Coldstream moving forward with application for VegPro to house more foreign workers

Photo: Contributed

A large agricultural operation in Coldstream is one step closer to having more foreign farm workers living on site.

Coldstream council gave first and second reading this week to a zoning bylaw amendment that will increase the number of allowable farm workers on a single property from 76 to 122.

The Agricultural Land Commission has approved the development proposal submitted by VegPro Inc. for an increase in temporary farm workers.

The workers are hired under the seasonal agricultural worker program administered by the federal government, and are involved in primary agriculture related to the commercial salad greens farming operation on Highway 6, the report states.

VegPro has operated in Coldstream since September 2018. Its boxed salads are shipped to numerous grocery chains.

The company plans to increase production over the next few years until it reaches full capacity, farming 222 hectares of agricultural land in Coldstream, and producing approximately 8.4 million pounds of product.

A public hearing on the rezoning application will take place within the next four to six weeks.