WHEREAS BC agricultural products could be more visibly labeled for consumers; AND WHEREAS agricultural products that are grown, caught or raised outside of BC but are packaged in the province can be labeled as BC made: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to more visibly promote and label agricultural products that are grown, caught or raised in BC through initiatives such as the Buy BC program.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LANDS British Columbia has a number of tools for participants to provide differentiated agri-food products, including local products, to British Columbia consumers. The British Columbia Agriculture Council, 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. The Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands are funding partners in EatBC, which encourages people to celebrate British Columbia foods. The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association in partnership with the British Columbia Agriculture Council and British Columbia Automobile Association, and with the support of many sponsoring businesses and organizations, will present EatBC from September 14-30, 2007. The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Ministry supports local and provincial farm direct-marketing associations, whose member farms market agri-food products from farms andor at farmers markets. We hope to hold another forum in the near future amongst members of the value chain to discuss local branding. The Ministry collaborates with industry to certify product attributes like organic products and wines, through programs like BC Certified Organic and BC Vintners Quality Alliance. These programs are enabled by regulation under the Agri-Food Choice and Quality Act and validated by provincial audit to provide British Columbian certified products that inspire consumers confidence. Where interest exists, additional programs can be developed under this Act. The Ministry and the Agriculture Plan Committee have also been encouraged by industry and other stakeholder to further evaluate the benefits of buying and eating local and to promote British Columbia products on this basis. The Ministry is currently initiating projects that will consider the question of how best to provide consumers information about the origin of the food they are buying and consuming. Local branding has become an important issue for agriculture ministers across the country.