While British Columbia is not a well-known exporter of jingle bells, nutcrackers or mistletoe, the province does spread cheer during the holiday season with other festive exports.

“Many of our B.C. exporters are involved in helping to enhance the holiday season across the border and overseas,” said Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism. “People might not realize just how many B.C. products are on holiday tables, under Christmas trees, and in stockings here and around the world during the festive season.”

For example, as the sixth top B.C export in 2015 with nearly $125 million in sales, B.C. chocolate and cocoa will satisfy sweet cravings as many British Columbia chocolate producers send their products over the border. Organic chocolate pioneer, Denman Island Chocolate, expects to ship 25,000 bars and seasonal chocolates to happy U.S. clients this holiday season.

“We’ve been making world-class organic chocolate since 1998 and each year at this time, we receive wonderful feedback from Santa,” said Daniel Terry, Denman Island Chocolate co-founder and CEO. “This year, Santa was particularly thrilled to learn that we have added chocolate made with coconut milk to our line. Chances are it’s going in quite a number of stockings this season.”

In 2015, B.C. exported $97 million in plants, bulbs and flowers to the U.S. Holiday exports include christmas cactus, paperwhite narcissus and colourful poinsettias, many of which are grown here and shipped to garden centres and florists in the United States. Since Dec. 1st, Mainland Floral Distributors, an Aldergrove grower and wholesaler of potted plants and fresh cut flowers, has exported over 16,000 poinsettias to U.S. markets. The plants were purchased from smaller Lower Mainland growers who have limited opportunities to market their products outside of B.C.

“Poinsettias come in various sizes and a rainbow of colours, yet year after year red poinsettias remain the most popular,” said Fred de Boer, Mainland Floral president. “Therefore, it’s no surprise that red poinsettias are also Santa’s favourite. We keep urging him to consider pink or white plants, but he insists that red poinsettias complement his white beard and rosy cheeks.”

One B.C. company that has successfully marketed its train electronics and software solutions overseas also has a surprising connection to Santa. In July 2016, Saanichton-based tech firm Quester Tangent signed a major contract with a Chinese company to deliver cutting edge rail technology to the Chicago Transit Authority. Recently, Quester Tangent was also selected as a qualified vendor of monitoring and diagnostics and train line control and networks for New York City Transit Authority subway cars.

“As a strategic supplier of technology to the North American passenger rail car and locomotive market, we’ve been encouraging Santa to do his job more efficiently by relying on mass transit rather than the outdated mode of transportation he uses now,” said William Collins, Quester Tangent vice-president and CEO. “Those eight tiny reindeer need a break from pulling a heavy sleigh, and with our technology being used by transit authorities in major U.S. cities we know mass transit can help Santa get to where he needs to go that much faster.”

Other B.C. seasonal exports include baked goods, coffee and tea, and cranberries.

Quick Facts:

• In 2015, total British Columbia goods exports worldwide were $36 billion, an increase of 0.6% over 2014.
• Goods exported to the United States in 2015 were up 4.3% to $18.7 billion compared to 2014.
• Between 2014 and 2015, B.C. chocolate exports grew by 36%.
• Between Nov. 10 and Dec. 10, a large Lower Mainland nursery may ship as many as 200,000 poinsettias to the U.S.

Learn More:

Trade and Invest British Columbia: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/export/index/