Resources for Food & Beverage Producers
Business resources
Resources for selling to commercial and institutional buyers
Use these specific resources to help you prepare your business to successfully sell your products to markets such as food service, restaurants, retail and distribution.
View or download the full PDF: Feed BC Resources for Selling to Commercial and Institutional Buyers
Agricultural & food business development resources:
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Food
Taking stock self-assessment
Workbook for farm or food processing business management practices to assess your management systems, knowledge, and skills.
Food or beverage processing business resources
Information on starting a processing business, regulations and certification standards, sourcing raw materials, innovation and technology.
Feed BC
Information on the Feed BC program that works with institutions, stakeholders, and partners across the food service supply chain to increase the use of B.C. foods in B.C. government supported institutions, facilities, programs, and services.
Selling B.C. food to B.C.’s government-supported facilities
Starter guide for producers and processors to identify opportunities, understand the foodservice supply chain, and discover the steps to the institutional market.
Domestic market development
Best practices and resources for B.C. agriculture and food businesses to expand marketing knowledge and build business capacity.
Buy BC
Buy BC is a province-wide marketing program that promotes B.C. food and beverages to ensure consumers can easily identify and enjoy local food products. Increase your market share and sales within B.C. by adding a free Buy BC logo to your product packaging.
How to conduct and use market research
How to develop a sales pitch for your product
How to sell your product to a retailer
Non-Government of B.C. resources
Small Business BC
Starter guide for producers and processors to identify opportunities, understand the foodservice supply chain, and discover the steps to the institutional market.
BC Food Connection
Finding Production Partners & Commercial Kitchens. Resource database listing Production Partners (co-packers, re-packers, and processors with extra capacity); B.C. Produce and Agri-food suppliers; Commercial and Commissary Kitchens.
Funding sources
Agriculture & Seafood Programs
All current funding programs from the Ministry of Agriculture & Food.
B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program
Supports producers and food processors through three business planning funding streams: Business Plan Coaching, Covid-19 Recovery Planning, and Specialized Business Planning.
Buy B.C. Partnership Program
This program provides access to a free, recognizable Buy BC logo and cost-shared funding to help B.C.’s agriculture and food sector businesses promote their products and increase sales within B.C.
Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program
The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Funding Program is designed to accelerate the pace of agriculture and food related innovation to enhance the sector’s competitiveness, sustainability, productivity, and resiliency.
Post–Farm Food Safety Program
Funding program to establish or enhance food safety in B.C. food and beverage manufacturing facilities, leading toward the implementation of food safety activities.
On-Farm Food Safety Program
Funding available to establish/enhance B.C. On-Farm food safety.
BC Agri-Food and Seafood Market Development (Investment Agriculture Foundation)
Export target funding to help B.C. agri-food producers, agri-food and seafood processors, co-operatives, and associations to identify, access, target and develop market opportunities to increase their sales outside of B.C.
Innovate BC
A Crown agency that helps to connect innovators both large and small with provincial government funding, tools, resources, and support.
Industry
Agriculture, Food & Seafood Industry Associations in British Columbia
Comprehensive list of provincial agricultural and producer associations.
Agriculture, Processing & Seafood Programs (B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Food)
Main page for producers and processors to access programs and funding to support their businesses. Includes Business, Innovation and Market Development; Insurance and Income Protection; Food safety and Traceability; Environmental Sustainability.
Innovation & Technology (B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Food)
Overview of B.C. Food Hubs, food science and research partnerships.
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Market Industry overview, sub-sector profiles, trends, and market opportunities from the Government of Canada.
BC Food & Beverage Processing Association
Non-profit industry association representing food and beverage manufacturers in British Columbia.
Small Scale Food Processors Association
Support organization for small to medium enterprises and support organizations in the food processing industry providing education, networking, advocacy, Specialty Food Directory listings and membership discounts.
BC Co-op Association
BCCA is the knowledge and resource center for Co-ops in B.C. and works to increase interest in, and demand for Co-op produced products and raise sector’s visibility and community impact.
Food Safety Regulations & Certifications
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Federal information for food safety, preventative controls, recalls, label requirements, Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFCR), plant and animal health.
Food Labelling for Industry
The Industry Labelling Tool is the food labelling reference for all food inspectors and stakeholders in Canada. It replaces the Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising, and the Decisions page to provide consolidated, reorganized and expanded labelling information.
Food Safety & Security (Province of B.C.)
Provincial details on Food Safety Legislation, Food Safety Courses, Food Safety & Sanitation Plans.
BC Labelling Regulations and Certification Standards
Regulations and certification standards overview, including provincial resources for Food Safety, Public Health, Milk Industry, Fish & Seafood.
Seafood Canada GAP
Government and industry recognized food safety certification program for companies that produce, handle and broker fresh fruits and vegetables..
Food Safety Certification
Provincial details on Food Safety Legislation, Food Safety Courses, Food Safety & Sanitation Plans.
Barcodes & Global Trade Network Identification Global Standards 1 (GS1)
Non-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards barcodes and global trade identification.
ECC Net Item Certification (FAQ)
Information on the national consumer food product database.
Guidelines for the Sale of Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
Nutritional guidelines developed to support healthy eating in schools (mandated for all B.C. K-12 public schools in 2008).