The new B.C. Farm, Fish and Food Job Connector will showcase current job vacancies throughout the province, including those for crop and seafood harvesters, food processing and farm workers, agrologists, large machinery operators and marketing specialists. The site also has sector-specific information and guidance to support businesses as they adapt their recruitment and human resource management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many British Columbians are passionate about buying local and are looking towards careers in the agricultural, seafood and food processing sectors. We are making it easier for employers and employees to connect so we can fill vacancies and get more British Columbians working to put fresh and local food on our tables. At the same time, we recognize the workforce challenges brought on by COVID-19 and are helping to address the need to establish a secure agricultural labour force so we can generate economic activity and maintain food security in our communities.”

said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture.

The connector site will also provide information and context about the opportunities that exist within the different regions of B.C.’s agriculture, seafood and food processing businesses and will highlight the available jobs.

“Farmers in B.C. are in a tough spot because of COVID-19, and our need for labour is at the top of the list. I appreciate the B.C. government’s efforts in responding to those concerns through this website, which I’m hoping will introduce my farm and family to people looking to join our business and help us share our great tasting, healthy berries with British Columbians this season.”

said Jason Smith, owner of Fraser Berry Farms Ltd.

Parm Bains, owner, Westberry Farms, said,

“B.C. berry growers are facing a serious labour shortage this season due to COVID-19, and this website is a good idea to let people know we are hiring and looking for their help. The berry industry urgently needs seasonal workers interested in harvesting and packing jobs. Many farms also have longer-term positions available in field and crop management and quality control, and this site could connect us to those people.”

The site will connect to agriculture, food processing, aquaculture and marine fisheries jobs posted on Work BC, industry sites and the BC Food and Beverage websites. It will also be a centralized source to find information and tools provided by B.C.’s industry groups.

“Local labour has always been a critical part of British Columbia’s food system. Jobs in agriculture provide countless opportunities to grow your skills, expand your experiences and contribute to our sustainable food system. We appreciate the work that the Province is doing to help farmers and ranchers connect with those looking for employment opportunities during these changing times.”

said Rhonda Driediger, president, Western Agriculture Labour Initiative.

Quick Facts:

• Jobs are available in more than 30 communities in the Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Metro Vancouver
  and Vancouver Island, as well as in the Kootenays, Cariboo and northern B.C.
• There are close to 600 jobs posted on WorkBC in the agriculture, seafood and food and beverage sectors.
• B.C. farms, ranches, seafood and food processing companies generated a record $15 billion in revenue in 2018.

Source: Agricultural Manufacturer of Canada

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Stalker’s excitement for the industry followed him more than 4,000 miles from Scotland to Vancouver Island where he immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1988. And after a few years of working for a few different contractors, he and his wife decided it was time to start their own business, renting their first machine and officially starting David Stalker Excavating Ltd. in Ladysmith, British Columbia.

Initially, Stalker, who recently celebrated the 25-year-anniversary of David Stalker Excavating, didn’t think much about the longevity of his business.

he said:

“I never knew how many years we’d be in business. I didn’t look at that at the time. I just looked at buying a machine and trying to get myself a job. That was 1993, and thankfully, we’re still at it 27 years later.”

Stalker purchased his first Hitachi, a ZX200LC-3, in 2009. The machine had more than 9,000 hours on it when he sold it in 2017. It’s been more than 10 years since this first purchase, but Stalker continues turning to Hitachi to get the job done right.

Stalker said:

“Hitachi is a great machine. Their reliability, fuel economy and resale value – we love them. I think with the Hitachi name, you get proven quality.”

The newest addition to Stalker’s fleet is a ZX345USLC-6 – the first of its kind to arrive on Vancouver Island. The machine is currently working on a road construction project to provide public access to a marina and mill site in Ladysmith.

Stalker said:

“Ever since I knew the 345 was coming out, I wanted one. I realized that the 345 would actually work in the same place that a conventional 250-size machine would work. After discussing it with Wajax, we decided to take the plunge.”

As a company that specializes in residential and municipal excavation work, David Stalker Excavating often works on road projects where traffic flow must be maintained. With its reduced-tail-swing design, the 345 brings efficiency to those projects by allowing for a single lane of traffic.

Stalker said:

“With a conventional excavator, it’s quite hard to maintain single lane traffic. With the reduced-tail-swing of the 345, you’ve got no worries. It works very well for that application. Our operators love them.”

