Producers, retailers, chefs and consumers will receive enhanced information on British Columbia meat products through two separate projects the BC Association of Abattoirs is running as a result of $63,250 in Buy Local Program funding.

The first project is a smartphone app that will connect residents and tourists travelling throughout the province with information on B.C.'s quality meat and poultry products. The B.C. Meats for B.C. Markets phone app will allow users to locate farms, stores and restaurants that sell or have B.C. meats on their menu.

The second project will help the association expand its B.C. Beef Quality Information System to encompass all red meats including lamb, goat, pork and bison. The system began as a pilot project and has enabled abattoirs to streamline their traceability and food safety systems while providing feedback to livestock producers on meat quality.

The B.C. Beef Quality Information System allows B.C. producers to continually improve meat quality in line with consumer demand. The system also provides retailers and chefs with quality assurance information on the meat products they are purchasing through provincially licensed abattoirs.

The Buy Local program offers successful applicants matching funds up to $100,000 to launch or expand local food marketing campaigns as part of a $2-million B.C. government effort to promote B.C. foods.

Building the local market for British Columbia foods is a key commitment of government's Agrifoods Strategy, a component of the BC Jobs Plan, to lead the agrifoods sector growth into a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017.

Quotes:

Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm -

"When you make a commitment to buy local food products, you and your family will not only enjoy the great taste of B.C.'s high-quality foods, but you also ensure that your dollars stay in our communities. I want to congratulate the BC Association of Abattoirs on their leadership in bringing B.C. meats to B.C. markets."

BC Association of Abattoirs president Mike Noullett -

"We are very excited about launching these two projects that have been made possible through funding from the Buy Local Program. The BC Association of Abattoirs is continuing to work with producers through a value-chain approach to build consistent quality and market access for B.C. meats so British Columbians can enjoy the fresh and flavourful meats available to them locally."

Learn More:

BC Association of Abattoirs: http://bcmeats.ca/

B.C. Buy Local program: http://www.gov.bc.ca/agri/buylocal.html

Keep up to date on the latest in B.C. foods and beverages: https://www.facebook.com/FoodsBC

Media Contacts:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (cell)

Gillian Watt
Project Manager
BC Association of Abattoirs
250 319-2367