The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in collaboration with New Tree Fruit Varieties Development Council (NTFVDC), BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA), Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release (OKSIR) & Summerland Varieties Corp (SVC) are hosting an in-person apple grower focused day on the horticultural practices that create value for selling apples. There is a line-up of knowledgeable guest speakers from highly successful apple growing regions across North America who will share their insights into how they approach growing top quality apples and practices to consider when producing your own apples. Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the event at no cost and Pesticide Applicators Certificate (PAC) points will be available for attending certain talks. 

NOTE THAT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED – click on the link below to register.

When: March 7, 9am to 3pm
Where: Peachland Community Centre, Peachland, B.C.
Registration: (free) Eventbrite - Growing Value with Great Apples

Industry experts have been announced! Check out the website for updated information!

From the Ground Up Conference features a full day of interactive panel discussions that focus on how to successfully expand a growing B.C. food and beverage business (for Primary Producers and Processors).

From the Ground Up Trade Show is the only 100% B.C. trade show connecting our local brands to multiple market channels (for those who have food, beverage and other primary processed branded products). 

This industry-only 100% B.C. local trade show connects new and innovative B.C. food and beverage brands to buyers, distributors, brokers, chefs, media, and other food industry supporters to showcase and support the incredible processors, producers, and food landscape right here in B.C. The first 30 exhibitor registrants will have one of their products reviewed by a panel of five industry experts.

As a trade show participant, you receive one or two complimentary tickets to the From The Ground Up Conference that takes place the day prior to the trade show.

Conference Details
Date: May 17, 2023 
Location: Vancouver PNE Forum
Link: https://goodtogrowproducts.com/events-2/conference/

Tradeshow Details
Date: May 18, 2023 
Location: Vancouver PNE Forum
Link: https://goodtogrowproducts.com/tradeshow-23/

The Centre for Seafood Innovation has finished accepting registrations for the first intake of the Seafood Business Accelerator.  The SBA is designed to help small scale BC coastal fishers and farmers find a sustainable niche in the global food system. While this seafood sector, comprising wild-harvest fish, shellfish, seaweed, and farmed shellfish, remains a major socioeconomic contributor to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous coastal and remote communities, harvesters struggle to find or maintain a foothold in a competitive marketplace.

The SBA‘s goal is to provide seafood-specific early-stage business coaching, food industry training and project implementation to help not only small-scale owners, but to contribute generally to regional employment, income generation, and social well-being. The initiative will help take harvesters from being ’price takers‘ to ’price makers‘ — in other words, encourage food entrepreneurs to set their own prices and create new jobs in the local seafood industry.

The SBA was developed by the Centre for Seafood Innovation at Vancouver Island University in partnership with the BC Commercial Fishing Caucus. The program is funded by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Island Coastal Economic Trust, and the T. Buck Suzuki Foundation. Generous in-kind contributions came from Vancouver Island University and the BC Commercial Fishing Caucus. The Native Fishing Association, BC Young Fishermen‘s Network, BC Shellfish Growers Association, and the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association provided letters of support for the SBA.

We are thrilled that this program will provide invaluable assistance to the bolstering of BC Seafood Producers in supplying seafood to British Columbians.

To learn more about the SBA, and when the second intake may open visit: https://www.seafoodbusinessaccelerator.ca/

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has contracted G S Gislason & Associates Ltd (GSG) to undertake a provincial seafood processing capacity assessment. The study aims to assess the current state, competitiveness, and needs of seafood processing in B.C. The goal is to better understand the opportunities and barriers to enhancing seafood processing capacity, in order to develop an action plan for industry and government collaboration to increase processing capacity and innovation for B.C. caught and grown seafood. GSG has been interviewing key seafood industry members for input into the study.

If you wish to provide input to the study, please contact Gordon Gislason at gsg@gsg.bc.ca, (604) 685-7936.

The project ends on March 24, 2023. 

The Light Reflecting Material Program (LRM) provides 50% cost-shared funding, for producers to purchase light reflecting materials (LRMs). Materials must be purchased from approved sellers for installation and use in the 2023 growing season. Research and practical demonstrations show that light reflecting materials improve colouring and enhance product quality when apples are harvested at the proper ripeness (e.g. not overripe due to delays in harvest to attain higher colour saturation).

This program is delivered under the new Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan (TFISP), with support from the Steering Committee and administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).

Applications accepted until March 15, 2023 at 4:30pm PST. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first serve basis until funding is fully allocated.

For more details, including eligibility information, and how to apply, visit: www.iafbc.ca/tree-fruit

Your e-Bulletin will look a little different now with the addition of a permanent Regenerative Agriculture section. In this section, you'll hear about regenerative agriculture practices, programs, resources, and events happening around the province.

 Want to see webinars that could support your business?
Visit our AgriService B.C. Past Webinars library to view recorded webinars.