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GROWING OUR OPPORTUNITIESHow Judith Guichon’s lifelong passion for the land has inspired her to promote connections between urban and rural life.
THE GREAT INDOORSFor the past 40 years BC Hot House has been using theGreat Indoors to provide our valued customers withthat BIG TASTE experience. We don’t intend to stop.
www.bchothouse.com
THE GREAT INDOORSTHE GREAT INDOORSFor the past 40 years BC Hot House has been using theFor the past 40 years BC Hot House has been using theGreat Indoors to provide our valued customers withGreat Indoors to provide our valued customers withthat that BIG TASTEBIG TASTE experience. We don’t intend to stop. experience. We don’t intend to stop.BIG TASTEBIG TASTE experience. We don’t intend to stop.BIG TASTEBIG TASTE
www.bchothouse.comwww.bchothouse.com
B
IG TASTE
BC
H
OTHOUSE GROW
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AN INDEPENDENT SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET TO THE PROVINCE
Buying locally Supporting our farmers and producers
Careers in agriculturePathways for the next generation
Sustainable agricultureExperts weigh in on industry challenges
February 2013
BC AGRICULTURE3
REASONS TO SUPPORT LOCAL AGRICULTURE
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CHALLENGES
British Columbia’s nearly 20,000 farms produce more than 200 agrifood commodi-ties, while more than 100 species of fish, shellfish and marine plants are produced from BC waters. This makes us the most diverse agricul-tural province in Canada, and a wonderful place to eat and explore local foods.
Along with our signature prod-ucts of fruits, vegetables, and seafood, BC also produces a huge range of value-added foods, including honey, juices, dairy products and much more. Agri-entrepreneurs choose BC to achieve their goal of running a successful business, with their products offering everything from artisan-crafted foods to deli-cacies from around the world.
Building the local market for
BC foods is a key commitment of government’s Agrifoods Strategy to grow the sector to a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017. The Strat-egy outlines our plans to encour-age innovation, strengthen our domestic and international mar-kets and ensure a sustainable future for food producers.
Buy localBuying local is mainstream think-ing for BC residents. The number of farmers markets has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the passion, diversity and excite-ment British Columbians have for locally-produced food has never been higher. Food produc-ers around BC are building on that passion by partnering with the BC Government’s Buy Local Program to promote their products and encourage British Columbians to explore local fl avours.
International recognitionBC has a worldwide reputation for high-quality and high-value agrifoods products. By encour-aging innovation and enhanc-ing food safety protocols, we are helping producers and proces-sors turn their hard work into profitable and sustainable oper-ations.
The demand for BC food is also growing overseas and bringing new dollars to our communities. In 2011, BC’s agriculture, seafood and agrifood sectors generated $10.9 billion in gross revenues and exported $2.4 billion worth of products to more than 140
countries. As Canada’s gateway to the Pacific, BC is uniquely positioned to supply developing food markets in Asia as well as traditional markets in Canada, the United States and Europe.
Economic driverThe agrifoods industry is a stable job-creator and is inte-gral to our province’s economy. Your decision to buy local sup-ports food production in British Columbia, and the valuable jobs and diverse communities agri-foods businesses create. This is good for our economy, good for the 61,000 British Columbians employed in our agrifoods sec-tor, and good for the health of our families.
WE RECOMMENDSustainable food choicesHow to make informed decisions about the food you eat
PAGE 6
BC AGRICULTURE4TH EDITION, FEBRUARY 2013
Publisher: Caroline [email protected] Director: Jon [email protected] Developer: Emily O’[email protected] Manager: Maggie [email protected] Designer: Alana [email protected]: Adam [email protected]: BC Ministry of Agriculture, Ken Donohue, Rhonda Driediger, Kevin Klippenstein, Roberta Laquaglia, Norm Letnick, Diana Mclaren, Jim Thompson, WWF Canada
Distributed within: The Province, February 2013This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Province or its editorial departments.
Mediaplanet’s business is to create new customers for our advertisers by providing readers with high quality editorial content that motivates them to act.
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NORM LETNICK
Sustainable agriculture p.3A panel of experts weigh in
Attracting the next generation p.5 Promoting exciting careersin agriculture
BC food – a world of fl avours, opportunity and jobs
1THE DOLLARS YOU
KEEP IN YOUR COMMUNITY HELP STIMULATE BC’S
ECONOMY
Norm LetnickBC Minister of Agriculture
Multi-colored harvested hot peppers from Katatheon Farms.PHOTO: BC GREENHOUSE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 2013 · 3AN INDEPENDENT SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET TO THE PROVINCE
When you buy local, you directly support local food growers. By investing in your local economy, you help strengthen your local community as a whole. Not to mention, the shorter distance our food has to travel from field to fork, the more it reduces our ecological footprint.
