Bringing back Buy BC to strengthen communities and grow jobs

Bringing back Buy BC to strengthen communities and grow jobs

Buy BC champions local produce and the hard-working agrifood workers who supply them.

 

My dad – born and raised in Trail – ate an apple a day every day of his life. Even when he became ill with dementia, he never went a day without a crisp, juicy apple. He always, and I mean always, reached for BC apples. He believed they were the best around, and I couldn’t agree more.

Now when I do my grocery shopping, I always search out BC apples and am delighted when bins of orchard apples arrive in store. They remind me of my dad, and make me feel at home. Food has always connected people, and has played such an important role in fostering community strength in BC. That’s why we’re reintroducing Buy BC – to support B.C. farmers, fishermen, brewers and winemakers, and help grow communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking steps to protect local jobs and economies

Although Buy BC was an instant game changer for many when it was first introduced in 1993, it was cancelled in the early 2000s by the B.C. Liberal government – and a lot has changed in the decade since.

Times have been tough for local producers. BC has plenty of underused agricultural land, there is an aging population within the industry, monster homes are being built on farmland which is driving up property cost, and that’s just to name a few hurdles. Our new government has been working hard to make up for the neglect of the BC Liberals by reinvesting in an initiative that will renew the province’s interest in local products.

Agriculture and food production contribute a lot to society in terms of food security and economic activity. From craft breweries to small bakeries, BC workers are busy creating delicious products worthy of the spotlight Buy BC provides them. Reinvigorating this program is a reminder of how we can use collective purchasing power to keep B.C. products competitive, and accessible to families. With more than 330,000 people working in the industry, keeping the agrifood sector strong is crucial to the wellbeing of countless communities, from Saanich to Smithers.

Addressing the affordability challenge

It’s important to not forget one of the largest obstacles when buying local: affordability.

We have seen skyrocketing prices on housing, university tuition, and of course, on everyday purchases such as produce. One day last autumn, I was on my way home from the Legislature, just grabbing a few items from the grocery store when I had an experience that changed the way I think about how we market and promote local foods.

The woman ahead of me in line had carefully counted how much she could afford to spend on groceries that week. When she got her total, it was 2 dollars over budget – leaving her to make some tough choices. She asked the store clerk to remove some produce from her bags. I jumped in and offered her a toonie, not wanting her to sacrifice her fresh, local produce. With some reluctance, she accepted. We got to talking, and she shared with me that she had recently decided to switch to BC produce and foods, but was having a hard time reconciling that commitment with her actual day-to-day budget. But with the announcement of an expanded subsidy program, hopefully, we can help close that financial gap.

In May the government committed further investments to the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program. This program provides seniors and low-income households with $21 a week in coupons they can use at their local farmers market. While $21 might not seem like a huge amount to some, for others it can be the difference between buying canned veggies and reaching for fresh, locally grown produce.

Our New Democrat government has been taking steps to address affordability issues across the board, and I am very glad that we’ve been working hard to ensure that local, fresh produce is more accessible as well.

 

 

Sharing the #BuyBC experience

Food is always best shared, and now thanks to the official launch of the Buy BC campaign we have a way of sharing our foods and products with the world.

Summer fairs and exhibitions will be taking place across the province in the coming weeks, and I encourage everyone to check one out in their community. The government has teamed up with the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions to deliver a summer contest that will encourage fairgoers to visit Buy BC-themed exhibits at participating fairs, to learn more about the importance of supporting local producers and farmers, and to enter a contest by posting photos to social media with the hashtags #BCFairs and #BuyBC.

All eligible posts will be entered into the contest, and a winner will be announced for each of the participating fairs.

By using the Buy BC hashtags, we can all proudly show the diversity and quality of the local products the province has to offer and connect those products to the amazing people in our communities making them. A chance to win a small prize is just a wonderful bonus! So next time there is a market or fair in your neighbourhood, swing on by to try, buy, and share a new local product.