To ensure B.C.’s food supply and food economy continues to grow in the face of U.S. tariff uncertainty, and to help farmers find new markets, a new Premier’s task force on agriculture and food economy has been formed.

“All British Columbians want reliable access to healthy and affordable food,” said Premier David Eby. “We must protect our food sources and our agricultural sector in the face of the threat of unfair and damaging tariffs. The respected industry leaders in our task force will provide the government with first-hand knowledge of how to prepare and respond to these threats, as we continue to grow our agricultural sector.”

The task force will have 15 representatives from across the agriculture and food sector. It will be co-chaired by leadership from the BC Agriculture Council, which advocates on behalf of 29 member associations, and BC Food and Beverage, which represents a diverse range of processors throughout the province, along with the deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The group will hold its first meeting virtually the last week of February 2025, and is expected to meet in person on a quarterly basis over the next 12 to 18 months.

Task Force Members

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

Source: BC Government February 20, 2025 news release