International Trade committee  There's a lot of new production across the world in the ground right now. I had somebody up from the U.S. this weekend and I drove them around. Even in the last two months just around my own neighbourhood there are four farms that have gone in over 20 acres. This is happening all

International Trade committee  Yes, when we meet with the International Blueberry Organization, we have global production. We all put in what our forecasts met. The curve used to be like this; it's now like this.

International Trade committee  Sorry?

International Trade committee  There are a few companies that sell them. Like I say, they're in huge demand and they're setting up different offices across the world.

International Trade committee  I was thinking along the same lines. We're known for our food safety with blueberries here in Canada. We started long before the other countries. The U.S. even asked for our binders on that from what we were working on. So it is one thing that's really important.

International Trade committee  Definitely. A large component of this is a breeding program so that we can have some identity that's separate. We were the first and we are the experts in blueberries. Everyone is using the varieties that we had in North America, so we need to have something that will set us apar

International Trade committee  That's been expanded greatly this past year, especially with the reduction of the number of trade commissioners. When I said that I'm proud to go under Canadian pavilions, one of the things I've talked to the provincial government about for the last five years is that I see other

International Trade committee  I know from the wine industry I've had emails come to my office asking why we don't have ice wine as a geographical indication. So I think there is some interest in that. Whether or not that has been formalized I have no knowledge of.

International Trade committee  Are you serious?

International Trade committee  My conclusion was the main point. This partnership will help keep a healthy Canadian blueberry industry as a trade partner in the future. I really believe that if we don't start having more of these agreements, that the size of our industry.... It's talked about in B.C. that all

International Trade committee  To give you some background, Chile came in and they were able to reduce theirs over five years to zero tariff. The U.S.A. came in after Chile. I would mention that Canada was number one to sit at the table with South Korea, and we're still waiting for our agreement. The negotiati

International Trade committee  They do grow blueberries. I'm not sure that everybody knows that Canada has highbush and lowbush. On the east coast, it's lowbush; on the west coast, it's highbush. When I'm commenting about the products from the B.C. Blueberry Council side, it's highbush. The lowbush does grow i

International Trade committee  Definitely. I've asked some of them before they go into negotiations, and made them aware of what the tariffs are and that—

International Trade committee  The non-tariffs as well, yes....

International Trade committee  I would say that's part of a non-tariff barrier as well. I really view it as such, and so do the growers and people in the industry. Especially in Korea, it does prohibit. There are some concerns in the markets we're going into that if there is some domestic production, this is s