Any chef will tell you that fresher food is tastier. When you choose local food, it maintains the highest level of nutritional value and taste because of its short journey. Buy locally and eat naturally. Visit our community at buylocaleatnatural.com.
Let’s connect and get social! /buylocaleatnatural @eatlocalnatural
Supporting our Local Farmers and CommunitySupporting our Local Farmers and Community
Brown Butter Ice Cream & Apple Tart
PANEL OF EXPERTS
I can talk on the organic side and say that in organic agriculture we use things such as cover crops to prevent soil erosion and help build soil (using these in crop rotations to plant crops like legumes in the rotation helps build the soil and replenish the nitrogen). When it comes to irrigation and water use we try and use drip irrigation and reduced-volume irrigation systems as well as manag-ing crops to reduce water loss. The challenges that the industry faces is that consumers are continually looking for cheap food which in turn supports non sustainable practices.
Ask — who’s my farmer? Ask your farmer or produce manager what the farm is doing to be more sustainable. How are they irrigating? What are they spraying? How are they build-ing their soil and preparing for long term sus-tainability? Get to know the people who grow your food and fuel your body. Buy from local organic growers, shop at the farmer’s market, and demand local stores carry local product. Vote with your dollars by putting money directly into those local organic farms. They will in turn be helping support the growth of sustainable farms and sustainable practices.
UBC’s Strategic Plan, “Place and Prom-ise” commits the university to exploring and exemplifying social, economic, and environ-mental sustainability. For example, the uni-versity’s internationally recognized Animal Welfare Program assesses the care and han-dling of dairy cattle which is a major social sustainability factor in maintaining a viable dairy-food industry. The program develops science-based solutions to ensure that ani-mal welfare issues facing dairy cattle, dairy farmers and the general public are addressed objectively. The challenge of distributing this information is met by training students who in turn enter the workforce and train others.
Initially, agricultural professionals must ensure that the public is aware of and understands local agricultural practices which are truly sustainable. With this knowl-edge in hand the public will be more likely to support practices which contribute to agri-cultural sustainability. ‘Buy local’ is impor-tant to help ensure that local food-producers can earn su� cient income to support their families. It is essential that the public helps prevent irreversible loss of BC’s agricultural land base required for sustainable food pro-duction systems.
To farmers, sustainability means being able to run a business that supports a fam-ily in a healthy environment, with a vision for a prosperous future for their children and grandchildren. To accomplish this, farmers and ranchers are investing in renewable energy, biodiversity, riparian restoration, and new crops. They are also improving business and production skills to better manage their farms.
The single most important thing that the public can do is to support local farmers, and by local I mean BC. Food production costs are high in BC. Because most farms are located near our larger population centers, farm land prices are higher. BC farmers and ranchers also comply with stricter labour, food safety, environmental and animal care standards, and receive less direct government support than other regions. Consumers, who buy, seek out and are willing to pay a little extra for locally produced food, are supporting sustain-able practices in agriculture.
Question 1:What is being done to ensure that our agriculture industry develops sustainably and what are some challenges that the industry faces?
Question 2:What can the public do to support sustainable practices in agriculture?
Kevin Klippenstein Chair, Organic Farming Institute of BC;Vice-Chair, Vancouver Farmers Markets
Jim ThompsonProfessor and Director, UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre,University of British Columbia
Rhonda DriedigerBoard Chair,BC Agriculture Council
4 · FEBRUARY 2013 AN INDEPENDENT SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET TO THE PROVINCE
Don’t just eat.Eat well.
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INSPIRATION
Reconnecting with the land: a down to earth approachAs a cattle rancher for 40 years before moving into Vic-toria’s Government House last November, BC’s new Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Judith Guichon, knows the importance of modern science in agri-culture. However she also knows that some of the old-fashioned values are needed in our 21st century world if BC is to have a healthy agri-cultural sector.
A fair price for locally-grown food can mean higher prices and some people “don’t want to spend a larger percentage of their disposable income on food,” Her Honour says.
“In our very comfortable life-
style in cities we can forget that the first (food) dollar comes from producing something and it all depends on the health of the land.”
Along with Her Honour’s down-to-earth appreciation of simple values, she’s acutely aware of just how much mod-ern science has advanced agri-culture. Her Honour has a self-admitted “passion for the land” that started when her Montreal family spent weekends on their farm near Hawksbury Ontario. There she joined the local 4-H and raised her own horse.
“I really grew up having the best of both worlds but one thing I knew was that I loved working with animals.”
Her spirit of adventure led her
to “survive Expo 67 in Montreal and also to travel to Europe. With two friends, we set out to see Canada and we drove to Whitehorse. It was the trip of a lifetime.”
