PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Mitham, Country Life in BC
Surrey, B.C. – On Thursday, November 16, 2017, the Surrey Board of Trade recognized the outstanding achievements of an individual and business that made a positive impact to Surrey’s agriculture industry at the Surrey Agriculture Industry Reception, with supporting sponsors Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada’s Energy Citizens and Vancity and media sponsors DreamZZ Radio and the Indo-Canadian Voice.
“The Surrey Board of Trade was pleased to present the winners of the awards in the presence of BC’s Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham. The purpose of the awards and the agriculture reception builds on the work of the Surrey Board of Trade’s Agriculture Team that has advocated for the importance of global supply chains on local agriculture as it relates to free trade agreements, reviewing agricultural land reserves, food security, innovative urban food growth industries, skills training and regional food system action plans,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade.
The winners were chosen on the basis of their achievements and innovation in agriculture. The judges assessed the following competencies: innovative efforts to increase agricultural production, consumption of local products, long term protection of the agricultural land base in Surrey, viability of agricultural land, innovations in business management or technology, protection of agricultural assets and enhancement of policies that support and protect agriculture.
2017 Surrey Agriculture Leadership Award Winners:
Individual category: Michael J. Bose
Michael Bose has grown up in a family with a long farming tradition in Surrey. He has not only demonstrated excellence as a successful farmer and entrepreneur but also distinguished himself by his outstanding dedication for Surrey’s agriculture and the protection of agricultural land. He is an agricultural representative on a variety of community committees, represented Surrey on Metro Vancouver’s land inventory and taxation committee and is a member of the Surrey Agriculture and Food Security Advisory Committee since 1995 to present. He has also worked as a Commissioner for the Agricultural Land Commission.
Business category: Zaklan Heritage Farm
Zaklan Heritage Farm has a rich and long heritage of farming in Surrey that few can match. The farm started in the 1920’s and has undergone continual revitalization led by the next generation of Zaklan’s. With ample support from family, the farm has transformed into a diverse mixed vegetables and livestock operation. Despite significant pressure from urban sprawl and housing development, the farm has remained true to itself and continued to produce local, healthy produce even while now totally surrounded by housing real estate. It is a clear winner against the threats of our ever-increasing population growth and pressures on land values.
For further information, please contact Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, at 604.634.0342 or anita@businessinsurrey.com.
