OCTOBER 2018 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


19


BC Fresh expands to meet national demand Vegetable warehouse distributor sells 200 million pounds of produce annually


by DAVID SCHMIDT DELTA – In 1992, eight farms broke


away from the BC Coast Vegetable Co-op and formed their own company – Lower Mainland Vegetable Distributors. After starting with a small warehouse on one of the founding farms, it soon grew to three warehouses on three farms. In 2007, the company hired former BC Vegetable Marketing Commission manager Murray Driediger as its new president and CEO and rebranded the company as BC Fresh. That led to the company consolidating operations at the Boundary Bay Airport in Delta in 2010. Over the years, the number of


shareholders increased from 12 to 31 and the number of farms selling their potatoes, root vegetables and other crops through BC Fresh increased to 60 from across BC’s Lower Mainland and Interior. “We now sell about 200 million pounds of product, including about 75% of BC’s potato and root vegetable production,” Driediger says. In May, BC Fresh took the next step in its meteoric rise, moving into new digs


“We have requests from national


retailers to add other commodities to our mix,” Driediger states. As its name implies, BC Fresh sells


only fresh potatoes and vegetables, leaving processing to other companies. While most are sold in Western Canada, BC Fresh ships product as far east as Ontario and as far south as Texas and California. “BC has a good reputation for


quality,” Driediger notes. First and foremost, BC Fresh sells


BC-grown produce under its BC Fresh label but when the local supply is exhausted, it will source product from other western provinces and even the US if necessary. Product sourced from outside the province is sold under the Best Fresh label. Driediger admits it is becoming


Delta South MLA Ian Paton (centre) officially opened the new BC Fresh warehouse. Joining him were, left to right, Sean Clayton of Humphrey Construction, BC Fresh president and CEO Murray Driediger and BC Fresh directors Ed McKim and Cory Gerrard. DAVID SCHMIDT PHOTO


more difficult to maintain relationships with national retailers since they are all based in Ontario, but the company shows no signs of slowing down. “I’m hoping this facility will serve us for the next 10 years,” he says, but


just down the road from its existing facilities following a two-year building project. The company invited growers and customers to tour the new facility during a grand opening that was only slightly marred by rain on September 7. With higher ceilings and 16 loading bays instead of 10, the new 51,000-square-


foot building increased BC Fresh’s capacity by 80%, from 1,100 to 1,900 pallets. While potatoes remain the core, BC Fresh also markets sprouts, broccoli,


beans, beets, turnips, sweet corn, shallots, squash and onions and plans to add several new lines next year.


notes the company preloaded enough land during the building project to allow a 10,000-square-foot expansion if and when needed. Presiding at the official opening was Delta South MLA and Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton. He called the new warehouse “absolutely phenomenal,” saying it was “great to see such high quality vegetables” in the building. Prior to becoming the local MLA, Paton was a member of Delta council, which


approved the building project. Driediger noted that process went extremely smoothly. “I have nothing but good things to say about the support we received from the mayor, council and staff.”


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