About

The Beyond the Market project is an economic development strategy to support the local food and agriculture sector across the BC Highway 16 region. The project began in 2010 and has consisted of several different initiatives, as listed below:

Farm Knowledge Network, April 2014 – Present

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Beyond the Market’s Farm Knowledge Network is a community-based extension service strategy for the regional agriculture sector.

  • Goal #1: To provide training and professional development opportunities to farm operators in the project region
  • Goal #2: To develop a central information network for regional agricultural contacts, publications, resources and tools and a mobile support library
  • Goal #3: To develop a model of financial self-sufficiency to support a community-run extension services network into the future

The project has been made possible by funding from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, the Regional District Bulkley-Nechako, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, and the District of Fort St. James.

 

New Farm Development Initiative, Sept 2012 – March 2014

Sought to increase the number of successful new farm entrants in the BC Highway 16 region from Valemount to Terrace by building and enhancing training and mentoring opportunities and increasing access to farm land and capital for new farm entrants. Main activities included:

  • Development of agricultural training and internship programs for new farmers in the region
  • Raising awareness of the region’s agricultural opportunities and challenges to potential farmers in the region and students in targeted agricultural education programs in BC and Alberta
  • Improving access to the region’s farmland for new farmers

The New Farm Development Initiative has been made possible by funding from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, the Regional District Bulkley-Nechako, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC through the programs it delivers on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

For an archive of the porject activities, please visit our New Farmers page.

 

Regional Beef Value Chain Initiative, Sept 2012 – Mar 2014

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The project worked directly with producers, processors and purchasers to grow and diversify market opportunities for direct sales of beef in BC Highway 16 region from Valemount to Terrace,  identifying barriers to regional beef sales and encouraging entrepreneurial development to overcome them. The project aimed to establish several new direct-sale beef purchasing relationships, assess the capacity for expansion of the grass-fed beef industry, and assist the region’s producers in exploring new innovations and beef business models that would increase profitability and increase returns to the regional economy. The project serves as a pilot project to assist other regions in implementing similar initiatives. Main activities included:

  • Work with the regional beef producers and processors to assess and develop new and expanded regional and provincial markets for direct sales of beef
  • To support the regional beef cluster in developing business and technical skills and supply chain efficiencies to access new markets

The Beef Value Chain Initiative has been made possible by funding from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, the Regional District Bulkley-Nechako, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, and the Canada-BC Ranching Task Force Funding Initiative; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from the federal and provincial governments.

For an archive of project activities, please visit our Beef Value Chain page

 

Beyond the Market: Growing the North, Dec 2010 – June 2012

Ran from December 2010 to June 2012, and aimed to build, strengthen, and diversify the agriculture and food service industries from Valemount to Terrace in British Columbia, Canada, linking farmers, ranchers, purchasers and consumers in the region in an effort to identify the barriers to the local food industry and encourage collaboration and entrepreneurial development to overcome them.

Growing the North project goals included:

  • Creating an inventory of food producers, distributors, commercial consumers and value-added processors in the region
  • Identifying existing food storage and distribution infrastructure.
  • Assessing the feasibility of a regional food distribution system and value-chain opportunities
  • Bringing producers and purchasers together to network and share information
  • Implementing local food purchasing pilot projects in commercial institutions
  • Hosting networking and learning events, including a large regional procurement event
  • Identifying potential new markets and value-added ventures
  • Communicating and sharing the project learnings

Growing the North was a collaborative partnership between Community Futures of Fraser-Fort George, Community Futures Nadina, Community Futures 16-37, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Community Futures Rural Economic Diversification Initiative.

 

Who We Are

Our projects are guided by an Advisory Committee consiting of volunteer members from various communities across the region. We are currently seeking volunteers to fill our committee vacancies.

Robson Valley – Pete Amyoony, Jackie Edwards, Marion Cousineau

Prince George – Art Kaehn, Terry McEachen, Brent Barclay, Dr. David Connell, Loraina Stephen, Lara Beckett, Amy Blanding, Mike Dewar

Nechako-Stuart – Andrew Beuzer, Denise Dowswell, Emily Columbo, Corrine Swenson

Bulkley Valley – Joe Hugs, Sandy Anaka, Megan D’Arcy

Skeena Valley –  Diana Penner, Tara Irwin, Norma Kerby, Ted Pellegrino

 

Project Team

JillianJillian Merrick, Program Coordinator, Community Futures Fraser-Fort George

Jillian joined the Community Futures team in December 2010 to initiate the Beyond the Market project. She has resided in Prince George for the past decade and has extensive community engagement experience. Her academic background is in economics and international studies. Her passions include entrepreneurship, creativity, diversity, and sustainability.