She met her first husband there, the late Lawrence Guichon, a third-generation rancher. The young couple set-tled on the Guichon ranch in Nicola Valley where Her Honour
found a mentor in her father-in-law.
“The Guichons had a tradition of ranching and also one of com-munity service.”
While women have always played a significant role in agri-culture, (“it is traditionally a family partnership” she says,) not all of them took on as many public community roles as Her Honour.
“In my current role I want to take every opportunity to reach out to British Columbians, and to promote connections between urban and rural life.”
DIANA MCLAREN
The Honourable Judith GuichonPHOTO: OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
FEBRUARY 2013 · 5AN INDEPENDENT SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET TO THE PROVINCE
Thinking like a local
Locally grown foods. Farm-land preservation. Food
security. These are all great rea-sons to support BC farms and
farmers. In addition to a boun-tiful harvest, our agriculture sector provides opportunities for education and entertain-ment. Take a visit to a farm and discover the simple pleasures of life again — fresh air, great food and beautiful landscapes. Savour the seasons with a trip to your local farmers market. Cele-brate your region’s produce spe-cialties at a festive agricultural fair. Remember a time when life was simple and delicious!
ROBERTA LAQUAGLIA OPERATIONS MANAGER,
VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKETS
INSIGHT
039NSN_10.25x7_Final-TL Client: Tourism Langley North Shore News (Nourish insert)
design one Size: 10.25”x 7” (half page) August 23, 2012 3:37 PM
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In 2012, agriculture and agri-food directly provided 1 in 8 Canadian jobs. Source: An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-food System 2012 (AAFC)
Canadian agriculture is the third largest con-tributor to our GDP.Source: Overview of the Canadian Agri-culture and Agri-Food System, 2012
Farmers are earning more from the global marketplace today than ever before.Source: Statistics Canada, 2012
The average farmer is producing 300% more food today than in 1950.Source: The Real Dirt on Farming II, Food & Farm Care Ontario, 2010
FACTS
How important is agriculture in Canada?
■ Question: Is agriculture a promising fi eld for future careers?
■ Answer: Absolutely! The prospects are bright for the many kinds of jobs related to agriculture.
Those who work in educating the next generation of agri-
cultural workers and promoting exciting careers in the sector know they need to tell their story more often.
“We’ve been very good at bring-ing forth the challenges but not as good at talking about the posi-tives,” says Lyndon Carlson, Senior Vice President Marketing for Farm Credit Canada.
“The truth is that opportunities
for a career in agriculture have never been better. It’s not just for the primary growers and produc-ers. There are careers for scientists, innovators, sales and marketing people, and processors. There’s a great need for people in what I call true science: genetics, plant breed-ing and also all the agriculture jobs in IT and human resources.”
Knowledge and enrollmentCarlson notes that while the job prospects are bright, enrolment is currently down in the 200+ post secondary programs specifi cally dedicated to agriculture.
“Young people are deciding at the age of 17 on education,” he adds, “and we need to tell our agri-culture story better because it’s
a cool story. And you better have some of that cool cache if you want to attract young people.”
Modern agriculture also needs to respond to a changing mar-ketplace, adds Carlson. “Today’s consumers are label-readers, very nutrition conscious. Products themselves have evolved to meet an increasing culturally diverse population.”
Inspiring our childrenLindsay Babineau heads BC Agricul-ture in the Classroom, an organiza-tion working with educators and students of all ages to raise aware-ness of just how important agri-culture is to our economy and way of life. Programs like Spuds in Tubs (young children growing potatoes
in containers) are hands-on and fun.“One of our teacher resources
is called Agriculture: The Founda-tion of Civilization,” says Babineau. “Today as we continue to move to the cities we are losing the connec-tion to that rural lifestyle and those who stay on the land to supply our abundance of food.”
“Here in BC we have found that the product itself is the very best teaching tool,” she says. Having young people grow, cook, taste and see fi rst-hand how food is grown heightens their own appreciation. Along with this, many may fi nd a career path in agriculture to keep it growing.
DIANA MCLAREN
ROBERTA LAQUAGLIA
Attracting the next generation
2BUYING FRESH LOCAL
PRODUCE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
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6 · FEBRUARY 2013 AN INDEPENDENT SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET TO THE PROVINCE
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NEWS
FACTS
■ Innovation, technology and improved competitiveness are the keys to successful agrifoods production in the lower main-land and across British Columbia.
■ As the agrifoods sector becomes increasingly special-ized, innovation will continue to drive the development of new products, markets and job oppor-tunities.
■ Innovative BC-based projects range from improved manufac-turing techniques that increase e� ciency, to more fundamental changes in production. These include the use of carbon cap-ture systems in greenhouses or research stations to help deter-mine high value and quality products that thrive in localized growing conditions.
