BCFGA Apple Display
Toronto, Ontario – BC apples captured several of the top spots at this year’s
National Apple Competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) in
Toronto, Ontario. The annual event attracts entries from Nova Scotia, Quebec,
Ontario and BC.
“I congratulate the orchardists from across Canada who participated in the
National Apple Competition,” said Fred Steele, President of the BCFGA.
- BC placed top the Commercial categories of Red Delicious and Gala.
- BC also took the top places in the New Varieties categories of Salish, Ambrosia, and Aurora Golden Gala.
- And took top and third place in Other Named New Varieties with Nicola entries.
- BC won the title with the Heaviest Apple - a Honey Crisp apple weighing inat 1.9 kg, produced by Devon Jell of Summerland, BC.
All fruit producing regions in the Okanagan-Similkameen were represented in the
competition with 1st place finishes from orchards in Oliver, Okanagan Falls,
Penticton, Summerland, and Kelowna.
A great way to celebrate its 129th anniversary in 2017.
Royal Winter Fair National Apple Competition
Okanagan-Region Participant List and Brief Biography
1. Dave, Arlene, and James Sloan
Dave and Arlene Sloan, as well as their son James, of Matheson Creek
Farms in Okanagan Falls have been growing high-quality produce in the
area since 1978. The Sloans have successfully re-planted their orchard
twice since then; promoting new apple varieties and developing a large
following among local customers. They sell their fruit directly out of
their on-site market. They have entered their Aurora Golden Gala,
Salish, Nicola, Ambrosia, and Golden Delicious apples into this year’s
competition.
2. Billy and Shauna Boerboom
Billy and Shauna Boerboom of Windmill Orchards are independent
growers from Summerland, BC. They operate both an on-site packing
house, as well as a popular produce stand named The Apple Barn. The
fruit stand is very popular among local customers where they can
purchase a wide range of tree-fruits and ground-crops throughout the
season. The Boerbooms have entered their Ambrosia, Salish, Golden
Delicious, Royal Gala, and Mcintosh apples this year.
3. Kashmir and Kulwinder Bengag
Kashmir and Kulwinder Bengag have been growing several varieties of
tree-fruits in the Keremeous area since the early 1990’s. They also operate
the popular Mariposa fruit market, which has gained more and more
popularity over recent years due to its high traffic location, as well as the
top quality produce they sell there. Kashmir and Kulwinder also grow
field-crops and remain as some of the top growers of novel apple varieties
in the Okanagan. They have entered their Salish, Aurora Golden Gala,
Nicola, Ambrosia, and Royal Gala into this year’s competition.
4. Keith Johnstone and Sue Seddon
Keith Johnstone and Sue Seddon of Sedjoh Orchards in Naramata will be
entering their Aurora Golden Gala into the competition this year, of which they
received 1 st place for in the 2014 contest. They have been growing in the area
for almost 30 years, some of which were spent as members of the Born in BC
program where they specifically grew top quality and new apple varieties. Keith
and Sue have since focused on growing only Aurora Golden Gala and maintain
an excellent job of doing so. They market their apples at the Penticton Farmers
Market during the fall where they have gained lots of popularity among
customers.
5. Jack Machial
Jack Machial has been growing tree-fruits in Oliver for over 30 years. Along
with his wife and family, Jack grows many top quality apple varieties and has
been actively involved in the process of testing new varieties released from the
Summerland Research and Development Centre. Jack will soon be retiring from
farming where he has been regarded as a top-quality producer of Ambrosia
apples in the past. He has entered his Ambrosia, Early-Fuji, Royal Gala, and
Golden Delicious into this year’s competition.
6. Gary and Suthwant Sandhar
Gary and Suthwant Sandhar of AM Sandhar Farms in Kelowna have been
farming in both the Kelowna and Coldstream areas of the Okanagan since the
early 2000’s. They grow large amounts of specifically the Royal Gala and
Ambrosia apples; both in the new high-density format and of top-quality. They
also operate their own packing plant and have many acres of cherries as well.
They will be entering both their Royal Gala and Ambrosia into the competition
this year for the first time.
7. Michel Labelle
Michel and Eilma Labelle have been farming in the Naramata Bench area for
35 years; where they started off growing pears, prunes, cherries and older
varieties of apples. Since then, Michel has honed his efforts in growing newer
varieties, specifically concentrating on the apples Royal Gala and Ambrosia. He
also manages a few vineyards and cherry plantings in the area. Michel received
the prestigious Golden Apple Award for conducting sound horticultural
practices in 2013 and will be entering both his Gala and Ambrosia apples into
the competition this year.
8. Dave Machial
Dave Machial of Fairview Orchards, along with his parents Joe and Anna have
grown top-quality apples, cherries and soft-fruits in the Oliver area since 1979.
After receiving his Bachelor of Commerce degree, Dave took over operating
the family farm in the late 2000’s. He also sits on the board of directors for the
Summerland Varieties Corporation, where he advises on the development and
commercialization of new cherry and apple varieties for the Canadian tree-fruit
industry. Dave will be entering his Golden Delicious, Ambrosia, Royal Gala,
and Red Delicious apples into the competition this year for the first time.
9. Jad Nijjer
Jad Nijjer of Nijjer Family Farms has primarily been growing apples in the
Kelowna area for over 20 years. With help from his two children, Bunvir and
Habir, Jad currently operates two locations of apple orchard; growing Granny
Smith, Ambrosia, Nicola, Honey Crisp and Royal Gala, all of which are planted
in high-density spindle system plantings. He will be entering his Nicola,
Granny Smith, and Ambrosia into the competition for the first time this year.