Delta’s long history of farming for food is under siege from cannabis growers, says the city’s mayor.
The small city south of Richmond is home to an agricultural industry that generated over $220 million in farm revenue in 2015.
But about four years ago, cannabis production started replacing tomato and pepper crops in many of Delta’s greenhouses.
Today, about 26 percent of greenhouse space in Delta on land protected by the Agricultural Land Reserve is used for growing pot, not food.
“We are under attack by the pot industry for greenhouses,” said Delta Mayor George Harvie.
His fears were worsened in May when the Agricultural Land Commission loosened the rules for growing cannabis on ALR land.
Some municipal politicians want tougher Agricultural Land Reserve regulations to ensure the land is used for food production.
But cannabis growers, especially the small micro-cultivators, say cannabis production can assist traditional farmers struggling with high costs and cheap food imports.
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