BCMB’s Failure to Support Producers of Organic Products
October 26, 2002
British Columbia Marketing Board
3rd Floor, 1007 Fort Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3B9
Subject: BCMB’s Failure to Support Producers of Organic Products
I am very disappointed with your attempts to limit the growth of British Columbia
businesses involved with the production of organic fruits, vegetables, chicken,
eggs, cheese, and other in-demand organically produced foods.
In 1994 you refused to support the marketing of organic products, but as their market share has continued to grow, some of your “traditional” members have apparently become “interested.” It appears that your attempts to market organic products, however, are really an attempt to undermine them.
Your unwillingness or inability to recognize that organic products are distinct from those dependent upon petroleum-based herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers demonstrates your closed-mindedness (or your bias to the agribiotech industry).
If you truly wish to support the expansion of the organic industry in British Columbia, then meet with their representatives and design an equitable system that benefits them, as well as people like me who prefer to buy organic products. If, on the other hand, you exist merely to protect and promote the status quo—mass marketing of chemically dependent agricultural products—then please stop harassing those who want changes and choices in what they produce and what they eat.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Respectfully,
Ken Timewell
86 St. Georges Avenue
North Vancouver, B.C. V7L 3G7
Cc: John van Dongen, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries
Katherine Whittred, MLA (North Vancouver-Lonsdale)
Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia
Original Message -----
From: K. T.
To: john.vandongen.mla.@leg.bc.ca
Cc: editor@nsnews.com
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 2:04 PM
Subject: BCMB Attack on Organic Producers