BUSINESSES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA S AGRIFOOD AND SEAFOOD SECTOR ARE SERVING THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.

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1 QUALITY DIVERSITY

2 BUSINESSES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA S AGRIFOOD AND SEAFOOD SECTOR ARE SERVING THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. With British Columbia s growing array of products and our international reputation for high food safety standards, food importers from around the world are exploring our commodities. Our modern agriculture and transportation infrastructure ensure that customers receive exceptionally fresh and nutritious products quickly and efficiently. In 2016, British Columbia exported $3.8 billion worth of agrifood and seafood products to 160 markets. At home, we have invested $8 million in a Buy Local Program, helping B.C. farmers and food processors promote their products, and support food security in British Columbia.

3 British Columbia s agrifood and seafood sector is one of the most diverse in Canada, with over 200 primary agriculture products, 100 species of fish, shellfish and marine plants, a world-renowned wine industry and a growing array of high-quality, high-value niche products. We are home to hundreds of agrifood and seafood companies including primary growers and producers on land and sea, food processors, beverage processors and manufacturers of specialty items such as nutraceuticals, floral products, pet foods and more. Natural Advantages DIVERSITY Thanks to our temperate climate and varied terrain, British Columbia is able to produce and harvest a vast diversity of products from land and sea. In addition to hundreds of agriculture products, we produce approximately 100 seafood species and are home to a globally recognized wine industry that encompasses over 341 wineries. Our farms and food processors supply everything from fruits, vegetables and herbal preparations to top-grade meats and beverages. QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY British Columbia s reputation for producing high-quality and great-tasting foods is supported by internationally renowned food traceability, safety and sustainability standards. TRANSPORTATION Strategically located on Canada s West Coast, British Columbia lies at the commercial crossroads of the Asia-Pacific region and North America. This means that shipping costs to international markets are lower and shipping times are shorter than from competing suppliers in North America. The North American Free Trade Agreement gives Canadian businesses duty-free access to the United States and Mexico. Our robust transportation and communication networks ensure cost-effective connections. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES Sustainability principles guide food production in British Columbia. Our greenhouse growers are world leaders in the use of integrated pest management and innovative greenhouse technologies. The commercial fishers, fish farmers and seafood processors of the province work together to supply both domestic and export markets with a vast array of safe, high-quality seafood products. A cooperative approach between industry and government has put the British Columbia seafood industry at the forefront of new conservation initiatives, helping to ensure a sustainable industry for the future. INNOVATION Our agrifood and seafood sector is flexible and resilient. We rely on a modern infrastructure that uses the latest research and technologies developed collaboratively across industry, government and academia.

4 Diverse and Delicious Products LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTS About half of B.C. s 20,000 farms predominantly raise livestock, poultry, or other animals. Our farms and ranches produce beef, dairy, chicken, turkey, eggs, pork, mutton, lamb and other animals and animal products. We exported $276 million worth of live animals, meat and animal products in The top five exports were pork products, live cattle and bison, dairy products, poultry products and furskins. B.C. Livestock and Poultry Products 2015 Production Dairy Poultry Beef Eggs Pork million litres of milk 185,000 tonnes chicken & turkey 85,000 tonnes 70 million dozen 25,000 tonnes Sheep & Lambs 39,500 rams, ewes & lambs Honey 1,675 tonnes FRUITS AND NUTS Our diverse climate enables the production of a wide variety of berries, grapes, tree fruits and nuts on over 24,500 hectares of farmland. In 2015, British Columbia had Canada s largest berry crop, and led the country in sales of blueberries, sweet cherries, raspberries and apricots. Our tree fruits include apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums/prunes, nectarines and apricots and nuts include filberts/hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts and pecans. British Columbia has 4,000 hectares in grape production, and produced more than 26,000 tonnes of grapes in VEGETABLES Thanks to a moderate climate, fertile soils and access to good water, B.C. fields and farms can grow many different types of vegetables, from asparagus to zucchini. In 2015, the top five vegetable exports were mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes. Our greenhouse vegetable sector, which generated almost $308 million in total farm cash receipts in 2015, supplies the B.C. marketplace with fresh vegetables for close to 10 months of the year on just 284 hectares of land, growing nearly 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse vegetables. B.C. Greenhouse Vegetables Farm Cash Receipts ($ 000) 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Cucumbers Tomatoes Peppers GRAINS AND OILSEEDS B.C. farmers produced more than 331,000 tonnes of grains and oilseeds in 2015, including wheat, canola, oats and barley. FLORICULTURE AND NURSERY PRODUCTS We have a thriving industry in ornamental flowers and shrubs. Our floriculture growers generated more than $298 million in 2015, with almost 92 million cut flowers, 19 million cuttings, and nearly 54 million indoor and outdoor potted plants. British Columbia s nursery industry is Canada s second largest, valued at more than $193 million in 2015, producing perennials and annuals, deciduous and coniferous shrubs, shade and ornamental trees, vines, fruit trees and nursery tree seedlings. SEAFOOD British Columbia s prime fishing grounds, world-famous salmon-rearing rivers and pristine ocean farming areas produce a rich and varied harvest of finfish, groundfish and shellfish. Among the key fish species are farmed and wild salmon, halibut, rockfish, dogfish, hake, sablefish, herring and tuna. Shellfish include wild and farmed clams, farmed oysters, crab, prawns, geoduck, sea urchins and sea cucumber. We also produce a variety of marine plants. British Columbia has seven species approved to display the Marine Stewardship Council label: halibut, sablefish, hake, albacore tuna, sockeye salmon, chum salmon and pink salmon.