■ In addition to a range of pri-mary producers, Metro Van-couver has a very productive, value-added agrifoods-process-ing industry whose products include baked goods, natural health products, food additives, fruit pies, wines, tortilla chips, beer, and much more. The region has great potential for growth and o§ ers exciting opportunities to inject new dollars into the BC economy.
Hungry for sustainable food choices?
Most of us are unaware of where our food comes from, but there is an i n c r e a s i n g
appetite for sustainable food choices. And some made in BC initiatives are making it easier for people to make knowledge-able decisions about the food they eat. The Vancouver Aquar-ium’s Oceanwise is one such program, providing chefs, food suppliers, and consumers with information about seafood that is caught or farmed in a sustain-able manner.
An easy choice“We’ve seen some very positive movement toward sustainable sea-food,” says Mike McDermid, Ocean-wise’s partner relations manager. “Chefs and consumers don’t have the time to be marine biologists, but we can do the research and sci-ence that will allow them to make more sustainable choices.”
Oceanwise was launched in BC in 2005, and has since expanded across Canada with more than 3,100 locations supporting the pro-gram. Consumers can easily look for the Oceanwise label on menus or displayed in participating mar-kets and know that the seafood meets stringent standards of sus-
tainability, ensuring the long term viability of a species and the envi-ronment.
InnovationBut it’s not just our oceans where sustainable practices are being encouraged; the agriculture indus-try has been at the forefront of developing innovative practices of its own. And much of this work has been supported through the Investment Agriculture Founda-tion of BC, with funding from gov-ernment [provincial and federal] and industry grants.
“Innovation in agriculture is hugely important for farmers, but also for consumers,” says Peter
Donkers, the Foundation’s execu-tive director. “The sustainability of the industry in BC will ensure peo-ple have access to quality, locally grown food.”
One example of innovative technology is turning agricul-tural waste into renewable energy sources, which benefi ts the envi-ronment and provides new revenue streams for farmers.
Feeding our growing global pop-ulation means the sustainability of our oceans and agriculture lands will become even more important.
KEN DONOHUE
BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
Innovation in Agriculture
3BY BUYING LOCAL, WE
REDUCE TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS AND OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
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■ Question: What is sustain-able seafood?
■ Answer: ‘Sustainable sea-food’ refers to seafood har-vested through methods that meet the needs of the present without compromising the car-rying capacity of the ecosys-tems upon which they depend.
T he world’s oceans produce more than half of the oxygen
that sustains life on the planet. And their ability to absorb carbon diox-ide helps protect all life from the harsh impact of climate change.
Our oceans are also the main source of protein for about one bil-lion people around the world. And more than 200 million people fi sh for a living. Canada has the world’s longest coastline—bordering the Pacifi c, Atlantic and Arctic oceans—and one of the largest ocean bodies of any country in the world.
Oceans in crisisOnce considered an inexhaustible source of food, our oceans are now in a state of global crisis caused by overfi shing—which is the single biggest threat to ocean life—and
Our food. Our oceans. Our future.
NEWS
poor management.Over the past 50 years, many large
ocean fi sh such as Bluefi n tuna, cod and sharks have been fi shed to the point of collapse. Today, about 80 per cent of the world’s fi sh stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted.
Bycatch, which is the unin-tended capture of certain species, is one of the biggest problems in fi shing. Every day, millions of non-target fi sh are caught and die. Each year, more than 250,000 marine turtles, 300,000 cetaceans and thousands of endangered sharks
are trapped in commercial fi shing gear.
Other demands on our oceans are accelerating. Shipping, tour-ism, oil and gas, renewable energy and the growth of coastal commu-nities—all of these take a toll on ocean habitats and species. What’s more, climate change is changing ocean temperatures and acidifi ca-tion.
This is why we urgently need smart ocean management plans that protect important ocean eco-systems—and will keep all our oceans healthy.
What the WWF is doingWWF-Canada is leading the tran-sition to ‘sustainable seafood’, smart oceans management, and sustainable ocean economies to ensure that all three of Canada’s oceans—Pacifi c, Atlantic and Arc-tic—remain ecologically rich and economically prosperous.
With good management it is pos-sible to sustain our fi sheries, cre-ate jobs and build economies—all in ways that protect the health of Canada’s oceans.
WWF CANADA [email protected]
Thank you to all the consumers that support BC farmers and ranchers. Your shopping choices directly contribute to local, healthy economies.
- BCACLeading the way together
bcac.bc.ca
Jeremy Wiebe and Family
3rd Generation Farmers in Chilli
wack, BC
Simple. Local. Fresh.Milk is picked up daily from dairy farms across BC providing our community with a natural and delicious product. Our local food growers produce fresh, natural products for your family. Support your farmer and local community.
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