The B.C. government is extending the work camps program with a $652,000 investment in Loose Bay (Oliver) and Summerland to serve seasonal fruit pickers in the region.
The camps modified their structure in order to protect workers and employers. They will also have an on-site coordinator to carry out COVID-19 safety training and support daily health checks.
“The flavours of B.C. fruit are an enjoyable part of our summers, and we want to make sure the growers and workers harvesting the crops are staying safe,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “We need to continue to look after each other as we restart our province, and extending a program that was very effective in preventing COVID-19 outbreaks on our farms and in our communities last year is part of that care.”
Additionally, funding is also available to support COVID-19 safety measures for farms and orchards that offer on-site camping for workers.
The funding is aimed to help B.C. growers fill labour shortages by supporting safe camping and accommodation for the approximately 1,500 seasonal workers that come to B.C. from other Canadian provinces to work during the summer months.
“This funding will help provide a safe, secure workforce for the harvest of Okanagan cherries and apples,” said Pinder Dhaliwal, president, BC Fruit Growers’ Association.
“The youth workers who come from Quebec and other provinces, including B.C., will be able to camp in a COVID-19 safe environment, and the industry appreciates the provincial contribution to help keep the farm worker campsites open at the Oliver, Summerland and Creston locations during these times of COVID-19, helping us to ensure the harvest of our amazing B.C. cherries and apples.”
Similar to last year, fruit pickers will need to complete an online COVID-19 awareness course to stay in a designated work camp. The course includes information on physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning, work pods, transportation, tools and equipment, safe self-isolation and vaccinations. It also outlines the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers.
Allan Patton, an apple orchardist in Oliver, said having more seasonal workers in the area is appriciated.
“Any help to increase the supply of domestic farm workers at the Loose Bay work camp is appreciated. The facility improvements look good, the residents are cooperating and it is altogether a good scene, with a safe and clean place for workers to stay with all of the facilities in place,” said Patton.
With the shortage of workers this year due to COVID-19 impacts on international travel, many cherry farms in the Okanagan are afraid they have to abandon some crops as there’s not enough help to pick them.
Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen, said that the fruit industry is essential to the South Okanagan economy.
“Supporting growers in these areas by offering employees COVID-19 safe living areas and training will help with this year’s processing, and support the community return to the summer lifestyle and atmosphere the South Okanagan is famous for,” said Russell.
The online course can be found here: https://agsafebc.ca/training/online-training/
The 2021 extension follows a $422,000 investment as part of the province’s COVID-19 response in 2020. Last year, there were no COVID-19 cases at any organized work camps.
The ongoing efforts are a partnership between the B.C. and local governments, Interior Health and the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, to support the safe harvest of B.C. crops, as well as the province’s agriculture sector, economy and food security.
