Three years ago, the Abbotsford flood in British Columbia significantly impacted the local farming community. Abby Farms*, one of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) ‘s local farm partners, was one of the many farms severely affected. Given only ten minutes to evacuate, the family-owned farm faced terrible losses when an overwhelming eight feet of water flooded their land. The damage incurred was immediate and devastating, and most farmers have received little to no compensation for their losses to to date.
As long-time partners and supporters of the GVFB, these farmers deserve to share their story.
Who was affected?
The flood affected 1,400 farms, with 1,100 ordered to evacuate. The aftermath of this natural disaster has left many farmers, including Abby Farms*, struggling with immense debt and loss of fertile farmland. Insurance companies have denied coverage despite the clear and significant damages to operational equipment and the farmed land. These insurance companies cite that only produce left in the field during the flood is claimable, and those in storage are assets, thereby exacerbating the financial burden on these farmers.
To make matters worse, few farmers have received any insurance payments for the little coverage owed since the devastation of the 2021 flood. This delay, combined with the following years of poor crops and damaged harvests, has left farmers in a dire situation, struggling to make ends meet. The prolonged financial uncertainty further stresses the need for immediate solutions.
Adding to the ongoing financial strain, farmers are now being burdened with high taxes, with many farms owing up to one million dollars annually. These combined challenges are creating insurmountable financial pressures for the Abbotsford farming community.
The Class-Action Lawsuit
A class-action lawsuit has been filed in response to the inadequate support received during and after the floods. This lawsuit aims to seek justice and compensation for the affected farmers. Due to its scale and the number of farmers involved, the case has drawn considerable attention. You can read more about the lawsuit here.
Ongoing struggles and challenges for local farmers
Challenges await farmers both on and off the fields. For many BC Farms, getting product through the doors of grocery retailers can be challenging due to stringent quality and cosmetic standards. Rejection of farm-fresh product often results from size and cosmetic imperfections, reducing perfectly edible produce to cow feed or worse, landfill. For example, ambrosia apples or avocadoes that are a few cm’s too small, corn on the cob that is an inch too short, or cucumbers that are not perfectly straight. This rejection increases food waste and places financial strain on farmers who have already invested heavily (up to $50,000/acre or more) in growing these crops.
To add further complication, many grocers import cheaper products from international sources like Mexico. This imported produce is often cheaper, making it more attractive to large retailers, placing additional pressure on local farmers, who must compete with these lower-priced imports while adhering to stricter quality standards.
These combined factors create an uncertain future for BC farmers, exacerbating their financial struggles and contributing to significant food waste. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated, cross-industry effort to rethink quality and cosmetic standards, support local agriculture, and reduce food waste throughout the supply chain.
A Collective Effort
At the GVFB, we understand our local farmers’ vital role in ensuring food security within our communities. Since the beginning of 2024, we have received over 550,000 lbs of fresh produce from our local farmers! To put this in perspective, that’s roughly equivalent to the weight of three blue whales or about 44 school buses full of fresh, nutritious, and perfectly edible food.
The Abbotsford flood has intensified the challenges faced by farmers, from financial strains to retailer barricades against product. We are working to leverage the BC Farmers Tax Credit, a government tax credit to incentivize the donation of food to food banks, to support these farmers and help to alleviate some of their financial burdens.
While the BC Farmers Tax Credit relieves a portion of the financial strain, a more significant cross-industry collaboration is needed for long-term solutions. Government and policymakers must collaborate with farmers to develop comprehensive support systems that address the root causes of these challenges, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for BC’s farming community.
Through our partnerships and initiatives, we are committed to providing sustainable solutions that benefit the farmers and enhance the quality and availability of fresh produce for those in need.
*Name changed to protect their privacy
Written by Krisy
Communications Coordinator
