By Times Chronicle Staff
BC Tree Fruits survived a controversial vote last week to remove the board over their decision to close its Lake Country packinghouse.
A closed-door meeting in Peachland included a vote by growers to dissolve the board, but it narrowly failed.
Some growers expressed concerns about transparency and a lack of effective communication leading up to the Lake Country plant closure.
BC Tree Fruits previously stated it was closing the plant and expanding/upgrading operations at its Oliver facility on Co-op Avenue.
Board chair Andre Scheepers said the Peachland meeting was well attended with 70 per cent of the members coming out to vote on resolutions that “would have serious implications for the cooperative now and into the future.”
He confirmed the special resolution that was on the agenda did not receive enough votes to pass.
“It is now important that all members of the cooperative, its board of directors and management come together to focus on improving the strength of the cooperative to the benefit of all its growers,” Scheepers said.
Cooperative President Warren Sarafinchan said they have been actively communicating with members over the past three years and will continue doing that in the best interest of all growers.
“Rising costs of farm inputs and weather events over the last three seasons have put significant pressure on all growers,” he said.
Sarafinchan said the board is confident that its “difficult decision” to close one plant and upgrade another is necessary to improve grower incomes as quickly as possible.
