Discover the resilience and innovation of Abbotsford’s agricultural community on the annual Agriculture Bus Tour, connecting community with industry.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is set to host its highly anticipated annual Agriculture Bus Tour on June 16. This year’s event spotlights the remarkable achievements of local agriculture businesses, emphasizing their significant impact on the community. The tour will feature esteemed guest speaker Honourable Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food and MLA for Abbotsford – Mission.
“Agriculture in Abbotsford is big business. The Chamber carried out a study in 2022 which showed that our community’s agriculture sector contributes a staggering $3.83 billion in economic activity and provides over 16,000 full-time equivalent jobs”, said Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce CEO Alex Mitchell. “The Agriculture Bus Tour serves as a key education and awareness piece for community members and stakeholders to better understand the innovation and resilience of this sector, as well as celebrate its impact to our local economy.”
This year’s tour focuses on agricultural operations that have made some form of pivot, be that through COVID, post-flood, or made a significant shift into a new business line by implementing new strategies and exploring alternative approaches to labor and production.
The tour will begin at Sevenoaks Shopping Centre where guests will board two buses to start their tour. The first stop will be Barrowtown Pump Station where guests will have the opportunity to join Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens for a discussion about the impact of the 2021 floods and the critical role of infrastructure in supporting the agriculture industry. From there, attendees will proceed to Lakeland Flowers, renowned for hosting the spectacular Tulip Festival annually. Next on the tour is a visit to Aright Greentech, a 100% woman-owned company. Their mission is to provide people with locally grown, pesticide-free, culturally diverse produce with a better balance of nutrition and flavour, all year around through the use of our efficient growing systems.
The tour will wrap up with a visit to Taves Estate Cidery, where participants can indulge in a delectable lunch accompanied by a flight of Taves’ famous fruit cider. Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Pam Alexis will address the audience, sharing her perspectives on the agriculture industry. The tour will conclude with a visit to Taves Family Farm’s greenhouses, allowing guests to witness the innovative techniques employed in greenhouse farming.
The event is sponsored by the BC Chicken Marketing Board, Abbotsford Tech District, Fortis BC Energy Inc, KPMG, Community Futures South Fraser, and the BC Egg Marketing Board with support from Hugs in a Mug Coffee Bistro, Abbotsford Farm and Country Market and Taves Family Farms.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore what makes Abbotsford the agricultural hub of Canada. Register here and secure your spot on the Agriculture Bus Tour.
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About the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce:
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce serves the business community of Abbotsford with an attitude of vibrant engagement and proactive non-partisan advocacy. With over 650 members, it is the largest Chamber in the Fraser Valley, located in the 5th largest city in the province. The Abbotsford Chamber is nationally accredited to meet standards of business excellence and provide benefits to its member organizations.
The Abbotsford Chamber acts as “the voice of business” in Abbotsford and is widely recognized as a leader of business advocacy and policy development with all levels of government.
In 2021, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 108th year of service. Created to promote the interests of businesses in the City of Abbotsford, the Chamber has been an integral part of Abbotsford’s growth and evolution for nearly as long as the city has existed.
Media enquiries:
Alex Mitchell CEO
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
ceo@abbotsfordchamber.com 604-446-5061