Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
By Duane Grandbois

Anytime is Time to Buy Local…Buy B.C.

Jun 23, 2018 | 10:41 AM

Buy BC programming is being relaunched to boost B.C.’s agriculture industry and fuel public interest in shopping for made-in-B.C. products.

Bringing back the brand power of this marketing program – popular with B.C. growers and producers, but cancelled in the early 2000s – will make it easier for British Columbians to explore new and different products from around the province.

The relaunch was announced by Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. Popham was joined by Vickey Brown, BC Association of Farmers’ Markets vice-president, and surrounded by local vendors at the Moss Street Market in Victoria, along with market-goers and local vendors.

The Buy BC Partnership Program involves cost-shared funding that is available not only to agriculture and seafood producers, processors and co-operatives, but also to relevant industry associations, as well as agricultural fairs and markets within B.C.

As well, logo-licencing agreements will be available for B.C. agriculture and seafood companies that do not require cost-shared funding, but still wish to use the Buy BC logo on products to help consumers easily identify their product as a local product.

Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
53m ago
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
6h ago
Employee Safety
Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC
23h ago

The Buy BC Partnership Program will provide $2 million in funding per year, over the next three years, to help eligible applicants with their marketing efforts using the Buy BC logo on their products or promotional materials.

“The Ministry of Agriculture’s three pillars of Grow BC, Feed BC and Buy BC are supporting the province’s agriculture sectors and encouraging British Columbians to choose B.C. products which in turn, support our local farmers and ranchers,” said Stan Vander Waal, president, BC Agriculture Council.

“Placing the Buy BC partnership logo on B.C. products strengthens the local brand, and reminds consumers that we grow and raise some of the most trusted and highest-quality product in the world.”

by Duane Grandbois

Other Matters

Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
Salvation Army in Vernon will take its operations on the road as a heat wave hits the Okanagan.The organization's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team will be sent out through the community to provide bottled water, nutritious snacks, and juice to vulnerable people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing ...
56m ago
Read More
Structural Fire
Workshop destroyed in early morning West Kelowna fire
A workshop near Gellatly Bay was destroyed in an early morning fire Thursday.West Kelowna Fire Rescue responded to reports of a structure fire on Harding Road at about 4:50 a.m.Crews arriving at the scene found the workshop fully engulfed in flames and launched a defensive attack to contain the blaze.Four fire apparatu...
1h ago
Read More
Plan Approved
Regional growth strategy consultation plan approved by Central Okanagan board
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) board has approved a plan to gather public input on a new regional growth strategy.The consultation plan was adopted July 16 and will guide how the RDCO engages residents, municipalities, First Nations, community organizations and government agencies during the developme...
1h ago
Read More
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
The housing construction sector saw another decline in June.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported 13 housing starts in Greater Vernon this June.That was down from the 19 housing starts in May, and from the 22 starts recorded in June of 2025.As of the end of June, there had been 88 housing projects sta...
6h ago
Read More
Unfinished business
Okanagan Sun begin title chase
The Okanagan Sun kick off the 2026 BCFC season this Saturday with a trip to Vancouver Island to take on the Nanaimo Raiders.The Sun are the two-time defending BCFC champions, and head coach Travis Miller says a big reason for that success is the experience returning to the lineup."We are returning a lot of veteran...
19h ago
Read More
new blaze
Wildfire in forest west of Highway 33
A wildfire west of Highway 33 and south of Myra-Bellevue Park Thursday afternoon has grown to about one hectare in size.BC Wildfire Service sent three helicopters and 16 firefighters to the Dale Creek area as part of an initial attack response. The red dot at the lower right corner shows the location of the wildfire. (...
21h ago
Read More
"I Voted"
Kelowna residents invited to design city's next election sticker
Kelowna residents are being asked to put their creativity to work ahead of this fall's municipal election by designing the city's next "I Voted" sticker.The City of Kelowna is inviting students, artists, designers and community members of all ages to submit original sticker designs that could be handed out at...
21h ago
Read More
Victim found in 80 metres of water
Drowning on Okanagan Lake
A tragic end to the search for a 45-year-old man presumed drowned on Okanagan Lake.The man went missing Saturday while being towed behind a boat on an inflatable tube.Police say he was not wearing a personal flotation device when he entered the water.The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team located and recovered his body Thur...
22h ago
Read More
Employee Safety
Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC
With a heat wave coming to the Okanagan Valley, B.C.'s worker protection advocates remind employers that they must protect their workers.WorkSafeBC said employers must safeguard workers from the risks associated with heat and solar ultraviolet exposure."Elevated temperatures increase the risk of heat stress and he...
23h ago
Read More

What Matters

Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
53m ago
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
6h ago
Employee Safety
Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC
23h ago
mid- to high 30s
Cooling centres opening in Vernon as heat wave hits the Okanagan
23h ago
Firearm Charges, Vehicle Impounded
Weapon seized from impaired driver asleep in Lumby
Jul 16, 2026