CONFERENCE 2013

Selling Fresh Products into Retail Markets

John F.T. Scott

Discover who you can best take advantage of industry changes in Canada's dynamic fruit and vegetable marketplace. Learn how the industry is changing, including the players and their formats. Gain insight into strategic direction in retail and how to position products for different retailers. Understand the future of value-added and the potential for higher returns. Discover trends and opportunities in commodities and fresh product.

Changes in BC Assessment Authority Farm Tax Status

Peter Alexander, Deputy Assessor

Changes to Farm Income Support Programs and Taxation

Joe Renooy, CA, Manager, MNP, Courtenay, BC

Forecasting Weather on Vancouver Island

Hamish Murray, Meteorological Services of Canada

Water Management and Agriculture

Ted van der Gulik, Senior Engineer, BC Ministry of Agriculture

Organic Certification 101:

Thinking of becoming certified organic but not sure if you qualify or where to start? Get an overview of the basic organic crop and livestock requirements of the Canada Organic Standards (COS) from an organic inspector who has worked in the field for over 12 years. Also included will be a discussion of provincial certification agencies, costs, advantages/disadvantages of certification, and an opportunity to ask questions.

Lisa Pierce, Down to Earth Agricultural Services

Organomics- The Economics of Organic Production

Gary Rolson, From The Ground Up

Consumers as Co-Producers and Co-Investors in a Resilient Food System

Mike Lewis, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal

So You Want to Start a Vineyard

Growing, making and selling wine- Introduction to Coastal Viticulture

Daniel Cosman, Omega Viticulture Consulting

Grocer-Chef- Farmer Food Panel

Interactive discussion between all the participants in the fesh food chain. Each will describe what they need in order to be successful. The audience is encouraged to ask questions and participate.

Steven Walker-Duncan, Chef Camosun College

Dan Ferguson, Dragonfly Farm

Networking Break

Farmers Market Programs

Jon Bell, President BC Association of Farmers Markets

New BC Buy Local Program

Peter Donkers, Investment Agriculture Foundation

Getting Started in Social Media

You have heard from everyone that you should be on Twitter or have a Facebook page. What they don't tell you is what comes next or why you should be there. In this session, we will explore some potential social media strategies, how to trach and measure success, and walk you through which tools work and how. This presentation leads with strategy, this is not a "twitter is cool" presentation. Businesses want and need to know how to make social media work for their bottom line, otherwise, what is the point.

Chris Burdge, bWEST Consulting

Grow Me Instead- Alternatives To Invasive Plants in Your Garden

Rachelle McElroy, Coordinator Coastal Invasive Plant Committee

Invasive alien plant species have the potential to pose undesirable or detrimental impacts to farmland, natural areas, society and the economy.  Rachelle McElroy, Executive Director of the Coastal Invasive Species Committee (formerly “Plant Committee”) (CISC), a non-profit organisation working to protect communities, resources and ecosystems on VI from the negative impacts of invasive alien species, will be addressing delegates.  Test your invasive plant knowledge on live plant samples and have your most pressing invasive plant questions answered during this session.

Island Feed Production: Home Grown Grains and Forages

A discussion on the use of cereal silage, grain silage, productivity, disease and lodging resistant. Plus nutrien cycing for forage crops, and highlighting a student thesis report from the Cowichan Region.

Dr. Art Bomke, UBC (retired) Foster Richardson B. Sc. Agriculture

Getting the Most Out of Your Woodlot

Harold Macy, Author, Four Storey Forest

Family Member and Farm Employee; How to Reconcile the Two!

Judi Cunningham, UBC Sauder School of Business

Responsibilities and Obligations as an Employer

Ministry of Labour Relations- Employment Standards WCB- Worksafe BC