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New Buy BC retailer partners with B.C. Tree Fruits Co-op

Consumers will more easily identify local B.C. products when shopping at their local Save-On-Foods store with the Buy BC branding featured at the retailer’s 125 locations throughout the province.

Lana Popham, minister of agriculture and food, was joined by Darrell Jones, president, Save-On-Foods and the Pattison Food Group, and Warren Sarafinchan, president and CEO, B.C. Tree Fruits Co-operative, at the newly opened Coquitlam Sunwood Square Save-On-Foods to announce the partnership.

“As a B.C.-owned and operated company, we have been supporting local for more than a century and are proud to carry more than 2,500 locally made products from more than 2,000 local growers and producers across Western Canada,” Jones said. “We are proud to collaborate with Buy BC in support of the British Columbian growers, ranchers and producers who play a key role in B.C.’s agriculture, food and beverage economy, bringing the rich diversity and exceptional quality of the food made right here at home to our customers across Western Canada.”

Save-On-Foods is launching Buy BC in conjunction with the annual company-wide Apple Cup display contest, which is in full swing from Nov. 3 to 9 in all its stores. During Apple Cup, stores celebrate partnerships with local apple growers, such as B.C. Tree Fruits, with their own unique brands of creativity sparked by local inspiration. Buy BC has partnered with B.C. Tree Fruits to supply the promotional shelf tags, in-store posters and produce bin wraps for displays, and each participating store will be judged on its creativity, with a prize awarded to the best display.

“For almost a century, B.C. Tree Fruits has been committed to serving tree-fruit growers in British Columbia,” Sarafinchan said. “We are honoured to work alongside other B.C.-based food and beverage companies to promote the Buy BC program, and through it, showcase delicious fruit from our growers.”

“When consumers buy locally grown, raised, harvested and processed food and beverages, they are supporting the farmers, fishers and producers that live in their own communities and helping to strengthen our provincial food system and economy,” Popham said.

Customers will see Buy BC point-of-sale materials, such as banners, stickers and shelf displays, in stores throughout the province to help identify food and beverages made in B.C. The Buy BC logo makes it easier for people to identify B.C. food and beverage products, and explore new and different products from around the province, while helping small, family-run businesses, new entrepreneurs and larger B.C. companies grow and succeed.