Apple
The BC government is providing support in four strategic areas to help BC’s tree-fruit industry to provide locally produced fruit to British Columbians, while supporting the Okanagan economy.
“BC apple growers are an important part of our province’s food security and economy,” said former Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham. “We are working directly with the industry, family farms and businesses to ensure they succeed into the future, and putting BC’s apple growers in the best position to increase their efficiency, production and profitability.”
Over two years, $2.5 million will support crop health, fruit production, apple marketing and skills training.
The funding includes:
- Establishing a tree-fruit extension program that will provide on-farm support to an estimated 250 growers each year to support improved fruit quality, increased production and farm business operations;
- Supporting the Okanagan Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program;
- Working with the tree-fruit industry on a domestic and international marketing strategy for BC apples; and,
- Supporting Okanagan College in developing a tree-fruit-specific certificate course to increase industry capacity and help meet labour needs.
- “The extension program can help people transition their business models from producing quantity to producing quality, which offers a much better financial return, and in my view, is one key element to the stability of our industry,” said Rick Machial of Fairview Orchards Ltd.
“Coming from a farming family, I know how hard farmers work and how difficult these past few years have been on them,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee, said. “That’s why our government is working hard to strengthen the industry to ensure its longevity. The Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan was developed jointly with industry and is part of the Province’s larger plan of supporting BC growers.