Adam Walker, MLA, Parksville-Qualicum –

“B.C. has an outstanding reputation for safe and sustainable seafood thanks to the hard work of local fishers, harvesters and food processors. The new food hub coming to Bowser will connect small businesses with the resources they need to innovate their products, create jobs and support access to local food that coastal communities and British Columbians rely on. I’m excited to see where the BC Food Hub Network will take our community and the small businesses that call it home.”

Doug Routley, MLA, Nanaimo-North Cowichan –

“I’m proud of the farmers, fishers and food processors who call Cowichan Valley home. Every day they work hard to put food and beverages on tables in our community and throughout the province. From field vegetables to eggs and wine, food and farming families share so much with us. I’m grateful for the partnerships that are bringing the new Cowichan food hub to our community and look forward to the opportunities it will bring to our food and beverage producers and processors.”

Grace Lore, MLA, Victoria-Beacon Hill –

“Vancouver Island is home to a number of amazing farms that grow, raise and harvest so much of the food we eat here in Victoria. We’re fortunate to have so many local restaurants and small businesses that work with farmers to bring these unique flavours to our families. The new food hub in Victoria will help farmers and food processors expand on these flavours with increased access to business supports and commercial space, creating a stronger, more vibrant food supply for all of us in B.C.”

Barry O’Riordan, manager, Economic Development, Cowichan –

“Recognizing the significance of agriculture and local food by bringing together advanced food processing, testing and entrepreneurship training under one roof is a dream come true. The Cowichan food hub will help catalyze food processing innovation in the region, supporting expanded employment opportunities while enriching our community’s taste buds.”

Lisa Helps, Mayor, City of Victoria –

“This is a tremendous investment that improves community access to healthy local food and provides local economic opportunities. We’re thankful to the Province for empowering businesses to maximize the potential of locally grown food and find new ways to improve food security, which has become all the more important during the pandemic.”

Carl Butterworth, Manager, Deep Bay Marine Field Station -

“We are thrilled to harness the potential of Deep Bay’s world-class research labs and state-of-the-art experimental commercial kitchen facilities to link together the culinary, business, distribution and research expertise needed to put new ideas into action in the regional seafood industry. We hope that the lasting benefit of the centre will be a track record of continuous innovation, technological and process development, answered research questions and a greatly expanded seafood sector that contributes to the food security of British Columbians and the general economy in B.C. Thank you to the provincial government for helping to make this centre a reality.”

Judy Stafford, executive director, Cowichan Green Community –

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer a food innovation hub to support the local agriculture community. With access to additional value-added processing facilities, warehouse storage, a distribution centre and business support services, we’re confident these amenities will help producers expand their businesses and create additional employment opportunities in this sector.”

Linda Geggie, spokesperson, Victoria Community Food Hub Society –

“The development of a regional food hub is the culmination of years of work to identify the infrastructure needed in the region to support advancing the food and farm sector. This food hub is unique in that it is marrying economic development goals with social good, supporting food services and distribution of good local food to people in our region. There is a lot of potential in this initiative and we are pleased with the support from the many partners involved.”