Abbotsford and agriculture go hand-in-hand, and that longstanding connection was the theme of this year’s Mayor’s Luncheon.
The third annual Mayor’s Luncheon was held at the AgRec Centre at Exhibition Park on May 6. The event was an opportunity for Mayor Siemens to provide business owners and attendees with an update on the progress of Council’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, while discussing the state of our local agriculture sector both in his remarks and in conversation with a panel of local experts.
This year’s panel featured B.C. Agriculture Council executive director Danielle Synotte, Berryhaven Farm third-generation berry farmer David Mutz, B&L Dairy Farms fourth-generation dairy farmer Matt Dykshoorn, and Perpetual Vegetable business manager Vijay Randhawa. Issues that came up included industry changes, employment, land use, challenges and opportunities, and what we can do to make sure our industry thrives for years to come. Thank you to all our panellists for your participation and sharing your perspectives and wisdom with us.
There are so many reasons to be proud of our local agricultural businesses and what they mean to our community. They make Abbotsford the agricultural capital of B.C., with more than 1,000 farms sitting on more than 60,000 acres of Canada’s most productive farmland on a per hectare basis. The agricultural industry supports more than 16,000 jobs and generates nearly $3.8 billion in annual economic activity. Our agricultural producers are also vital to local and provincial food security. Besides the berries Abbotsford is famous for, agricultural businesses in our community produce, grow or raise a wide range of goods, including roughly half the dairy, chickens, turkeys and eggs eaten in B.C.
We are also home to many large horticulture growers and producers whose flowers, plants, trees and shrubs are both planted locally and shipped across North America, helping foster biodiversity, support pollinators and beautify communities. Abbotsford’s innovative agri-producers are also leading the way in agritech innovations as they explore and develop new ways to offset climate risks, manage rising input costs, address labour shortages and increase productivity while reducing environmental impact.
As a City Council we take supporting our agricultural producers very seriously and we’re doing what we can to continue to set our agriculture industry up for success. This includes partnering with the Abbotsford Community Foundation to provide annual agricultural enhancement grants to local producers, processors and farmers; launching AgRefresh to modernize agricultural policies, bylaws and regulations to enable on-farm processing, retail and agri-tourism opportunities; working diligently to secure a new water source, and engaging with local ag producers to learn how we as a City can better support and advocate for them.
This year’s Mayor’s Luncheon was itself an opportunity to support Abbotsford’s agricultural future, as proceeds from the event were donated to BC Young Farmers. This is a group that represents the next generation of agricultural leaders by being their voice and sharing their perspectives so that future public policies support the long-term sustainability of agriculture. At the end of the event, Mayor Siemens presented a $4,000-cheque, which will help young farmers access educational conferences and other learning opportunities.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Mayor’s Luncheon or watched online. It is always a pleasure to celebrate and promote our agricultural sector. Farming has been a foundational part of our community’s past, and with our farmers’ vision and the City’s support, we are confident that Abbotsford will continue to be an agricultural leader for years to come.
View the Mayor’s address here.
View the panel discussion here.
Abbotsford City Council