From 2014 to 2017, the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) conducted a supervisory review on Vancouver Island regulated vegetable marketing. It reviewed whether vegetable production on Vancouver Island should continue to be regulated, and if so, what agency structure would best support sound marketing policy and the public interest.
What was decided
On January 31, 2017, BCFIRB confirmed that regulated vegetable marketing should continue on Vancouver Island. However, changes were needed to ensure the system better served the public interest, aligned with sound marketing policy, and responded to the realities of the Island market.
Decision — Review of Vancouver Island Agencies — January 31, 2017 (PDF, 330KB)
Decision summary
Vancouver Island regulated marketing would continue
BCFIRB found that regulation still served a valid public policy purpose, including market transparency, price discovery, and stability for growers
Two agencies were licensed for the 2017–18 crop year
- Island Vegetable Cooperative Association (IVCA)
- Vancouver Island Farm Products Inc. (VIFP)
Vancouver Island Produce Ltd. (VIP) was not re-licensed as an agency
Instead, it was granted a new Producer-Shipper licence for storage crops, allowing it to market only its own product
New agency licence conditions were added
The conditions were added to improve accountability and align agencies with BCVMC’s objectives. Conditions included:
- Clear labelling of Island-grown products
- Standardized grower marketing agreements
- Removal of outdated licence terms
Requirements for agency licensing decisions
Future agency licensing decisions must consider:
- The number of producers represented
- The agency’s ability to function effectively within the broader system
- Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, transparency and public interest outcomes
Why BCFIRB conducted this review
In September 2014, the B.C. Vegetable Marketing Commission (BCVMC) formally asked the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) to conduct a supervisory review of Vancouver Island’s regulated vegetable sector. This request followed years of unresolved disputes, overlapping agency roles, and governance issues that previous reviews and facilitated efforts had failed to resolve.
BCFIRB agreed that the system was no longer serving the public interest and required strategic oversight to evaluate whether regulation should continue, and if so, how it should be improved.
Challenges that led to the review
The regulated vegetable sector on Vancouver Island faced persistent and systemic problems that were undermining the system’s effectiveness:
- Multiple agencies with overlapping mandates, creating confusion, inefficiency, and fragmented delivery of services
- Ongoing disputes between agencies and producers, resulting in frequent appeals and regulatory gridlock
- Lack of a shared strategic vision, which made coordinated planning and industry development difficult
- External pressures (like retail consolidation, low-priced imports and shrinking farm numbers) compounding local regulatory challenges
These issues resulted in a system that was no longer functioning in a transparent, fair, or effective way.
What the review aimed to solve
BCFIRB launched the review to determine how Vancouver Island vegetable production should be regulated going forward. The two central questions were:
- Should regulated marketing continue on Vancouver Island?
- If so, what agency structure (in number and identity) would best support the public interest, industry needs, and sound marketing policy?
BCFIRB also examined whether existing agencies were fulfilling their intended roles, such as representing multiple producers, supporting market access, and contributing to orderly marketing, and whether they were aligned with modern governance standards.
Goals of the review
The supervisory review had three primary objectives:
- Create a clear, shared vision for regulated vegetable marketing on Vancouver Island
- Resolve long-standing governance and accountability issues between agencies, BCVMC, and producers
- Modernize the system to ensure it supports fair treatment of producers, economic sustainability, and public trust through transparent and effective regulation
Documents and timeline of the review process
The Vancouver Island Regulated Vegetable Marketing Review took place over several years and included multiple stages of interest holder engagement, submissions, and evaluations.
Review started
October 10, 2014 – BCFIRB formally launched the review. BCVMC was tasked with leading a transparent, consultative process.
Stage 1: Vision building
September to December 2015 – BCVMC released a discussion paper on September 3, 2015, inviting feedback on proposals for a long-term regulatory vision. By December 14, 2015, interest holders had submitted their comments, contributing to a shared vision for the future of Vancouver Island’s vegetable marketing system.
Stage 2: Joint problem solving
February to March 2016 – Workshops were held in February and March 2016 in Nanaimo and Delta. These workshops focused on discussing the vision and potential solutions for the regulated vegetable marketing system. Feedback from these sessions helped identify key challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Stage 3: Evaluation of options and commission submission
June 8, 2016 – The BCVMC submitted its evaluation criteria and recommendations to BCFIRB. These recommendations were developed using formal evaluation criteria rooted in SAFETI principles. They were based on stakeholder feedback and analysis of structural options for the sector.
Stage 4: BCFIRB initial decision and agency review process
June to August 2016 – BCFIRB issued its first decision on June 15, 2016, directing BCVMC to conduct a transparent and inclusive agency review process. The decision posed two central supervisory questions for BCVMC to address:
- Should any existing agency licenses be revoked?
- What should the number and identity of the Vancouver Island agencies be?
On July 8, 2016, BCFIRB approved BCVMC’s agency review process and criteria for evaluating agencies. On August 26, 2016, BCFIRB extended the deadline for agency applications from September 2, 2016, to November 4, 2016, to allow further review.
- BCFIRB Supervisory decision — The future of regulated vegetable production on Vancouver Island — June 15, 2016 (PDF, 275 KB)
- BCFIRB Decision — Vancouver Island Supervisory review Agency Application Process — July 8, 2016 (PDF, 245KB)
- BCVMC 2017 Vancouver Island Agency Application Process — July 8, 2016 (PDF, 225KB)
- BCFIRB Extension Decision — Agency Application Process — Vancouver Island Supervisory Review — August 26, 2016 (PDF, 40KB)
- BCVMC Extension — 2017 BCVMC Vancouver Island Agency Application Process — August 29, 2016 (PDF, 135KB)
Stage 5: Agency review process and final commission recommendations
December 23, 2016 – BCVMC submitted its final recommendations to BCFIRB, including which agencies should be licensed for the 2017 crop year. These recommendations were based on a detailed evaluation process. Agencies were notified of the Commission’s final recommendations, and a redacted version of the rationale was made available to the public.
Stage 6: BCFIRB final decision
January to February 2017 – On January 16, 2017, BCFIRB requested final comments on BCVMC’s recommendations from agency applicants.
BCFIRB issued its final decision on January 31, 2017, confirming the continued regulation of vegetable production on Vancouver Island and granting a producer-shipper licence to VIP after deciding not to renew its agency designation. This allowed VIP to continue marketing its own product, but without representing other producers. The new licensing structure took effect in February 2017.