Strawberry
Considering the weather and other issues, the 2012 season was good for strawberry growers in southwestern B.C. Yields were on par with the previous year with estimates of 170 tonnes of processed strawberries and 1,275,000 pounds of fresh.
In addition to the crop review, the Fraser Valley Strawberry Grower’s Association (FVSGA) AGM focused on the potential move towards a national council.
If the national council proceeds, provincial councils will remain intact and will receive potions of the national funds to support research, promotion and administration. A large portion of the new council’s funding would come from levies on imported berries, which would be added to new mandatory levies on Canadian growers.
According to Sharmin Gamiet, FVSGA’s general manager, all provinces with a strawberry grower’s council are in support, but having the provincial organizations agree isn’t enough – growers need to put forth their own “yes” votes.
Also nationally, berries had a positive result at the “minor use” program meetings where seven new berry products were added to the chemical program list.
The FVSGA announced in 2012 that it will phase in a name change to the British Columbia Strawberry Growers Association to better represent all members. The change is ongoing.