The Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham announced a funding commitment of up to $450,000 for a beef packing plant project in northern B.C.
“I am excited to support the amazing people who work in our ranching sector in the North and throughout the province. This project has the potential to ensure B.C. cattle are bred, raised and finished in our province, providing retailers, suppliers, restaurants and consumers with great quality B.C. beef. This can provide an economic boost to rural B.C. and give consumers what they want.”
Popham made the announcement yesterday at the at the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA) annual general meeting in Smithers yesterday.
The funding will be used to develop an industry-led co-operative business model, to support B.C. ranchers, and determine what role they could have in the plant’s ownership and operation.
A similar co-op was implemented for Ontario’s pork industry.
If the Prince George plant becomes fully operational, the North would gain an estimated 80 full-time, good-paying jobs in the plant by 2020, and an additional 620 spin-off jobs.
In 2016, B.C. beef produces generated close to $219 million in farm cash receipts.
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