Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Destination China – New Export Market Opens Up For Fresh B.C. Blueberries

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 04 Jul, 2016 01:21 PM
    British Columbia’s fresh blueberries are known as small wonders and now they are being welcomed in a big market.
     
    This is the first full season that B.C. blueberries are being shipped to China. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick visited Blueridge Produce in Langley today as workers are busy packaging fresh blueberries for the journey to China.
     
    Last summer, a small amount of fresh blueberries were sent to the country to ensure that the packing-and-shipping process met all the requirements in the agreement between the governments of Canada and China.
     
    The test run was a success. Now British Columbia will increase the amount of fresh blueberry shipments to China this season and B.C. blueberry growers could be looking at the potential of up to $65 million in exports a year, once the agreement is fully implemented.  
     
     
    British Columbia is one of the largest highbush blueberry-growing regions in the world, producing about 96% of the Canadian production of cultivated blueberries.
     
    In 2015, B.C. farmers harvested about 70,000 tonnes of blueberries, an increase of 7%. Exports of B.C.’s blueberries accounted for $218 million, up more than 29% from 2014.
     
    The British Columbia government is focused on increasing agrifoods exports to other countries and building the overall B.C. agrifoods sector to a $15-billion-a-year industry by 2020. Building markets is one of the key priorities in the BC Agrifood and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan.
     
    The effort is being supported by a network of 13 international trade offices, B.C. trade missions and the development of direct-cargo flights out of YVR.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canada Post Still Hopes To Negotiate 'Reasonable' Deal With Union

    Canada Post Still Hopes To Negotiate 'Reasonable' Deal With Union
    Canada Post says talks with the union representing postal workers continue and it still hopes to negotiate a deal.

    Canada Post Still Hopes To Negotiate 'Reasonable' Deal With Union

    Subdued Business Outlook For The Next Year, Bank Of Canada Poll Says

    Subdued Business Outlook For The Next Year, Bank Of Canada Poll Says
    OTTAWA — Canadian businesses are anticipating only a minimal acceleration in sales growth over the next 12 months amid bleak expectations among firms linked to the energy industry, a new Bank of Canada poll suggests.

    Subdued Business Outlook For The Next Year, Bank Of Canada Poll Says

    Monkey Business: Ontario Police Use Bananas To Lure Monkey To Captivity

    Police in a small central Ontario town had to use bananas to lure a renegade monkey into captivity Sunday morning after it was spotted on the loose in a residential area.

    Monkey Business: Ontario Police Use Bananas To Lure Monkey To Captivity

    Parks Canada Officials Say Human Contact Putting Wildlife, People At Risk

    BANFF, Alta. — Tourists are repeatedly warned about getting too close to wildlife they come across in the mountains, but Parks Canada officials say despite the advisories, it’s still happening.

    Parks Canada Officials Say Human Contact Putting Wildlife, People At Risk

    Amina Chaudhary, Ontario Woman Convicted Of Killing Ex-Lover's Nephew Granted Day Parole

    Amina Chaudhary, Ontario Woman Convicted Of Killing Ex-Lover's Nephew Granted Day Parole
    Chaudhary was convicted in 1984 of killing her former lover's eight-year-old nephew but maintains her innocence to this day. 

    Amina Chaudhary, Ontario Woman Convicted Of Killing Ex-Lover's Nephew Granted Day Parole

    Opinions Divided, Politely, Over Gay Pride March In Manitoba's Bible Belt

    STEINBACH, Man. — Evan Wiens thought this day would never come.

    Opinions Divided, Politely, Over Gay Pride March In Manitoba's Bible Belt