The City of Pitt Meadows is launching a public engagement campaign to modernize its Agricultural Plan, which was initially created in 2000. The updated plan will seek to provide direction in developing a sustainable, viable, and resilient local agriculture and agri-food sector with the feedback of local agriculture producers and consumers.

"With approximately 78% of the City’s total land area in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), Council recognizes the vital role that agriculture plays in our local economy, history, and food security,” says Mayor Nicole Macdonald. “Updating our Agricultural Plan will help address the many changes that have influenced agriculture in Pitt Meadows in the last 20+ years, cultivate a resilient and thriving agricultural community, and focus on solutions that are within the jurisdiction of provincial and local governments, as well as other oversight agencies.”

The process will include two surveys: one for those operating within the agriculture sector and another for the general public. The City will also be facilitating in-person engagement events at Pitt Meadows Day on June 3, at the Pitt Meadows Farmers Market on June 13, and at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre on June 22. Feedback gathered through the engagement period will be used to develop a plan that addresses the needs and priorities of the local agriculture sector.
The engagement period will continue until June 29, 2023 with a draft of the plan expected in fall 2023.

“Participation from both our food producers and consumers will be crucial in formulating an updated Agricultural Plan that reflects the needs and desires of our community,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “We are dedicated to supporting and promoting local agriculture, and our aim is for this updated Plan to align seamlessly with our recently adopted Official Community Plan (OCP) while incorporating strategic guidance from various levels of government."

The Agricultural Plan will be updated to include changes in legislation, regulations, and policy direction from the federal, provincial, and municipal perspectives since the time it was created in 2000. Local residents and businesses are encouraged to complete one or both of the online surveys by June 29, 2023 at haveyoursaypittmeadows.ca/agriculture. 

Visit pittmeadows.ca/agriculture for more information and updates.