Canada: Risk of rotten apple carpet without help after Okanagan fruit co-op closure

Published 2024년 8월 9일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the concern of Peter Simonsen, the president of the BC Fruit Growers' Association, regarding the unexpected closure of the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, which has left fruit growers, particularly gala apple farmers, in a crisis. The absence of refrigeration facilities threatens the viability of their crops, raising the possibility of a significant crop loss and financial strain for the growers. The situation has led to calls for urgent government intervention to address the lack of cold storage facilities and to provide solutions to prevent a potential market crash due to an oversupply in September and October. Despite the urgency of the situation, the government remains in the process of evaluating potential solutions and facing limitations in acquiring the co-op's cold storage facilities due to ongoing legal proceedings.

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Original content

As gala apples ripen on British Columbia's trees, the president of the provincial fruit growers' group worries about a devastating season without a way for farmers to refrigerate their crops. Peter Simonsen of the BC Fruit Growers' Association says without infrastructure provided by the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, which abruptly closed last month, it may not be worth picking this year, leaving a "carpet of apples" on the floor of orchards. B.C. Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis says the emergency group she tasked to come up with solutions after the co-op closed will have news "soon," but adds there are enough other fruit packers to make up for the loss. Political rivals, industry representatives and those growing the fruit have called on the government to step in and acquire some of what the co-op left behind, particularly the temperature-controlled cold storage, which allows galas to last for up to 10 months before being sold. Simonsen says without the storage, growers will be ...

Source: Thenorthernview