By Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle Staff
Two weeks ago, Oliver farmer Rick Machial didn’t know what he was going to do to find labour to harvest his fruit.
“I had a heck of a time . . . I was really short labour and was pulling my hair out.”
That has been the situation for some Okanagan farmers who have been “desperate” to find workers during the pandemic.
Machial, who operates Fairview Orchards Ltd. on Road 9, posted an ad looking for workers. “I got no response (locally) . . . zero. I got a response from India, Africa, but no local people. It’s insane.”
The farmer said the problem is the government is giving out all of this free (emergency benefit) money for people to sit around during the pandemic. “There is no incentive to work. Why work when you get free money?”
Luckily, Machial was able to find local labour (a crew of mostly girls) to help with the harvest of cherries and peaches. But he’s not sure if there is going to be enough labour in the South Okanagan come apple harvest time.
The BC Fruit Growers’ Association says a lack of workers this summer has prompted some Okanagan cherry and apple growers to abandon their crops. The labour shortage is the result of COVID-19 impacts on international travel for temporary foreign workers.
As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture is asking local workers to consider helping with the harvest to prevent food waste.
Local cherry and apple grower David Machial is really hoping that more residents step up for the harvest, but he’s not holding his breath.
“I’m very nervous about the apple harvest. It’s a big crop and the apples weren’t damaged by the weather like the cherries. Apple growers also compete with grape growers for pickers.”
David said he has definitely noticed a shortage of farm labour due to COVID-19. He even noticed fewer pickers from Quebec this year. “Regarding the cherry crop I heard of growers who struggled . . . many gave up.’
He noted the cherry harvest challenge was a combination of a light crop from frost damage, high splits due to rain, and not finding workers.
“The perfect 3-way storm. I’m confident if there was no frost or rain many cherries would still have been abandoned.”
The young farmer, who is still chasing sleep, said he was lucky because he avoided the frost damage and his rain damage was low. But finding people was tough.
“Luckily my neighbours helped and my Uncle Jack came out of retirement to pick for me at a critical time.”
Why do you have to mentioned that he found a crew “mostly girls”? Also, you really think that because the government helping real people that real workers don’t answer your call…? Mr Machial , do you have facilities and housing for Canadian workers? And do you pay competitive wages? Thanks for posting my comment.
Why do you have to mentioned that he found a crew “mostly girls”? Also, you really think that because the government helping real people that real workers don’t answer your call…?