Seed processing hubs studied for the Southern Interior

Seed producers may soon be able to access new seed processing equipment in up to a dozen ‘B.C. Food Hub Network facilities,’ including Salmon Arm, Rock Creek and Kamloops.

FarmFolk CityFolk (FFCF) indicated, this equipment will increase production of high-quality vegetable, grain and plant seed and support B.C.’s food system.

FFCF will lead a government-funded B.C. Seed Hub feasibility study to determine the potential of adding in-hub infrastructure or mobile cleaning units at food hubs in different regions of the province.

“Many seed producers are smaller, family-run farms that cannot afford their own seed cleaning and packaging equipment, but by expanding the role of our food hubs to include those services, we can help solve that problem,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. “We’re going to look at how we can increase seed production in different regions and work with B.C. farmers to support and expand seed-sector infrastructure, services and training in B.C.”

FFCF will consult with different food hub operators to determine which facilities are most interested and appropriately located and sized to include seed processing equipment. Adding seed-specific equipment to the hubs would allow many farmers in multiple regions of the province to clean, treat, weigh, package and label their products at their convenience, year-round.

“Demand for our first mobile seed cleaner has exceeded all of our expectations with over 100,000 pounds of seeds from over 50 varieties being cleaned since early 2019,” said Anita Georgy, executive director, FFCF. “This tells us farmers are ready and eager to add seed production to their crop plans. Being able to partner with the food hub network to increase access to seed cleaning equipment will directly increase B.C.’s seed and food security.”

The equipment will help small-scale seed growers prepare their products for sale and distribution while limiting their operating and investment costs, as well as creating the opportunity for them to participate in the networking and partnerships that food hubs foster.

The B.C. Food Hub Network supports the establishment of a network of regional shared food processing and food hubs, to increase value-added processing opportunities for producers and processors.

Three food hubs are operating in Vancouver, Surrey and Port Alberni. Hubs are under development in Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Creston, Rock Creek, Kamloops, Abbotsford-Mission, the Cowichan Valley, Bowser (near Parksville) and Victoria.

FCFF and the B.C. government partnered on a made-in-B.C. mobile seed-cleaning unit in 2019, which is based in the Fraser Valley, but has moved around to other parts of the province.