DUNCAN – The City of Duncan is home to farmers, fishers and producers providing the community with many local fresh, diverse products right from their own backyards. Duncan is among those promoting buying local, which supports the local economy and creates jobs.
The provincial government’s Buy Local Program helps BC farmers and food processors promote their products and supports food supply security in BC. The program is providing over $31,700 of funding to three Duncan-based companies to help increase sales and brand awareness.
Hope Farm Healing Centre is a program by the Mustard Seed that seeks to connect people to the land through a community-based farm. Residents of the program learn how to grow vegetables and hay, as well as caring for animals such as chickens, ducks and pigs. The products produced on the farm are sold on site and at local farmers’ markets for everyone to enjoy.
Averill Creek Vineyard is a family run 40 acre estate winery dedicated to producing premium quality wines that showcase the flavours of Vancouver Island. Owners, Andy and Wendy Johnston, are working hard to share their passion with British Columbians through events to showcase and increase awareness about their wines.
Duncan’s Farmers’ Market is a large year round outdoor market offering consumers locally grown, raised, foraged, fished, distilled, processed and produced goods. Rain or shine, every Saturday, vendors are offering delicious, fresh products and connecting with customers to help them learn more about the products they are buying.
The Buy Local program has received $8 million in BC government funding since 2012 to increase sales of locally grown and processed agrifood and seafood products within the province.
The BC government’s Agrifood and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan supports the building of domestic markets and maintaining a secure food supply. The Plan is a component of the BC Jobs Plan, and the roadmap to leading the agrifoods sector to becoming a $15-billion-a-year industry by 2020.
