Resources and Links
The BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) represents over 14,000 BC farmers and ranchers and close to thirty farm sector associations from all regions of the province. Its mission is to continually improve the social, economic and environmental sustainability of BC Agriculture.
Represents growers in matters such as: Plant import regulations; risk management programs (i.e. Crop Insurance & CAIS); farm practices topics; rural/urban land use issues; water use and conservation discussion; Environmental Farm Plan Program; and update to the BCMAL “Cost in establishing a vinefera vineyard
BCWA is the regulator that implements the system of wine standards and authorizes wineries to use certain prescribed terms on wine labels, such as “BC VQA” and “Okanagan Valley” that assure the consumer that the wine is made from 100% British Columbia grown grapes and that the wine is free of specific faults.
888 Westminster Ave West, Penticton BC V2A 8S2
Tel (250) 492-2872 Toll Free: 10877-499-2872
Stephan Berney – General Manager Email: steve.berney@bcvqa.ca
Lorrie Zander – VQA Technician Email: lorrie.zander@bcvqa.ca
A voluntary trade association with member fees to be based on BC wine sales. It builds and markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA) wine brand; creates the business climate that allows members to prosper, liaises with government and stakeholders on key business and regulatory issues; promotes the industry to key wine, food, and travel media; and coordinates the yearly crop analysis report for industry
The BCFED Health & Safety Centre was first established to help train workers and workplace representatives so they could act with confidence and competence on their considerable legal rights and responsibilities as provided by occupational health and safety law. Meeting and exceeding this legislation remains a focus for the Centre. In the face of unchecked occupational hazards and much suffering, full implementation of these rights and responsibilities is an absolute necessity, socially and morally.
These are two great links to information on electric fencing. The Bear Aware gives several companies who install good systems.
Bear Aware is an educational program designed to prevent and reduce conflicts between people and bears in our communities.
BEAR SCARE is a Western Canadian based company that specializes in the training of non-lethal methods to prevent human/wildlife conflicts. Training courses vary from “non-lethal bear management training” for law enforcement and wildlife managers to safety orientated training for working or recreating in bear and cougar country. BEAR SCARE’s non-lethal bear management training and safety courses are endorsed by the Get Bear Smart Society, Canadians for Bears and the Humane Society of the United States. Previous clients of BEAR SCARE include the RCMP, B.C. Search and Rescue, Resort Municipality of Whistler, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, B.C. Forest Service, Halliburton Energy Services and Suncor Energy.
The Canadian Vintners Association is Canada's national association of vintners, an organization dedicated to the promotion and well being of Canada's wine sector.
440 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 200, Ottawa, ON. K1R 7X6
Tel: (613) 782-2283 Fax: (613) 782-2239
E-mail: info@canadianvintners.com
FARSHA’s mandate is the development and provision of health and safety services to BC agriculture, through: Training programs for employers, supervisors, and workers – on or off-site; booklets, brochures, and other information materials; site evaluations; consultations and guidance; programs for farm workplaces; and promotion activities, such as displays and information tables at agriculture-related events.
102-5755 Glover Rd. Langley, BC V3A 8H4
Tel: (604) 532-1789 Fax: (604) 532-1786 Toll Free: 1-877-533-1789
E-mail: farmsafe@farsha.bc.ca
The BC agri-food industry can now access a database of suppliers brought online by the Food Innovation Centre of BC (FICBC). Providing product/service details and contact information for nearly 300 companies in the food sector, the database can be sorted by category, city or keyword.
“We’re building a resource that should be of value to all in the food processing sector,” said CEO Mike Leslie. “This new database is continually being updated, and stands alongside our Food Safety database.”
The new resource offers nine searchable categories, including cold storage, packaging, pest control and sanitation supply. Both databases are available to the public at no charge, and can be accessed from the Services page at www.foodinnovationcentre.ca/
The Food Innovation Centre of BC is a hub for creative commercialization solutions. It brings people and organizations together by connecting businesses and providing training and access to commercialization resources for the agri-food sector in BC. For details about FICBC, visit www.foodinnovationcentre.ca/
The Food Innovation Centre of BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Providing worker safety resources, training & advisory services for wineries & breweries
New*** Guide to Developing a BC Agriculture Employee Handbook (Fall 2012) is now available on the BC Ministry of Agriculture Website at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/busmgmt/labour_mgmt.htm
An employee handbook is a valuable communication tool for farm employers, managers and employees. It can help explain the responsibilities and benefits of working on a farm. This guide facilitates creating a farm specific handbook in a seven steps. It includes a fillable check-sheet of topics with examples that can be edited so they are specific to your farm organization. This guide is relevant to a wide range of organizational structures from small farms employing mostly family member to very large, complex farms with hundreds of employees. It is also applicable to different kinds of operations, such as livestock, dairy or horticulture,
Jennifer Curtis P. Ag.
Farm Business Development & Industry Specialist
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1767 Angus Campbell Road Abbotsford B.C. V3G 2M3
Visit us at www.smartfarmbc.ca
Invests federal and provincial funds in innovative projects for the benefit of British Columbia's
agriculture and agri-foods industry
PO Box 8248, Victoria, BC V8W 3R9
Tel: (250) 356-1833 Fax: (250) 953-5162
General inquiries about funding: funding@iafbc.ca All other inquiries: info@iafbc.ca
They have useful information on irrigation & weather calculators and the like.
2330 Woodstock Drive, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2E5
Tel: (604) 859-8222 Fax: (604) 859-8224
Manufacturing licensing (Winery, Brewery & Distillery)
1019 Wharf St. 2nd Floor, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y9
Mailing: PO Box 9292, Stn. Prov. Govt., Victoria, BC V8W 9J8
Tel: (250) 387-9132 Fax: 250-387-9184
Interprets LDB policies, legislation and operational requirements for all private-sector retailing outlets that fall under the jurisdiction of the LDB, including beer and wine stores and on-site manufacturing stores
2625 Rupert Street, Vancouver BC V5M 3T5
Tel: (604) 252-3000 Fax: (604) 252-3099
Viticulture, Winery Assistant, and Wine Sales Certificates
Advice on wildlife and ecosystem management. Support for sustainable winegrowing program
Oversees the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Wine Festivals
1527 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A7
Tel: (250) 861-6654 or 1-800-972-5151 Fax: (250) 861-3942
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve an environmentally sustainable agriculture, a competitive agriculture that proactively manages risk, and an innovative agriculture.
Orofino Winery recently completed an interesting solar energy project that was funded in part by the government program.
For temperature, rain fall, wind, sun, snow… (There may be a fee)
Agriculture Employer representative/Facilitator for Foreign Worker Programs.
WorkSafeBC is dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety for the workers and employers of this province. We consult with and educate employers and workers and monitor compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
