BC Turkey Association
The BC Turkey Association was established April 19th, 1951 The Association
consists of five directors elected by the Turkey Growers' Association membership.
• President & BCAC Director
• Vice-President & Environmental Director
• Events & Education Director
• Industry & Research Director
• Labour & Safety Director
British Columbia Turkey Marketing Board
Prior to 1966, there was no coordinated planning in the B.C. Turkey Industry.
Each turkey grower negotiated his own prices and secured his own product.
It was difficult, if not impossible, for individual producers to predict
product demand or supply.
Prices received by producers fluctuated below the cost of raising turkeys.
Increasing pressure toward integration of production into the processing
sector was a further factor, which led to the formation of a marketing board.
Following a favourable province-wide plebiscite in 1966, the B.C. Turkey
Marketing Board was established.
In 1974, the Turkey Board joined the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, the
agency responsible for setting national production quotas.
COMPOSITION
The Marketing Board is comprised of three turkey producers elected by the
Turkey Growers' Association membership.
Board Members serve three-year terms that are staggered to ensure continuity
in the Board's Membership.
JURISDICTION
The Turkey Marketing Board has the authority to regulate the production
of all turkey grown for either meat or eggs in British Columbia.
Anyone who markets more than 25 turkeys a year is subject to the Board's
authority.
POWERS
Under the authority of the Natural Products Marketing (B.C.) Act and the
B.C. Turkey Marketing Scheme, the Turkey Board:
1. Licenses producers and processors.
2. Sets producer price in negotiations with processors.
3. Maintains a quota system.
4. Promotes turkey products.
A national supply management system for the turkey industry was established
in 1974. A member of the provincial Board represents B.C. producers on the
board of the national agency, the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency (CTMA).
 CTMA establishes
global production and allocates quota to turkey producing provinces. It
licenses those marketing inter-provincially or in export markets. CTMA maintains
costs of production information; researches market demand and consumption
patterns, and undertakes national promotion.
Turkey imports are set at a percentage of the annual national production
quota. Import quotas are distributed among importers. Before anyone is permitted
to import more than his quota, CTMA has a chance to find a Canadian source
for the turkey.
The B.C. Turkey Marketing Board distributes B.C.'s share of national quota
between the provincial growers. It monitors the production to ensure that
the demand for turkey is met without shortages or surpluses.
Although the national agency has formulated and updates a national cost
of production formula, prices paid to producers are set at the provincial
level. The cost of production formula is used only as a guide and often
must be disregarded when negotiating prices. The price of turkey must be
competitive with other meats and turkeys from other provinces.
The B.C. Turkey Marketing Board has always made it a policy to discuss major
issues with the Growers' Association Board of Directors and the general
membership.
As with other marketing boards, the Turkey Board is committed to the principle
of protecting the family farm as the main production unit. The Board must
approve management arrangements and sales agreements for turkey farms.
The B.C. Turkey Marketing Board and the National Agency are financed by
a levy assessed on the turkey producers. They do not receive any funds from
either the Federal or Provincial Governments.
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