The food chain – farm gate to consumer plate – big business in Delta and area
DELTA, BC (February 26, 2010) The great advantages of Delta and area for growing produce, linked to “buy local” trends, results in a major food chain of quality, good prices and sustainability. That means big business for farmers, food processors and food retailers and good value for consumers.
That’s the view of a panel representing business sectors in the local food chain, at a Delta Chamber of Commerce business networking lunch meeting on February 25. This special presentation recognizes the important role of agriculture and food production as a founding industry of the Delta Chamber of Commerce as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
Grower
The first panelist was Murray Driediger, who is President & CEO of BC Fresh. BC Fresh is a limited company wholly owned and operated by 32 produce farmers in Delta and the Lower Mainland, with warehouse and head office in Delta. Of the combined sales from 70,000 tons of root vegetables per year – enough to fill 3,000 semi-trailer trucks — 60 percent comes from farms in Delta, including, potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, turnips, cabbage, beets, squash, shallots and parsnips. Prior to BCfresh, Murray was President of the Golden Eagle Group of Companies in Pitt Meadows, an agri business consisting of 5000 acres and 9 divisions. He was also General Manager of the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission for 8-years where he provided analysis to the industry and handled inter-provincial and international trade issues.
View the BC Fresh presentation
Every dollar earned by farmers growing crops in British Columbia generates $7 to $9 in income for other British Columbians. Most retailers are very supportive. It’s mainly up to the consumer to drive retail space for local products and, in turn, drive a major part of our provincial economy through the food chain.
The consumer trend towards eating locally grown food is growing. The “100 Mile Diet” (eating food grown within a 100 mile radius of your community) is catching on, and global warming has increased consumer awareness about sustainability of our lifestyles.
While consumers and retailers alike may be moving in a positive direction in terms of local produce, land supply remains a big problem. While important to the economy of Delta, as well as BC and Canada, the expansion of Deltaport and the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty and the South Fraser Perimeter Road, now under construction, have taken hundreds of acres of land out of agricultural reserve and actual use. Another factor is the wealthy “martini farmer” as Mr. Driediger puts it: a farmland owner who considers the personal recreation value to be higher than that of keeping the land in production. Less land means less produce to feed us and fuel the economy. It also means higher and higher land costs.
Food Safety regulations, on top of all the other challenges, have become a tipping point that drives farmers off the land. All produce growers in the province are audited annually, many more than once. Potable water (fresh and uncontaminated) must be used in washing produce. In Delta the cost of potable water is 30 percent higher than it is just across the border in Point Roberts and more than five times the average in California.
Irrigation water supply has been a long term challenge for local farmers in Delta, but they have managed to negotiate a deal. In return for loss of land and other negative impacts on farmers, a new irrigation system is being developed through the provincial and federal Gateway Program which is building the South Fraser Perimeter Road. Irrigation is still a challenge on Westham Island, however.
Processor
The second panelist, Travis Drew, is Manager of the Lucerne Foods frozen fruit and vegetable processing plant in Abbotsford, BC. His facility receives fresh fruits and vegetables from growers throughout the lower Fraser Valley to Hope. The produce from local farms is cleaned and frozen, packaged into poly bags, cases, bulk totes, and drums, then distributed across North America to both retailers and the food services industry. The plant processes and packages 65 million pounds of produce annually.
View the BC Fresh presentation
Processing plants such as the Lucerne facility in Abbotsford, BC, connect growers to customers. Lucerne has been processing local produce since 1958. Thirty years ago there 11 other food processors in the area. Now there are two. That means there is less flexibility for the farmer, processor and retailer alike as supply from the farmer is negotiated in terms of demand from the retailer and ultimately the consumer to achieve fair market value. Farmers need to make a decent living, food processors and retailers need to make a profit and consumers deserve best value for quality food.
Delta, BC and area has many strengths as a growing region. It is located near local markets, but is also well situated for export to the United States and Asia. The weather along with good farmland are key factors. Canadian standards are high throughout the food chain leading to good quality as well as safe product. “Buy local” is also possible for a wide range of food.
On the supply side, the challenges for growers in Delta and other areas of the province include the reduction in land for farming, the price of land, global competition, food safety regulations, rising costs of various inputs and the availability of water for processing and irrigation.
On the demand side, consumer trends change over time. Consumers, and the retailers who serve them, want quality, convenience, new and innovate items, environmentally conscious products and companies and competitive prices.
In the middle are processors like Lucerne. They support growers in Delta and area through a good working relationship, a focus on quality of what they receive for processing and what they produce for distribution. They conduct research related to their production, purchasing, equipment and existing or new markets.
Retailer
Andy Carter is General Manager of the Thrifty Foods store in the Delta, BC community of Tsawwassen. He has been with Thrifty Foods for 15 years and prior to his current position he has been a retail manager at stores in Victoria and Campbell River. Earlier in his career he was a master baker who became owner and operator of a chain of both retail and wholesale outlets in the United Kingdom. The success of Thrifty Foods has been founded on good relationships with local growers and suppliers and a commitment to top-quality products, competitive pricing and outstanding customer service.
View the Thrifty Foods presentation
The Thrifty Foods philosophy of sourcing local and regional supply starts with closest to home geographically. It only looks further afield if key elements required by their customers are not satisfied.
In keeping with the “buy local” theme, Thriftys sources the highest grades of apples which return the grower the most money. It does not pursue the lowest price or grade. Local Thrifty stores also source the freshest, first dug yellow onions out of the Okanagan in May. Everywhere else the market is using old crop from the United States. For asparagus the company contracts with a grower in Creston, BC. For these kinds of growers, Thrifty becomes a key customer, making the grower’s property viable in making a living.
From potatoes to cucumbers, onions to peppers, and a wide range of berries, Thrifty does business with all the big growers such as BC Fresh, Houwelling Nurseries, Windset, Fraserland Organics, BC Hothouse, Villages and many more.
Buying locally also has the advantage of giving a personal touch when the produce staff are explaining the company’s buying practices to consumers. In the process consumers can become connected indirectly to the local farmland. Buy local also provides a viable and sustainable career for local farmers for the long term benefits to BC. Every dollar spent in BC goes around up to nine times, but every dollar spent on imported produce goes in once and then is lost to a foreign economy.
CONTACTS:
Peter Roaf
Executive Director
Delta Chamber of Commerce
6201 – 60th Avenue
Delta, BC
V4K 4E2
tel. 604-946-4232
fax 604-946-5285
www.deltachamber.ca
Murray Driediger
BCfresh
#201-7560 Vantage Way
Delta, BC
V4G 1H1
Phone: 604-946-3139
Toll Free: 1-800-699-6899
Fax: 604-946-2924
Toll Free: 1-800-881-6022
murray@bcfreshinc.com
www.bcfreshinc.com
Travis Drew
Manager- Lucerne Foods
1 604 854 1191
travis.drew@safeway.com
Andy Carter
Store Manager
Thrifty Foods
1207 56th Street
Delta, BC, V4L 2A6
ajcarter@thriftyfoods.com
(604) 948-9210
(C) (604) 345-7393
Event Sponsor
Cloverdale Cold Storage
Ian Cameron makes a presentation on Cloverdale Cold Storage Ltd. – sponsor of the February 25, 2010 Delta Chamber of Commerce luncheon panel presentation on Delta and area food chain – which operates a large cold storage facility in South Surrey and intends to double in size.
Powerpoint:
View more presentations from DeltaChamber.
Posted: February 26th, 2010.