EGG MARKETING BOARD TRIES TO SHUT DOWN ORGANIC EGG PRODUCER

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EGG MARKETING BOARD TRIES TO SHUT DOWN ORGANIC EGG PRODUCER

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CERTIFIED ORGANIC ASSOCIATIONS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

C.O.A.B.C.

#8-A 100 Kalamalka Lk. Rd.

Vernon, B.C.

V1T 9G1

Phone(250) 260-4429

Fax (250) 260-4436

www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca

 

News Release

EGG MARKETING BOARD TRIES TO SHUT DOWN ORGANIC EGG PRODUCER

 

The BC Egg Marketing Board has issued orders which would shut down

the largest Certified Organic egg farm in the province. Certified

Organic egg producer Fred Reid of Olera Farms in Abbotsford is going

to court to defend himself.

 

The Board insists that under provincial legislation all egg

producers have to buy quota and pay a levy before they can sell

eggs. This levy helps to pay the costs of over-production of eggs

from the conventional system. In other words, Certified Organic

producers are being asked to pay money to support a system which

they regard as cruel.

 

There is a world-wide movement against the caging of laying hens in

what are called " battery " operations. The European Union has given

factory farmers until 2012 to completely phase out battery cages for

chickens.

 

" You are what you eat, " commented COABC Board member Cathleen

Kneen. " An egg from a chicken who has lived her whole life in a cage

the size of a piece of writing paper is a completely different thing

from an egg from a chicken who eats feed produced without agro-

toxins, who gets to run around outside as much as she likes, and who

is not dosed with hormones and antibiotics. "

 

The distinct nature of organic production is implicit in the BC

Government regulation for Organic Certification, and is recognized

by Statistics Canada which collects separate information on organic

production.

 

The Certified Organic Association of BC has been in negotiations

with the Egg Board for almost three years, and last fall the COABC

formally requested the Provincial Government to begin the process

for a separate Marketing Board for Certified Organic products.

 

" I am appalled that the Egg Board is harassing our members in this

manner, " said Linda Edwards, President of COABC. " Certified Organic

egg producers have worked for years to develop a market for their

products without any support from the Egg Board. The Egg Board wants

us to force the consumer to pay more for Certified Organic eggs in

order to support their system. "

 

The majority of Certified Organic eggs produced in BC are sold

direct to the customer at the farm gate or through Farmers' Markets.

COABC has requested that any farmer keeping 500 hens or less be

exempt from any quota restrictions.

 

For further information, call Linda Edwards, President of the COABC.

250-499-5303

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