BC improves access to fruits and veggies

Fresh produce for sale at farmers' market (Photo by Kintaiyo / Wikimedia Commons)

Produce availability plan supports remote communities.

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands / Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.

B.C.’s new Produce Availability Initiative will provide British Columbians living in remote communities with improved access to fresh vegetables and fruits through a $915,000 investment from government, announced Steve Thomson, Minister of Agriculture and Lands.

“All British Columbians should have healthy, local foods available, no matter where they live in the province,” said Thomson. “B.C.’s new Produce Availability Initiative will help to improve the availability of B.C. grown produce, vegetables and fruit to remote communities, while promoting healthy food choices for people living throughout the province.”

The Produce Availability Initiative follows through on a commitment made by Premier Gordon Campbell at the 2008 Union of BC Municipalities annual general meeting to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for remote areas in B.C. It also supports the healthy eating principles of ActNow BC.

A task force, comprised of representatives from nine organizations, advised on a plan and implementation to help B.C. communities:

• Improve knowledge and skills in choosing healthy foods.

• Increase the supply of B.C produce into local grocers.

• Improve produce distribution to remote communities.

• Support communities to grow their own produce.

“British Columbians in remote communities will have better year-round availability of produce including locally-grown produce, which contributes to improved health, quality of life and community spirit,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport. “While the Produce Availability Initiative supports healthy eating programs in B.C. that encourage eating fresh fruits and vegetables, it also serves as a model of how we can make healthy foods grown in B.C. better available to remote communities.”

In developing the healthy eating initiative, the task force consulted with many communities, including the Queen Charlotte Islands, Atlin, Chetwynd, Terrace, Stewart, Tofino, Kaslo, New Denver and Crawford Bay. Grocers and retailers in these communities were interviewed, and the food suppliers and distributors were consulted to help better understand the produce supply distribution chain.

Funding includes $215,000 provided to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon to manage the one-year Produce Availability Initiative and also co-ordinate the Industry Advisory Committee, which will advise the Ministries about key priority actions and how to create long-term efficiencies within the food distribution system to remote communities.

“It takes a collaborative effort from governments, food suppliers and producers to ensure that rural and remote communities have fresh produce available for people in remote communities,” said Bobbe Wood, president and CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon. “Evidence shows vegetables and fruit have a protective effect against the development of chronic disease and that even a one-serving per day increase is linked to a 20 per cent reduction in all causes of mortality. Through the Produce Availability Initiative, we are working together to address food distribution challenges and build a system to get fresher produce to communities year-round.”

The task force was chaired by former Healthy Living and Sport Minister Mary Polak, and included representatives from the ministries of Healthy Living and Sport, Community Development, Agriculture and Lands, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Transportation and Infrastructure: health authorities in North, Interior, Vancouver Island and Vancouver Coastal; the First Nations Health Council and the Union of BC Municipalities.

Other healthy eating programs and initiatives that support the plan include the Community Food Action Initiative, a health promotion initiative aimed at increasing food security for all British Columbians; the BC Healthy Living Alliance’s Food Skills for Families, that helps Aboriginal, Punjabi and low income families prepare healthy, fun meals; and ActNow BC, which supports healthy eating initiatives throughout B.C.

One-time funding of $915,000 is provided through a Ministry of Housing and Social Development community gaming grant that will support B.C.’s Produce Availability Initiative’s three priority actions:

• The First Nations Agriculture Council will support the creation of community gardens in at least 10 First Nations communities through funding for training, tools, equipment and small machinery to extend the successful ActNow BC program, First Nations Community Food Systems for Healthy Living ($200,000).

• BC Agriculture in the Classroom will establish group-buying by retailers and community groups in select communities located off main highways. It will also institute more efficient purchasing, distributing and storing practices for fresh perishable produce that will improve quality and quantity of produce in communities and will build on the successful provincial distribution networks established for the ActNow BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program ($250,000).

• The BC Paediatric Society, a BC Healthy Living Alliance member, will provide supports and incentives to carriers to transport produce (by ferry, plane or barge and over gravel road) to remote communities ($250,000).

Victoria
November 3, 2009
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
2009AL0019-000569