BC Food Facts

Did you know...

• Agriculture in British Columbia is characterized by its diversity. Some of the activities carried out by provincial farmers include: dairy farming, cattle-ranching, poultry raising, and the growing of grain, tree fruits, vegetables, berries, grapes, greenhouse vegetables, mushrooms, bulbs, ornamental flowers and shrubs.
• More than 80 species of finfish, shellfish and marine plants are grown, harvested and marketed by B.C.'s seafood industry.
• A British Columbian eats more mushrooms than anyone else in Canada. Each person eats about 3 kg per year, while the average Canadian eats only 2 kg per year.
• Apples are the most valuable edible horticulture crop in BC. About 75% of all BC orchard land is planted in apples.
• BC is one of the top three blueberry producing regions in the world. In the last 10 or 15 years, per capita consumption of blueberries has doubled.
• Potatoes are the most grown vegetable in the world. In BC, there are more potatoes grown than any other vegetable.
• Although raspberries can be grown in all of the Canadian provinces, BC accounts for almost the entire annual Canadian production of raspberries.
• BC grows about 95% of the cranberries grown in Canada and is the world’s third largest producer after Massachusetts and Wisconsin.
• BC accounts for about one-quarter of the Canadian production of strawberries. That's over 3 million kg of strawberries worth $6 million.
• BC produces about 3 million pounds of pumpkins a year, valued at nearly $400,000 per year.
• BC produces 5.5 million kilograms of sweet cherries and 1 million kilograms of sour cherries totaling about 60 per cent of the Canadian cherry crop.
• There are approximately 2,200 registered beekeepers in BC operating between 45 and 50,000 hives. Most beekeepers are small and part-time.
• Food Facts courtesy of the Government of British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.