WHEREAS foods grownproduced and distributed locally are much healthier and have a more positive impact on the environment; AND WHEREAS it is fully understood that food safety is imperative; however, some of the provincial health regulations in place would be better-suited to large-scale commercial producers only, as they are not necessary or in some cases even possible for local small-scale producers, which impedes the growth of local food production and distribution rather than encouraging this positive industry: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial government to encourage, support and enable small-scale food producers to provide foods locally without any unnecessary barriers, provided that food safety is not compromised; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial government be encouraged to provide a public education component to recognize and support the distribution of local foods.
Ministry of Agriculture The British Columbia government is working to facilitate local food production while maintaining food safety. Recently, the British Columbia Meat Inspection Regulations were amended to allow for licenses to accommodate meat processing plants that are deemed to be in remote locations and process small numbers of animals. The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Government of Canada, provides funds for British Columbia farmers and food processors to assist them to implement food safety systems in their operations. British Columbia food producers and processors receive assistance through educational materials many of them translated into a variety of languages, workshops, funding to implement On-Farm Food Safety programs, internationally recognized Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point programs, andor Good Manufacturing Practices. The British Columbia government supports our Farmers Markets and their ability to produce safe foods by developing the MarketSafe food safety training program. This training program which is offered through training workshops focuses on farmers and small scale food processors who wish to direct market their products. The British Columbia Agriculture Council BCAC, an agricultural umbrella organization, now has the licensing authority for the BuyBC logo. BuyBC licences participants to use marks including BCgrown, BCproduct, BCmade along with room to customize the marks with approved descriptors like BCchicken or BCflowers. The BuyBC program encourages promotions, product identification and road signs to help build consumer recognition of British Columbian products. British Columbia Healthy Living Alliance supports the Farm to School program by the Public Health Association of British Columbia. This program seeks to connect schools with local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local farmers. To date, there are 26 Farm to School Programs in operation and 18 more are on the drawing board. The British Columbia School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program delivers two servings of fresh and ready to eat fruits or vegetables to schools every other week for 14 selected weeks in the school year. Fruits and vegetables provided are British Columbia grown when possible, and program participants gain knowledge of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, the types of produce grown in British Columbia, and safe hand-washing practices. Over 1171 British Columbia public schools currently participate in the program. The British Columbia School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program is a collaborative program from ACTNow BC with funding from the British Columbia Ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture. It is administered by the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, a non-profit association of educators to bring British Columbias agriculture to students.