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Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association

The Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA) was formed in 1958 as a not-for-profit organization with representation across many commodities from BC’s horticulture sector. Our main interest lies in promoting growth and development for our growers and their operations. Our membership typically ranges between 800 and 1,000 members from across BC and the mandate of the LMHIA is to:

  • Organize and deliver educational programming to our members through short courses (during the annual Pacific Agriculture Show), seminars, field days and other educational events;

  • Publish educational literature;

  • Develop horticultural research priorities;

  • Support horticultural research; and

  • Liaise with governments, government agencies, agri-business and other organizations with similar objectives.

LMHIA reaches a broad audience at the annual Lower Mainland Horticulture Conference, held in Abbotsford, BC. Presented by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the LMHIA organizes the Conference in partnership with the Pacific Agriculture Show. The event consistently draws more than 900 people, whose paid meeting registration gives them a one-year membership in the LMHIA. The Proceedings, published after the event, reaches many more people, acting as a lasting resource for growers as they improve their horticultural operations.

The broad reach and long-standing achievement of the LMHIA can be partly attributed to its long-term stability in management and governance. Led by a Board of Directors drawn from commodity groups (including vegetables, organics, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry) each of which are represented by three grower Directors with staggered three-year terms, this ensures overlap and continuity. In addition, the LMHIA benefits from a strong group of ex officio Directors, including several research scientists from AAFC, industry specialists from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food as well as an Executive Director.

The LMHIA funds agriculture research projects which benefit farmers and producers on the Lower Mainland and other areas in BC. LMHIA also manages a pesticide certificate re-certification program for members. As a leading example, the LMHIA demonstrates the success that can be achieved through horizontal collaboration across levels of government when partnered with industry in pursuit of solutions that address real-world problems to improve the bottom line for farmers.

Commodities:

  • Blueberry

  • Cannabis

  • Field Vegetable

  • Floriculture

  • Greenhouse Vegetable

  • Hazelnut

  • Hops

  • Organic

  • Potato

  • Raspberry

  • Strawberry

  • Regenerative Ag

Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association

Download past proceedings