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Harper Government Secures Access for Fresh British Columbia Blueberries to China

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June 24, 2015 – Abbotsford, British Columbia – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture, and the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Member of Parliament for Abbotsford, today announced that Canada and China have agreed to sustained market access for fresh British Columbia blueberries.

Chinese inspectors are expected to visit Canada this summer to carry out a pre-shipment inspection and to authorize the first shipments of blueberries to China. Once fully implemented, the Canadian blueberry industry estimates new access to this important market to be worth $65 million annually.

On the occasion of this important announcement, Minister Fast and the Honourable Norm Letnick, British Columbia’s provincial Agriculture Minister, visited Westberry Farms in Abbotsford, British Columbia (B.C.) today to see first-hand how blueberry producers will benefit from this new market access.

Quick Facts

• British Columbia is the largest highbush blueberry-producing region in the world, with production more than doubling in the last decade.
• In 2014, British Columbia produced about 65,500 tonnes of highbush blueberries, worth more than $110 million.
• With a population of more than 1.4 billion, China is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
• Blueberries are Canada’s largest fruit export in terms of value and volume.

Quotes

"By continuing to promote Canada’s food and agriculture sector as a reliable and safe supplier of choice for Chinese consumers, we are making sure our agriculture industry remains a key driver of the Canadian economy."

– Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

"This is great news for B.C.'s world-class blueberries. Our government's top priority is to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians, including British Columbians. This market access win to the most populous country in the world is another example of how our government's pro-trade plan is getting results for Canadian businesses, workers and their families."

– International Trade Minister Ed Fast

“I want to congratulate the governments of Canada and China on reaching the important initialling stage. Building markets for B.C. products is part of the B.C. government’s efforts to encourage young farmers to enter the profession, support food security in our province, and grow B.C.’s agrifood revenues to $14 billion a year by 2017."

– British Columbia’s Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick

"We were extremely pleased to be in China on the momentous occasion of the protocol signing between Canada and China on fresh blueberry exports. This comes at a time when the demand for fresh Canadian blueberries in China is very high due to the health benefits and quality of our product. We look forward to providing the Chinese consumer with a beneficial Canadian agri-food."

– Executive Director, B.C. Blueberry Council, Debbie Etsell

Contacts

Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
[email protected]
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