Growing the Agricultural Economy
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 3:58 AM
Prince George, B.C. – With an ever growing trend to buy local and support the agriculture sector within your region, Community Futures Fraser Fort George has developed a new initiative to boost the agricultural economy in the Highway 16 corridor.
“There are lots of programs based in the Fraser Valley to assist farmers, but they just don’t get out to our region” says Program Coordinator, Jillian Merrick. “People really need to have folks on the ground to meet with them and talk about what their strategy might be and that’s where we come in. We’ll be travelling all across the region for the next year and a half to meet with people who want to start a farm or who need assistance.”
As is the case with most sectors of the economy, those who have the expertise, are nearing retirement age, and youth have been reluctant to step into the shoes of what may have been a family business. The new initiative will also offer a mentoring program so those who are new to the business of farming can learn from those who have the experience and knowledge gained through their own farming operations.
“Mentorship is a big piece of the program” says Merrick who says it is a key component of the program’s three goals. “There is no educational component in the region that offers agricultural training. This program will offer seminars and training in communities as well as connect new farmers to mentors who can supplement that training” says Merrick.
The second goal is to raise awareness of the agricultural opportunities in the Highway 16 region. Merrick says while many would suggest the climate is a limiting factor, she points out that the Robson Valley, historically, had supplied most of the Province’s needs for root crops. By raising awareness of the opportunities in the region, it is hoped new farmers can be attracted to the area, especially those from the lower mainland who are being squeezed out of the agricultural business because of urban sprawl
The third goal is to address the barriers new farmers face in accessing land. “Land is becoming more and more expensive and revenues from farming are decreasing”.
The program may be considered a one stop information shop where those who need more information or assistance can find the connections they need to bring their plan to reality.
Merrick believes the opportunities for new farmers are clear, but the barriers to business startup and development can be overwhelming for individual farmers – something she hopes the project will address by building a supportive network of mentors and advisors, backed by solid business development support from Community-Futures and its partners.
Comments
Hmmm.. that is a bit of an odd statement that the “Robson Valley supplies most of the Provinces need for root crops”.
I do not remember seeing any product in a variety of stores throughout the Province that has the Robson Valley listed as the origin of the product.
For example, the best carrots in BC come from Sweder Road just South of Stoner now… used to be from Nick’s place on the way to Northwood, but they seem to be gone.
I know there are other “best in the world” crops in BC… such as the sweet corn from Soda Creek and fabulous cabbage from Chilako.
Local product is pretty much always best… but unfortunately not always easy to find.
V.
BC’s best crops cant be advertised.
Good point, AAV.
I guess with a name like RRrabbitt you would know who grows the best carrots.
Love our sweet local carrots. The ones from the lower mainland taste like dish soap. Get the local ones before they are all sold out, by the time Xmas rolls around they are gone. And does anyone know where Cariboo growers sell their carrots? I never see them on the shelves any longer. Do they have a large whoesale buyer that takes them out of the city? I know you can buy produce at the farm in the fall, but wonder where their produce goes from there.
I agree, The statement about the Robson Valley supplying most of the root vegetables in BC in just not so.
I buy local produce and grow some of my own and have done so for years. I like to support local farms and also buy local eggs, and beef.
Farmers in this area, are, as pointed out in the article getting older, and it seems no one wants to take over. This is not a good sign.
One of the things I enjoy most about Ottawa is the sheer abundance of local fresh produce. You name it and it’s available, generally from a farm within 10-15 minutes of my house. I almost cried last week when we used up the last of the baby potatoes and I have to wait until next year to get more, LOL.
You don’t realize how good fresh produce is until you compare it to some of the stuff you get in the grocery stores. So yes, I say support your local farms whenever you can.
For Junco…… Cariboo growers sells their produce at the downtown Saturday farmers market as well as at the Tuesday Farmers Market at UNBC. Unless they have closed the store on Northwood Pulpwood Road…. they also sell their produce at the farm.. Try calling 250-962-6574 for info.
Thanks Norm1 Save-on used to carry them but I have not seen them in their stores for the last 3 years. It was convenient to pick them up there, but maybe Jimmy wanted too much of a cut. Good to see the Farmer’s markets being sustained by these farms though and the carrots from Sweder Road are very good as well, so will have to stock up before they are all out.
Shoppers Wholesale often sells local(PG) produce. Currently they have 10 lb bags of Prince George carrots. I do not remember the current supplier.
Will take a look there, thanks.
We’ve tried to buy land or a working farm for years. We don’t have millions of dollars to do this. We have been able to buy a small enterprise and want to do it full time BUT to do that we need more land, equipment…We like doing this, it’s part of what we like about Canada. I grew up on a farm and want to do this.
There are too many real estate speculators and foreign owners that are buying land. We have tried 3 or 4 times to buy a farm and when we research it later via the land titles we find that a lawyer or a real estate agent bought the land for resale.
Then the land goes fallow and is unproductive. We can feed our family…can you feed yours? If not, then give us the opportunity to get the resources we need to farm or you’ll be buying your meat and vegetables from China within 25 years.
THAT’s A FACT!
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