Cowichan – Options to Enhance Local Agricultural Processing & Storage [cw05]
| Region | Cowichan |
| Status | completed in 2014 |
| Project Lead | Economic Development Cowichan |
| Funding Partners | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BC Ministry of Agriculture, Islands Coastal Economic Trust |
Access to processing and storage of agricultural products helps to ensure that agricultural producers have flexibility with respect to when and how they bring their products to market. This flexibility is particularly important in a changing climate as the timing of production and the quality of products will become more unpredictable and variable. Local food processing and storage infrastructure increases the capacity for agriculture to manage through variability while retaining profitability.
Incorporating climate change considerations, this study provides an inventory of existing food processing and storage infrastructure and assets in the Cowichan region, as well as identifying needs, gaps and areas with potential for future growth. The most promising options have been further evaluated and developed to provide strategic direction to enhance agricultural processing and storage in the region. This study also fulfills gaps identified in the Cowichan Region Area Agricultural Plan and was conducted in partnership with Economic Development Cowichan, with funding support from the Islands Coastal Economic Trust.