Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick (middle) promotes BC apples with members of the BCFGA and BC Tree Fruits. Shown with Letnick are David Machial, Talwinder Bassi, Nirmal Dhaliwal, Fred Steele, Ravinder Bains, Glen Lucas, MLA Linda Larson and Pinder Dhaliwal. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick visited MLA Linda Larson’s office today (February 5) to meet with the BC Fruit Grower’s Association (BCFGA).
The topic of discussion was the association’s new tree fruit “industry strategy” that will see changes to revitalize the industry.
“We’re working together to build a new industry that will be more than sustainable and profitable,” said BCFGA president Fred Steele.
He noted the association is looking at how to be more innovative and how to foresee what foreign markets will look like.
If successful, the tree fruit sector will expand production, export more fruit and create more jobs.
Letnick told the Chronicle that the tree fruit industry is moving away from being a mass, low cost producer in the world market for apples and cherries. He pointed out it has to differentiate and specialize while continuing to look at ways to be innovative.
