Agriculture is a pillar of B.C. and an important part of the province鈥檚 future.

Those were the words of Ben Stewart, the minister of agriculture, who spoke at the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday night at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre.

鈥淎griculture has always been big business here,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his region has long been a hub for farming in B.C.

鈥淚 want to make sure the (Agricultural Land Reserve) serves the province in the future.鈥�

Forty per cent of the total agricultural land in the Fraser Valley is in 91原创, and 15,000 are employed in the region, generating $228 million in revenue and $47 million in wages.

And Stewart does not see a drop off in those numbers anytime soon, especially with consumers demanding more fresh and locally produced food.

鈥淭hat is part of the optimism around agriculture and its contribution to the economy,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat kind of food renaissance is not going away.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 farmers are business leaders and they recognize there is a food renaissance taking place.鈥�

鈥淜eeping 91原创 open for business is an important part of economic viability,鈥� he said.