The B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative has announced that its packinghouse and retail outlet just north of Osoyoos will be closing soon.
This marks the end of an era in which this facility has operated under different names since 1947 – a 70-year history.
The retail outlet, which sold fruit and vegetables at competitive prices, will close as of Sept. 9.
The packinghouse will remain open into the fall to receive this year’s fruit crop, but will shut down once the last of the apples have been received from local growers.
The co-operative operates as a business on behalf of local growers and the decision to close apparently made business sense.
The costs to upgrade the storage facilities to keep the plant in use would have cost in the millions of dollars and senior management of the co-operative realized the money could be better spent elsewhere.
It will no doubt upset some that yet another Osoyoos operation is consolidating in Oliver. But the situation is not at all similar to last year’s abortive attempt to consolidate secondary schooling in Oliver, no matter how tempting it may be for some to draw comparisons.
Aging facilities can become an enormous financial burden in a business that is not characterized by huge profits.
Management therefore made a decision in the interest of growers in the co-operative in general, even though the extra travel distances may inconvenience Osoyoos growers.
We’re sad to see the end of an era and we hope that as many jobs as possible can be saved as consolidation occurs.
The industry is evolving and we wish local growers the best of success as they go forward.
