News Fruit Production
New funding for B.C.’s Raspberry Replant Program available

New Raspberry Replant Program funding will make growers in B.C. more competitive, while increasing the bounty of raspberries in the province for fruit lovers.

“By helping growers with planting costs, we’re helping them advance their businesses and giving people more chances to enjoy B.C. berries,” said Lana Popham, minister of agriculture, food and fisheries. “This program will support local families and companies, and make the meals, days and memories of British Columbians that much sweeter in the years ahead.”

The goal of the Raspberry Replant Program is to revitalize the raspberry industry with raspberry varieties suitable for fresh and individually quick frozen (IQF) raspberry markets. The $300,000 program will help growers plant raspberry fields and go to strategic sector projects aimed at increasing sector competitiveness.

“This program will be imperative in helping raspberry farmers grow varieties that are better suited for the fresh and individually quick frozen markets, ultimately ensuring that high quality raspberries continue to be grown and sourced locally in British Columbia into the future,” said Jordan Alamwala, a raspberry grower and chair of B.C. Raspberries.

British Columbia produces the most raspberries of all the provinces in Canada, and leads the nation in raspberry sales, with most production occurring in the Fraser Valley.

Applications for the Raspberry Replant Program will be accepted from Oct. 12 to Dec. 6 to support the Spring 2022 raspberry planting season.