Food profile: BC Pork

Contact: Geraldine Auston
E-mail: info@bcpork.ca
Website: www.bcpork.ca
Founded: 1965
Head office location: Abbotsford, BC
Where to buy: Butcher shops and meat shops in B.C. Look for the BC Pork logo or visit www.bcpork.ca/consumer-information/how-is-it-produced

What makes us unique: British Columbia pork producers are small in number, with twenty-one family farms in the province producing less than 10% of the pork we consume, but we more than make up for it with the pride we have in what we do. What we do is care for our animals every day of the year in order to put high quality pork products on consumers' tables. B.C. hog farmers and our families are unique. Most of our farms are just down the road in the Fraser Valley, and our animals are shipped daily to local processing facilities.
To ensure top quality pork products, food safety, and sound animal care, B.C. hog farmers participate in a number of programs, both provincial and national. For over twenty years, B.C. pork farmers have followed Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada's Recommended Code of Practice for the Care & Handling of Pigs. We also participate in the Canadian Pork Council's Animal Care Assessment (ACA) as well as the Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) program. CQA is an on-farm food safety program for Canadian hog producers. More information on the national programs can be found at www.cpc-ccp.com.
In B.C., farmers participate in the Production Protocol Enhancement Plan which sets new standards in a range of production areas, one important component being in the area of animal care. B.C. hog farmers have also taken courses in the area of Canadian Livestock Transport (CLT) and Swine Handling & Behaviour. Visit the BC Pork website at www.bcpork.ca for more information on these programs. 
BC Pork will be appearing at the 7th annual Fraser Valley Food Show, October 3-5 at the Tradex in Abbotsford, www.fraservalleyfoodshow.com.

The 7th annual Fraser Valley Food Show October 3-5 at the Tradex in Abbotsford, www.fraservalleyfoodshow.com.