Victoria – At an announcement, BCAC (BC Agriculture Council) Executive Director Danielle Synotte, alongside James Donaldson (BC Food & Beverage) and Minister Lana Popham, reinforced the importance of working together to build a resilient, sustainable, and thriving food system in B.C.
This 15-member task force—co-chaired by BCAC, BC Food & Beverage, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food—will focus on some of the biggest issues impacting the sector, including: Water, Land, Labour, Competitiveness, and Investment.
The new task force is a result of ongoing conversations with industry and allows government to work closely with B.C.’s agriculture and food sector to increase the growth and competitiveness of B.C. products. Members will also recommend how to ensure people in British Columbia have continued access to healthy and affordable food, no matter what happens with U.S. tariffs or a trade war. The task force’s work will be guided by diverse, knowledgeable and successful leaders, including primary producers from the province’s farming sector, as well as seafood harvesters, food and beverage processors, distributors and retailers.
Co-chairs:
- Danielle Synotte, executive director, BC Agriculture Council
- James Donaldson, CEO, BC Food & Beverage
- Michelle Koski, deputy minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Primary producers:
- Jennifer Woike, president, BC Agriculture; president/owner, Farmer Ben’s Eggs
- Annelise Grube-Cavers, co-owner, Fresh Valley Farms
- Nav Bains, vice-president of operations, marketing and procurement, Westberry Farms
- Chris Bodnar, assistant professor at University of the Fraser Valley; co-owner, Close to Home Organic
Processors:
- Angela Doro, president, Freybe Gourmet Foods
- Jasmine Byrne, COO, Big Mountain Foods
- James Pratt, CEO, Rhema Health Products
Seafood:
- Larry Johnson, president, Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood
- Steve Pocock, owner, Sawmill Bay Oysters
Retail:
- Jamie Nelson, president, Pattison Food Group (effective March 1, 2025)
Distribution:
- Cameron Bowles, vice-president of national sales, Sysco
Thought leadership:
- Rory McAlpine, chair, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute; retired as senior vice-president, Maple Leaf Foods
