Helping British Columbia vegetable seed farmers harvest new opportunities

Victoria, British Columbia – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture

The people involved in the first stage of growing fresh and healthy British Columbia (B.C.) vegetables are getting some help to increase the amount of local food grown in our communities.

B.C. seed farmers will be able to expand their businesses through a comprehensive project that includes help in growing, processing, managing and marketing their products.

The not-for-profit organization, FarmFolk CityFolk, is leading a project to increase both the production capacity and customer base of seed farmers by:

• developing a mobile seed processing unit to help small and mid-scale seed farmers efficiently and affordably process seed;
• expanding seed production skills training in the Lower Mainland, Okanagan, Kootenays and North through focussed in-person training and webinars;
• helping new entrants and small seed businesses with “Seed Enterprise Budgets” to plan and prepare for expenses, revenues and inventory management; and
• supporting “Seedy Saturday” events in more communities, and developing shared resources that can be used across B.C.

B.C. is home to fifteen seed companies (including co-operatives) that sell B.C. grown seeds, as well as many community seed initiatives including over 50 “Seedy Saturdays” and 20 seed libraries. B.C. post-secondary education institutions are also active in seed trials and seed processing.