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prunings


participating in the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s Grower- Requested Own Use (GROU) program for some approved products. It allows growers to apply for a permit from the agency to import specified pesticides for their own use only—not for re-sale or for use on land other than their own. A GROU Import Certificate is required for all products brought in, and it is only available for the 27 products listed on the website at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/ agri-commerce/import/ _grou-piapda/index-eng.php An application, complete with proof of participation in an acceptable container disposal program, must be submitted to the PMRA for review and approval before a farmer can import the U.S. version of the Canadian registered products on the list. The GROU product must be purchased and imported by growers for their own use on their own land, and for one growing season only. Before applying, growers must ensure there is a supply of the product available and that foreign certifications required to buy the product are obtained, including a state license for purchase... The Canadian Horticultural Council’s CanadaGAP Program has issued updates to its On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) Manuals for 2011. The latest version incorporates previously released updates as approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) in 2010, as well as a few other minor improvements.


G


CanadaGAP Program participants will receive a CD copy directly by mail. CHC members will have access to the latest manuals at www.canadagap.ca


The implementation date of all updates will be April 1. A revised version of the audit checklist will be published well before this date. To familiarize yourself with the changes, download the Revisions documents, which track the changes that have been made to the manual since the previously released version. These can be found on the website... The U.S. blackberry industry is trying to form a promotion and research organization.


22 British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2011


rowers concerned about the high cost of chemicals in B.C. have the option of


At a Jan. 7 meeting, growers and importers discussed a proposal to develop the Blackberry Research and Promotion Program, whose stated mission is to “increase awareness and consumption of blackberries.” An industry working group began considering the issue in 2010 and a consultant for the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association wrote a draft document to establishing the group, which would promote fresh market consumption throughout North America.


The organization would be financed by a penny-per-pound fee assessed on first handlers of all U.S. and Canada- produced and imported blackberries. The assessment is expected to generate $1.25 million-$1.5 million, said Debby Wechsler, the Pittsboro, N.C.-based association’s executive secretary.


At least 51 percent of the industry’s producers and importers who account for 65 percent of blackberry production must approve the proposed referendum, she said... About 17 million tons of non-citrus fruit crops were produced in the United States last year, six percent less than in 2009, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, production of blueberries, kiwifruit, nectarines, strawberries, plums, peaches, bananas and other fruits increased, according to a Jan. 21 preliminary summary from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Production of apples, apricots, cherries, raspberries, pears, grapes, cranberries and other fruits declined last year. The report also included data on the value of U.S. fruit crops in 2010. Non-citrus crops were valued at $11.9 billion in 2010, down one percent from 2009...


Back on this side of the 49th, the federal and provincial governments have targeted over $4.5 million through the Growing Forward Agreement to support B.C. agricultural producers and processors who want to develop new products, processes, markets and ideas. Under the innovation banner of the agreement, government and industry are collaborating on several initiatives, such as the $2.04 million Innovation and Commercialization Centre. It will be a one-stop agricultural information resource promoting product development within industry by linking businesses and other organizations with service and technology suppliers. Other initiatives are focused on:


• Encouraging the development of high-efficiency, low-waste manufacturing processes.


• Helping producers and processors identify and realize opportunities for biomass use in bio-energy and nutraceuticals.


• Creating enhanced B.C. product quality assessments.


• Fostering the development of premium products and niche markets. • Planning a series of agriculture innovation forums to foster collaborative science, policy and marketing action plans and strategies. The five-year Growing Forward Agreement ends in 2013 and includes $475 million in support to the B.C. agricultural sector to help provide income stability and insurance against losses through Business Risk Management programs. An additional $78 million is being invested in programs designed to help participants in the agricultural and agri-food industry increase their


competitiveness and profitability.


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