BC Tree Fruit Apple
BC’s fruit industry has been growing rapidly over the past decade, and the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative is growing with it.
The BC Tree Fruits Cooperative has announced plans for a major expansion of the Winfield packinghouse.
The facility is applying to add space for a new apple bagging line. If approved, the new line would be designed, installed and ready for operation prior to the 2017 apple crop starting this upcoming fall.
BC Tree Fruits continues to be a leader within the industry in Western Canada and says this new line expands the packing capacity by 30%.
The construction and installation of this new line will provide 66 new jobs to the District of Lake Country and helps ensure locally grown, premium apples continue to be handled and packed by local employees.
“We are excited to begin the work on this expansion,” says BC Tree Fruits CEO Stan Swales. “This facility handles the majority of our grower member’s apples grown in the Kelowna and Vernon area, so this expansion is imperative to ensure the quality and packing capacity of locally grown apples.”
The Winfield packinghouse is one of four packinghouse facilities for BC Tree Fruits and only handles apples during the entire crop season (fall into the following spring). The other three facilities are located in Kelowna, Oliver and Osoyoos.