The Kamloops Food Policy Council is looking to increase support for prepared and packaged food.
It received 50 thousand dollars from the province help develop the BC Food Hub Network. The Food Hub Network defines it as including some commercial kitchen space, some commercial processing and a link with lab testing services.
Project Manager Robyn McLean says it will work to figure out the best way to support small, medium and large businesses within the Kamloops region. “So there may be farmers who are interested in doing more processing of their own food or people interested with a food business, or an existing one, that don’t have a commercial kitchen that they can go in and really expand what they’re doing.”
McLean says the long term goal is to increase and strengthen the local food system and there are a couple of key areas that are lacking when it comes to being able to strengthen the food sector in the Kamloops region. “Processing and packaging have been identified in past studies that there is not enough, or even close to enough, processing facilities to be able to bring things to the next level for many businesses.”
Lincoln Smith with Kamloops Innovation says it is looking for six companies to come on board to be a part of this pilot “…and then build the business around that. The real impact to the economy is when we export that to other cities, other places across Canada and then globally as well.” Lincoln says Kamloops Innovation will be providing the learning side of the pilot and work with the companies on how to take their business to the next level.
For businesses that want to be a part of the project or for those interested in applying for available positions can email foodhub@kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com and you can visit the their website for more information.