Consumers will more easily identify local B.C. products when shopping at their local Save-On-Foods store with the Buy BC branding featured at the retailer’s 125 locations throughout the province.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, was joined by Darrell Jones, president, Save-On-Foods and the Pattison Food Group, and Warren Sarafinchan, president and CEO, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, at the newly opened Coquitlam Sunwood Square Save-On-Foods to announce the partnership.

“I’m so happy to welcome Save-On-Foods to our amazing Buy BC family, which will help the many British Columbians who shop here better identify and choose products from B.C.,” said Popham. “When consumers buy locally grown, raised, harvested and processed food and beverages, they are supporting the farmers, fishers and producers that live in their own communities and helping to strengthen our provincial food system and economy.” 

Customers will see Buy BC point-of-sale materials, such as banners, stickers and shelf displays, in stores throughout the province to help identify food and beverages made in B.C. The Buy BC logo makes it easier for people to identify B.C. food and beverage products, and explore new and different products from around the province, while helping small, family-run businesses, new entrepreneurs and larger B.C. companies grow and succeed.

“As a B.C.-owned-and-operated company, we have been supporting local for more than a century and are proud to carry more than 2,500 locally made products from more than 2,000 local growers and producers across Western Canada,” said Jones. “We are proud to collaborate with Buy BC in support of the British Columbian growers, ranchers and producers who play a key role in B.C.’s agriculture, food and beverage economy, bringing the rich diversity and exceptional quality of the food made right here at home to our customers across Western Canada.”

Save-On-Foods is launching Buy BC in conjunction with the annual company-wide Apple Cup display contest, which is in full swing from Nov. 3-9, 2022, in all its stores. During Apple Cup, stores celebrate partnerships with local apple growers, such as BC Tree Fruits, with their own unique brands of creativity sparked by local inspiration. Buy BC has partnered with BC Tree Fruits to supply the promotional shelf tags, in-store posters and produce bin wraps for displays, and each participating store will be judged on its creativity, with a prize awarded to the best display.

“For almost a century, BC Tree Fruits has been committed to serving tree-fruit growers in British Columbia,” said Sarafinchan. “We are honoured to work alongside other B.C.-based food and beverage companies to promote the Buy BC program, and through it, showcase delicious fruit from our growers. For decades, Save-On-Foods has been a partner with BC Tree Fruits, and we are proud to bring the excitement of the B.C. apple harvest season to consumers through this annual event.”

Quick Facts:

• Through the Buy BC program, the Province is providing more than $2 million a year in cost-shared support to producers and processors for marketing materials to help promote their products.
• Since relaunching Buy BC, the program has invested $10 million to support more than 300 producers, processors, co-operatives, agriculture fairs, farmers’ markets and associations with marketing activities that generated approximately $80 million in sales.
• Hundreds of small and large companies and more than 3,400 products are eligible to add the Buy BC logo to their products.

Learn More:

Learn about Buy BC: https://buybc.gov.bc.ca/

Learn how to become part of the Buy BC program: https://buybc.gov.bc.ca/join-buy-bc

Find a Save-On-Foods in your area: www.saveonfoods.com

BC Tree Fruits: http://www.bctreefruits.com/

About Save-On-Foods

Save-On-Foods is a Pattison Food Group business, committed to Going the Extra Mile for customers in every community served, every day. Known for its unique approach in customizing each store to best suit the needs of the neighbourhood by carrying more than 2,500 locally made products from more than 2,000 local growers and producers, the company has been innovating and putting customers first for more than 100 years. Save-On-Foods, its supplier partners, team members and generous customers have donated more than $40 million to children’s hospitals and contribute $3 million in donations to food banks across Western Canada each year.

About BC Tree Fruits Cooperative

BC Tree Fruits Cooperative is comprised of more than 270 local grower families who produce a variety of tree-fruit commodities, including apples, cherries, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, prunes, plums and table grapes. BC Tree Fruits head office is located in Kelowna.

For more information, visit:
Website: bctreefruits.com 
Facebook: facebook.com/bctreefruits
Instagram: instagram.com/bctreefruits