5 BEVERAGES Home to 929 vineyards, including 341 licensed wineries, British Columbia has long been recognized for awardwinning wines. In 2016, our wine producers won nearly 1,200 awards in national and international competitions. Over 75 different grape varieties are produced here. The top 10 varietals are Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Vidal, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gewürztraminer. We also produce craft-brewed ciders, beers and spirits, including whiskey and vodka and are known as a top quality producer of fresh glacial spring water and a variety of fruit and vegetable juices. In 2015, we exported $97 million worth of beverages. PROCESSED FOODS Our diverse agricultural production supports a varied food processing industry. In fact, food processing is among the largest of British Columbia s manufacturing industries, generating more than $9 billion in shipments in 2015 and employing 33,000. More than 2,500 small- and medium-sized firms produce products from domestic and imported agriculture and seafood sources. Our food processors supply high-quality products, including snack foods, coffee and tea, flavouring syrups and concentrates, seasoning and dressings, manufactured pizzas, soup mixes, prepared meals and sandwiches, bakery and tortilla products, baked goods and cereal products, chocolate and cocoa preparations, beverages and pet foods. Top 5 B.C. Agrifood and Seafood Export Markets 2016 By Market ($ Millions) United States 2,700 China 407 Japan 207 South Korea 64 Hong Kong 55 B.C. Fruit 2015 Production ( 000 Tonnes) Apples 97.0 Blueberries 69.6 Cranberries 43.7 Grapes 26.2 Sweet Cherries 15.5 Raspberries 7.9 Pears 3.9 Peaches 5.1 Strawberries 1.0

6 Natural Abundance British Columbia has one of the most diverse agrifood and seafood industries in Canada, producing more than 200 agriculture commodities and around 100 seafood species. We are home to more than 2,500 food and beverage manufacturing operations. British Columbia s agrifood and seafood sector produces over $13 billion in annual revenues and directly employs 56,800 British Columbians. In 2016, we exported $3.8 billion of agrifood and seafood products to more than 160 markets. Top 5 B.C. Seafood Exports 2016 Value By Species ($ Millions) Global Distribution British Columbia s high-quality agrifood and seafood products are in demand globally, and they are sent around the world through an extensive and efficient network of ship, air, rail and road connections. The United States is British Columbia s largest export market, worth more than $2.7 billion in Other important export markets are China at $407 million, Japan at $207 million, South Korea at $64 million and Hong Kong at $55 million. AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS In 2016, British Columbia exported $2.5 billion of agrifood products to 147 markets. Ninety per cent of the export value was generated by five markets: the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. SEAFOOD PRODUCTS In 2016, British Columbia exported $1.3 billion worth of seafood products to 80 different markets. Ninety-two per cent went to our top five markets: the United States, China, Japan, Ukraine and Hong Kong. British Columbia led Canada in sales of farmed salmon, halibut, wild salmon, wild clams, rockfish, farmed oysters, tuna, hake, farmed clams, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, skate, dogfish and squid. Farmed Atlantic Salmon 545 Crab 142 Hake 71 Shrimp & Prawns 47 Herring 45

7 For more information about British Columbia s agrifood and seafood producers and their products, contact: BC Agriculture Council BC Food Processors Association BC Seafood Alliance BC Seafood.ca CONTACT Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology 999 Canada Place, Suite 730 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3E1 Phone: Fax: international@gov.bc.ca Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time of writing; however, the programs referred to, and data cited, are subject to change. Neither the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology nor the Province of British Columbia accepts any liability for actions taken based on this material. All figures are in Canadian dollars. Published in July 2017.

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