A representative from the BC Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA) made a presentation to Oliver council last week to highlight the major issues currently facing the agriculture industry, including competitiveness, pest control and worker housing.
Representatives from the organization have been visiting municipal councils over the past few months to share their success and reiterate the importance of their industry to the local and provincial economy.
According to BCFGA president Jeet Dhukia, who gave the presentation in Oliver along with vice-president Pinder Dhaliwal, growers in the South Okanagan have done a good job remaining competitive.
Dhukia attributes this to the longer growing season in the South Okanagan and the successful growth of Ambrosia and Gala apples. The region also boasts the latest cherry production harvest in North America, he added.
“We used to be finished with cherries in July, but now we’re going into August and sometimes even September,” he said. “We’re the only place in the world able to produce cherries that late. Our growers are now picking into September which was unheard of even 20 years ago.”
He said the longer season has attracted new trade agreements such as the one between the BC Cherry Association and the Chinese government. The deal among the Chinese government, BC Cherry Association and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was signed in June, and will allow for hundreds of thousands of pounds of cherries to be shipped to China annually.
But Dhukia said there are still some challenges to contend with. Housing for foreign workers continues to pose some difficulties, he pointed out.
“At one time there were cabins built for pickers and they have since become year-round rentals, so the pickers end up camping in tents on the trails.”
He said the regulation inconsistencies between municipalities also causes a problem. Dhukia asked council for their support in seeking a valley-wide approach to housing regulations.
In terms of pest-control, Dhaliwal said the Okanagan is one of the last regions in North America free of apple maggots and there is area-wide control of the codling moth, a devastating pest of apples and pears.
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