In addition to the ZX345USLC-6, Stalker’s fleet consists of five more reduced-tail-swing models and a ZX50U-5 compact excavator – all of which he purchased through Wajax, Canada’s exclusive Hitachi construction dealer. And while his fondness for Hitachi continues to grow, so does his relationship with Wajax.

“We started with Wajax in 2009 and we’ve had a very good relationship with them ever since. I don’t think we’ve ever had to question a bill or had any type of heated discussion with them. Wajax has always been straight upfront with us. We’ve never had an issue.”

Stalker said.

It’s this partnership that allows Stalker to travel back to Scotland at least once a year, as he knows that if something happens with a machine, Wajax has him – and his company – covered. Most recently, Stalker traveled home to celebrate the 97th birthday of his grandmother, fondly known as Granny.

he said:

“My granny…she’s a tough one. She’s big, strong and just doesn’t know when to quit. She’s got her own place, fixes her own meals, does her own laundry. She just keeps going. I admire her a lot.”

And although Stalker moved away from Granny more than 30 years ago, he’s still got her to thank when it comes to his daily mentality at work.

“Granny makes you look at things a lot differently – with having a business, employees, issues and everything else. Here she is, 97 and still going. She just makes you look at things in a whole different perspective.”

While Stalker’s perspective may have been unsure about the longevity of David Stalker Excavating at the start, it’s clear that he has paved the way for even more success. As someone who would rather be on a jobsite than in the office, Stalker knows there’s nothing else he’d rather do. And with 27 years under his belt at the company, he’s excited for what’s to come.

“I’ve always enjoyed this type of work. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and go to work. It’s in my blood and it’s what I want to keep doing.”

This article first appeared in Hitachi’s BREAKOUT magazine, Spring 2020 issue.

Source: Hitachi Breakout Magazine

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British Columbia (B.C.) agritech companies are partnering with the federal and provincial governments to find the perfect pairing between food and technology.

A number of innovative projects are receiving investments under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

B.C. pears are a delicacy, though their ripening time makes it difficult for British Columbians to enjoy this fruit consistently. Consolidated Fruit Packers Ltd. (CFP) of Kelowna is eager to change that by bringing innovative new methods to the Canadian pear market.

Pears are a unique fruit because they are one of only a few fruit species that do not ripen on the tree. They require time for the sugars to develop off the branch, which can pose a challenge for consumers eager to enjoy a local pear. CFP is studying the process required to create a pre-conditioned pear that consumers will be able to take home and enjoy immediately or soon after purchase.

Defining the conditions that create the perfect pear will allow CFP to offer a local pear with a more consistent texture and flavour. Approaching this challenge from another angle, CFP is developing the optimal method of packaging to further enhance the sweet and juicy flavour that B.C. pears are known for, to provide consumers with the best eating experience.

“It’s no secret that B.C. fruit tastes amazing. Finding innovative ways to improve access to pears and grapes for British Columbians while creating neat tools to support our growers, producers and processors is fantastic. It’s wonderful to see new technology supporting communities and industries across the province.”
– Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture

“Consolidated Fruit Packers is committed to being the most innovative team in produce with an unwavering commitment to value and taste. The funding through the governments Agri-Innovation Program has provided us the opportunity to push the boundaries in agritech as we create a better eating experience for consumers with ready to eat, delicious local pears.”
– Gord Morrison, category director, Consolidated Fruit Packers

This project is one of many examples of businesses that are partnering with the federal and provincial governments to help British Columbians access more local fruit and support growers and producers.

A project by Vancouver-based Vintality,a subsidiary of Geotronics Consulting Inc., is working with B.C. vineyards and fertilizer companies to boost yields and grape quality while lowering the amount of fertilizer needed to grow grapes.

Geotronics Consulting has designed a fertilizer trailer with GPS technology that will automatically dispense precise amounts of liquid fertilizer to targeted areas on the property thanks to its built-in program. This will reduce the amount of fertilizer and water used in the vineyard while ensuring that the plants are getting the nutrients that they need. The project is designed to increase the competitiveness of B.C.’s grape and wine industries by enhancing the tools growers, producers and processors can access to produce their products for consumers.

The CFP and Vintality projects highlight a small sample of the innovative ideas that B.C.-based organizations are working on to build a more sustainable future. Projects under the Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation Program have received nearly $2.6 million in funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The partnership is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023.

“The Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program has given us the support to make our project a reality. Real change and innovation takes a lot of partners and the Agri-Innovation Program has been critical for us in creating this change. We believe B.C. should keep making the best wine that respects the terroir and this is a big step in making that more and more a reality.”
– Chris Mark, operations, Vintality

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Government of Canada)

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