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About Us

Until the 1940s, the production of eggs in British Columbia was typically a spin-off of other general farming activities. The number of flock owners was quite large while flock sizes tended to be small. Egg prices fluctuated widely from time to time. In times of low egg prices, many farmers simply stopped producing eggs.

Things began to change in the late 1940s and early 1950s when interest in production improvements led to a tendency toward larger operations, a trend that continued into the 1960s. The introduction of new production methods and facilities, ranging from genetic improvement in laying stock and improved hen health through more hygienic housing systems to automated processing and increased food safety, further served to reduce the number of egg farmers and to increase the capital investment needed for egg production and processing.

Supply often surpassed consumer demand which resulted in producer prices sagging well below the cost of production. The combination of constant price fluctuations and the ever-present threat of production losses caused great instability and lack of confidence for the future of egg farmers. The year 1966 was particularly disastrous for the BC egg industry.

At farmers’ request, a plebiscite was held in mid-1967 under provincial government auspices. Egg farmers voted 73% in favour of the Marketing Board Plan that had been presented by a joint poultry committee in 1966.

The British Columbia Egg Marketing Board (BCEMB) became a legal entity by Order in Council No. 2263 on July 13th, 1967 – the first egg marketing board in Canada with quota.