Lana Popham and Llama
BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham pals around with a llama at the PNE.
O&V caught up with Minister Popham the third week of October, just as the legislature went into the Fall session. As in previous years, we found the Minister remains enthusiastic about the state of farming in BC, as she reports back on the progress of government programs to increase revenue and jobs in the agricultural sector.
O&V
"How has the year been for fruit growers?”
Minster Popham
“Well, every year the growing season is a bit unique and I think we saw some challenges with weather events this year for sure. The cherry growers were hit pretty hard at the beginning of their season and we saw split cherries. There was too much rain at some times and not enough at other times. Overall, it’s been not bad and of course the bright light this summer was that we didn’t have any of the forest fires that affected crops the year before. The public is just enamoured with our farmers these days, so as far as selling domestically, those stats are looking really good this year.”
O&V
“Have cherry growers been able to make insurance claims?”
Minster Popham
“We did have to take advantage of business risk management programs for cherries, but I think growers were happy with the response from the Ministry. The Ministry is really involved on the ground. We have the biggest budget that we have ever had and that allows us to be more hands on in our communities, including assisting growers with applications.”
O&V
“Are there projects approved through the Tree Fruits Competitiveness Fund that you are particularly positive about?”
Minister Popham
“There are some that are in the hopper right now. I know that there is a project designed around marketing Salish which I am very keen on. Since we launched our buy BC program I am looking for every single way we can market our products domestically, where we have a really big focus, and of course internationally.”
“There are also funds for supporting excellence in growing Ambrosia (apples). There have been trials this year in using “Extenday”, a reflective fabric that can enhance the coloring of Ambrosia apples as they ripen.”
O&V
“Are you happy how the replant for tree fruits has gone so far? Do you anticipate that you will be able to continue to support the program?”
Minister Popham
“I think that conversation is on-going. There are still two years left in the fund, so we are not under the gun. It has historically been supported and as long as there is a case being made for it, I can see that it will continue. Because it has been so successful for the fruit tree industry, we do have other commodities that are interested in a replant program as well. One example is the raspberry industry, who have had a lot of struggles over the last few years. Cheap imports are a problem for them and they really need to change out to the type of varieties that appeal well to consumers and store well in retail situations. We haven’t had a replant program for raspberries, but the raspberry growers have heard about the apple growers, so we might have to look at that.”
“We also convened a table with the wine industry and grapegrowers last year to talk about a grower’s resource guide that would address business skills, regulations, sustainable growing and viruses and how do you plan for replanting a certain variety when it is needed. We just announced $30,000 to support that.”
O&V
“You made an announcement in Penticton in March about hospital procurement and Feed BC. How has that developed over the year?”
Minister Popham
“I can tell you that the Penticton hospital is using more BC product and fruit is on the list of products that hospitals use. Northern Health was buying frozen meals outside of BC, but the Penticton hospital has a kitchen that is producing and sourcing from BC farmers, and Northern Health is now buying almost 6,000 frozen meals a month from Interior Health.”
“Any region that has a hospital or long-term care facility, they all have a food system built within them, so we are just trying to match up growers and processors to feed into those systems.”
“The new regional food hubs that we have been developing will further support this. For example, the food hub announced for Quesnel at the beginning of August, will be able to tie in to the brand-new Quesnel hospital kitchen, as an easy place to source.”
At some time we will sit down with producers and the hospital and have a crop planning meeting with the nutritionists and Northern Health and say what products do you need in the hospital?
“Feasibility studies have been completed for a hub in Salmon Arm/ North Okanagan and in Summerland/South Okanagan. There could also be a place for a proposal for a berry specific hub in the Fraser valley.”
“We can’t write into policy that health authorities have to buy a certain amount of BC food, but the way we are setting things up it just becomes easy to do, and that is really the value of all of us working together; the public thinks it’s a no-brainer.”
O&V
“You have been holding public engagement sessions on the ALR across the province. What sort of feedback are you hearing?”
Minister Popham
“Well, anytime you take on anything around the Agricultural Land Reserve it’s controversial and never completely smooth. We are calling this a revitalization process. What we did find is that there is a lot of misinformation around our bills 52 and 15, so we are trying to keep up with factual information rather than chasing the myths and misinformation that ends up on social media.”
“I decided it would be better to go around to communities in BC and do some myth busting and open up sessions so that farmers and
stake holders and the general public could come in and ask questions. With this type of meeting, people come in a little bit hot. My assistant deputy James Mack, the chair of the ALC and my staff are there, so if somebody has a question, you have a comprehensive team there to answer.”
“We are finding that people are getting correct information at those meetings and I think most people think the stuff that we are doing is reasonable, but the good news is we are open to making changes along the way and that is another valuable part of these open sessions.”
“Bill 52 addresses dumping fill, for example. Well, we learned that people with a long driveway in a wet area may have to put gravel on their drive annually and under the bill there would be a notice of intent and perhaps a fee attached to it. Maybe we need to tweak that. That feedback is so valuable, and I hope people will understand at the end of this that we were very open to listen and that the changes you will see by regulation will respect that listening experience.”
O&V
Anything you would like to add?
Minister Popham
“Our second annual “Every Chef Needs a Farmer, Every Farmer Needs a Chef” will run November 12. We have over 400 people registered including 50 chefs. A lot of partnerships came out of this event last year. I just think it is one more way to make sure that agriculture is foremost in consumers’ minds, especially in the Mower Mainland.”
“That day is going to be like the best day of my life. It is so exciting.”
