August 6, 2013, Fraser Valley, BC – To help give B.C. taters a boost, BCfresh was the recent recipient of a $16,000 Buy Local grant to help promote the Warba potato variety.
Warba potatoes are an heirloom product originally released in the 1920s. It was designed to be an early-producing crop and Warba potatoes are typically available from June to August.
“Our family has grown Warba in B.C. as an early-variety potato for (more than) 50 years,” said Peter Guichon of Felix Farms, a grower of Warba potatoes. “We love its flavour and can hardly wait for the early summer harvest, the first in Canada.”
“Warba is a unique product,” said Brian Faulkner, vice-president of sales and marketing for BCfresh. “It’s the first local potato of the year. We’re one of the few companies, and perhaps the only company that we know of, to grow them commercially.”
BCfresh is a grower-owned distribution and marketing agency, representing more than 50 family farms in B.C. They market and distribute local farmers’ products to local retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and national chains.
The government of B.C. is investing $2 million to help B.C. producers and processors promote local foods. This funding helps local businesses and organizations launch or expand their marketing campaigns, and allows B.C.’s diverse food industry to use customized promotions specific to their market and needs.
“The B.C. government is committed to promoting local foods, and when consumers buy local they are providing fresh and healthy food for their family while generating economic benefits for B.C. food producers and communities,” said B.C. Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm.
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