of peace
Remembrance Day was born in the aftermath of the First World War, a day to remember the armistice that ended four years of conflict in 1918. The conflict cost Canada dearly in terms of lives lost and shattered: 67,000 men, women and children died, and nearly 150,000 combatants were wounded. No conflict before or since …
Apple soda breaks ground in saturated market
KELOWNA – At 28, Avi Gill recognizes the need to do things differently to keep his family’s 26-year tradition of growing Okanagan apples and cherries profitable. While production improvements are on-going and have helped increase the crops’ value, Gill has turned his attention to adding value to apples, which continue to face price challenges. Born …
Replant report targets industry over orchards
KELOWNA – The future of BC’s tree fruit replant program is no clearer following an audit of the most recent iteration than it was when the province failed to renew the program 18 months ago. The only thing that seems clear is that orchard renewal is likely to be secondary to industry renewal. “We believe …
Province rebrands hort course
The annual horticultural growers’ short course will be organized by the province in 2023, according to the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association, which has hosted the 65-year-old educational program since its inception in 1958. Rebranded as the Regenerative Agriculture and Growers’ Short Course, the event will be presented by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and …
Ice wine intentions rise
An inflow of Arctic air pushed temperatures in Kelowna towards levels needed for ice wine this week, just as the deadline for producers to register their intention to make the sweet beverage approached. Temperatures approached -7° Celsius as midnight approached on November 7, a degree away from the -8° C that frozen grapes must reach …