Buy BC Helps Local Company Harness Flour Power

Anita’s Organic Mill is out to inspire and connect British Columbians through the love of baking. And thanks to their recent Buy BC project, the Chilliwack company has not only successfully launched their newest service, Anita’s Bake Club, but has also introduced their new line of gluten-free products into the local market.

An artisan-quality and certified organic and kosher mill, Anita’s produces white, whole grain and sprouted flours, cereals and mixes sourced directly from local farmers in Armstrong and Creston.

With the addition of their new bake club (an online membership-based model designed to educate and connect baking enthusiasts) as well as new marketing materials including recipes, baking guides and videos, Anita’s has seen a sizeable uptake in consumer engagement, awareness and sales.

According to vice-president Jayda Smith, brand recognition has grown steadily month over month, with their social media presence and number of followers similarly expanding.

“Anita’s Bake Club was particularly successful with more than 1,500 new members registered through our website,” she reports. “These signups allow us to engage directly with customers creating meaningful connections, brand loyalty and enhanced revenue.”

By the end of the project Anita’s sales were up 36 percent and their new line of gluten-free products launched in 100 local stores.

The company is now focused on expanding their reach within natural channels across Canada and will be opening a bakery in their new Chilliwack facility this fall.

For Jayda, having support to more actively engage local consumers and promote their products as ‘made in BC’ has offered a measurable competitive advantage against imports.

“These results could not have been achieved without the funding of this project,” she declares. “We now have the tools in place to continue increasing BC consumer preference for our brand, further supporting our local farmers and strengthening the BC food processing industry.”

Funding: $38,663 through the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program. (BBC036)

September 16, 2019 Buy BC, Crops & Value Added, Organics Comments Off on Buy BC Helps Local Company Harness Flour Power

Nanaimo Students Discover The Bees Needs

It’s been a busy summer for Morgan Creek Farm as they embarked on their bee education and planting project! Together with local students, the Nanaimo family farm has transformed a previously sparse pasture into a thriving habitat for pollinators.  

For farm owner Aaron Grant, the project began as a way to teach local residents about “the needs of bees.” With funding through the provincial government’s Bee BC Program, Aaron began the community outreach initiative with his own hives in tow, taking them to summer camps, schools, festivals and markets.

“I took bees to show and explain to people about why bees are important for us and how individuals can make a contribution by planting pollinator-friendly plants,” explains Aaron.

After completing the educational component of the project, five classes of elementary school students visited Morgan Creek Farm to construct and plant “bee gardens” in areas with low plant diversity and soil quality. Prior to their arrival, Aaron and several volunteers prepared the soil, built water catching swales, installed fencing and watering equipment, and applied manure, fertilizer and mulch in preparation for the winter. As a result, the area is now a productive and diverse bee habitat that blooms throughout the seasons!

“The live bees were a great way to demonstrate how special bees are and allowed me to create a connection with people about how to help them,” Aaron recalls.  “The planting project was amazing with hundreds of plants planted in a very short time, I was so impressed with how seriously the students took their job.”

While Nanaimo is not considered the most hospitable region for pollinators, with habitat often limited to weedy patches of broom and blackberries along fence lines, local bees will soon have a place to call home as the new gardens will offer a more stable and diverse source of food and shelter.

Beyond the success of the gardens, Aaron is confident that something even more transformative has taken root.   

“By engaging students in the project, we have created ambassadors for the ongoing health of bees,” he predicts. “The students were excited to help do something concrete and inspired to consider their own households as potential pollinator habitats.”

Funding: $4,665 through the BC Government’s Bee BC Program. (BEE015)

September 12, 2019 General Comments Off on Nanaimo Students Discover The Bees Needs
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