British Columbia’s Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding 2015 export statistics for B.C. cherries:

Go big. Provincial seafood industry representatives supported by B.C. government trade and agriculture staff have done just that to promote B.C.’s high-quality and respected seafood by attending China’s largest seafood trade event.

2015 was a successful year for the beekeeping industry in British Columbia, with more and more people buying honey direct from beekeepers, bringing the estimated total farm receipts of the year to more than $25 million.

British Columbia’s agrifood industry is receiving about $900,000 for 16 new projects that support a broad range of innovative products, practices and technologies of direct benefit to the sector.

The governments of Canada and B.C. are investing $300,000 to strengthen the surveillance, early detection, and response measures to avian flu.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the repealing of the United States’ Country of Origin Labelling laws:

The holiday season is quickly approaching and what better way to celebrate than with family and friends. The provincial government’s Buy Local Program brings you twelve fresh, local ideas to impress guests and bring holiday cheer this season and all year round.

Fresh raw B.C. oysters will be on restaurant menus in 2016 as the B.C. Shellfish Growers Association and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control are co-hosting a workshop for oyster growers to develop management practices and strategies to reduce the likelihood of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in oysters.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia's decision to seek a judicial review of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal’s decision upholding a complaint of discrimination by Indo-Canadian veterinarians.

A leader with extensive experience in local government operations, a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of British Columbia, as well as professional certification as a registered professional agrologist and a registered professional planner, has been appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Agricultural Land Commission.