Do you know where your food comes from?
More and more here in BC, the answer is 鈥淵es,鈥 which is exciting news for BC farmers, like Sarah Sache.
鈥淭he public is so integral to what we do.鈥
Originally from the West Kootenays, Sarah married into a longtime Lower Mainland dairy farming family, and in addition to daily farm work, she鈥檚 actively involved in the agriculture industry at the provincial and national level.
Initiatives like Canada鈥檚 Agriculture Day (#CdnAgDay) and , a province-wide movement connecting consumers with BC farmers and ranchers, help grow public awareness about food and farming, Sarah says.
鈥淔or me, coming from outside of agriculture, I was learning everything fresh. I understand how much the average person doesn鈥檛 know about farming.鈥
Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can get to know more about the farms you see around the province.
Curious? Here are 5 BC farm and food facts that might surprise you:
1. BC tops the list for female farm operators. The 2016 census found BC has the highest proportion of female farm operators in Canada at 37.5 per cent, compared to 28.7 per cent nationally. Across the province there are many like Sarah producing the local food you love.
2. BC鈥檚 farms are precious. There are only about 17,500 farms in BC. While the number of BC farms is going down, their property size is increasing. The average area per farm has increased from an average of 327 acres in 2011 to 365 acres in 2016. Regardless of size, 98 per cent of those farms are family-owned businesses!
3. BC farms produce 200+ different commodities! BC鈥檚 unique climate means . Find locally produced food to fit any taste and preference 鈥 from eggs, chicken, mushrooms and dairy to tree fruit, vegetables, grain and beef鈥. and many more. And don鈥檛 forget agricultural products like cut flowers and nursery plants. Local is everywhere you look! Reflecting on that diversity, 鈥測ou get a real sense that you鈥檙e part of something special,鈥 Sarah says.
4. BC is a leader across Canada. If you鈥檝e enjoyed local bounty like cherries or berries, it鈥檚 easy to understand why BC-grown foods are in demand around the world! In fact, BC producers rank first in Canada for farm sales of blueberries, cherries, raspberries, garlic, apricots and leeks, and are second nationally in farm sales of greenhouse vegetables, floriculture products, nursery products, mushrooms, grapes, cranberries, and many more.
5. The number of farmers under 35 is growing. 1,825 young farmers are producing your food in BC. In fact, the proportion of young BC farmers grew from 5.4 per cent in 2011 to 6.9 per cent in 2016. As more family farms are passed to the next generation, young farmers are showing they have the drive and the smarts to carry on the important work of food production, and to succeed at it. Says Sarah: 鈥淚 came to agriculture through forestry and mining, so I really don鈥檛 think farming experience should be a barrier. There鈥檚 such a wide array of options out there. Agriculture is really a sector worth exploring as a career.鈥
Celebrate BC agriculture
If you鈥檙e interested in starting off your new year by supporting , check out We Heart Local BC鈥檚 for inspiration. And on Feb. 11, celebrate #CdnAgDay 鈥 sharing pride in the industry and highlighting the close connection between the food we eat and the people who produce it.
Learn more about your local BC farmers and ranchers online at and join the conversation on and !