B.C. farmers and food processors growing economy, more local foods

British Columbia’s farmers, ranchers, food processors and seafood workers are helping build B.C.’s economy with record revenues in 2017 of $14.2 billion, up 2.4% over 2016.

The 2017 statistics for B.C.’s agriculture sector signal new highs in sales and exports for the province’s evolving food economy, more opportunities for its 61,100 employees and, increasingly, more options for people to Buy BC.

“The data we are releasing today reflects the hard work being done and the success achieved by our agriculture and value-added food processing sectors, which are thriving because of the diversity, commitment and hard work of the people behind them,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “We’re seeing a greater diversity of made-in-B.C. foods and value-added products that are clearly enjoyed both here in B.C. and around the world, and each of them creates and supports additional, related jobs and boosts prosperity in our communities.”

Popham and Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama, released the statistics while touring Nanak Foods in Surrey, a company that specializes in the production of Indian dairy products, such as paneer and lassi, desserts and appetizers. The company uses B.C. milk and other products and has customers who enjoy it locally, as well as on five continents.

“We are incredibly proud of our team that has helped us build the company. We manufacture 45 products using ingredients like B.C. milk,” said Gurpreet Arneja, CEO of Nanak Foods. “For 20 years, we have been bringing our products to British Columbians and customers worldwide, while employing people here in Surrey and growing our production capacity. We have just completed our 20th anniversary and are excited to see the growth over the next 20 years.”

Sales growth has occurred in each of B.C.’s three main agriculture categories, the primary agriculture sector, such as farmers and ranchers, food and beverage processors and the seafood sector. Nanak Foods is one such success story.

“Nanak Foods demonstrates what I love most about Surrey: people with ideas, commitment and passion making their dreams come true and helping build our community,” Sims said. “What started as a small business between good friends has grown to a business that employs more than 250 people, supports charities and provides great-tasting paneer made in Surrey, B.C., to people around the world.”

B.C. farmers, ranchers, food processors and fishers sold $14.2 billion-worth of food and beverages in 2017, and exported almost $4 billion worth of products, both higher than ever before.

Quick Facts:

• Total sales included $3.2 billion in agriculture, $1.2 billion in seafood and $9.8 billion in food and beverage processing.
• Growth in sales occurred in the primary agriculture sector by 4.1%, in the food and beverage-processing sector by 2.1%, and in the seafood sector by 0.3%.
• B.C. exported a record $3.9 billion in agrifood and seafood products to 157 markets in 2017, up 2.4% from 2016.