BCFGA’s Vision
A growing, vibrant tree fruit sector.
A respected contributor to the regional and BC economies.
A recognized world leader in horticulture
and marketing practices.
BCFGA Logo
When asked by non-farming friends ‘What is the BC Fruit Growers’ Association?’, I describe it as a ‘chamber of commerce for tree fruit growers’. While the BCFGA has adapted over its 133 years, its reason for being has not changed; making tree fruit farming as good as it can be.
By aspiring to a strong tree fruit sector, does that mean we are there?
With recent years of poor apple returns and weather impacts on the finances of growers, there is tremendous financial pressure on the tree fruit sector. While cherry production is still expanding rapidly, apple acreage is down from a peak of 8,500 acres five years ago to 7,100 acres today.
The adverse market and weather conditions place pressure on growers operations and naturally the organizations that serve growers, such as the BCFGA.
So, how has the BCFGA responded? Certainly, the primary focus has been to provide evidence and approach the government and industry organizations to seek change. Internally, within BCFGA operations, we adapted.
In 2021 we developed a new business model, which was adopted at our February 2022 annual meeting. The business model recognized the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s direction to end association administration of government programs, and we subsequently withdrew from the Replant Program and the Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund administration.
Fortunately, SVC and Test Orchard earnings can provide some dividends to the BCFGA to make up for lost administration revenue.
By not administering government projects, the BCFGA has a greater focus on providing value to its members. By providing more incentives to members (in addition to services already provided at a discount), the BCFGA is able to deliver more value.
The BCFGA Board of Directors has therefore approved participation incentives for members certified in the Environmental Farm Plan and the Certificate of Recognition from AgSafeBC.
The BCFGA hopes to expand these incentives in the future. We also plan to introduce other benefits for growers, such as the recently announced, no-cost Good Fruit Grower subscription for BCFGA members.
Our Board of Directors is always interested in ideas for programs and incentives that they can consider introducing for the benefit of members, in addition to asking government and industry organizations to seek improvements in their programs and operations.
BCFGA will of course continue offering, at a low cost, help with the application form - known as the Labour Market Impact Assessment - for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
One area which the business model identified as needing more resources to properly support is project management.
As a result, Gail Nelson is the BCFGA’s new Horticulture and Research Project Manager, starting September 6. We are looking forward to better organizing our project efforts, and an important focus will be getting the results of projects in growers’ hands, rather than sitting on a shelf.
There is also a new emphasis on climate change projects, and BCFGA is placing more funding into climate research, which will need the extra help provided by our new staff member. Growers need the most up-to-date information for gains in their operational and financial performance and Gail Nelson will help BCFGA ‘up its game’ in horticulture research and outreach.
Does all of this re-focusing on member value distract the BCFGA from industry-wide lobbying? In a word, “no.”
The BCFGA continues to participate and lead in representing the entire industry (members and non-members of the BCFGA) on several issues, including labour, government regulation, and financial programs. We seek solutions to the problem of poor apple market returns and weather impacts/adjustments. Any improvements in responding to these challenges will benefit members and non-members alike.
As a final observation, the BCFGA promotes the industry and that too provides a universal benefit to all fruit growers. Whether it is responding with factual information to current media issues, hosting elected officials to tours or producer roundtables, or getting involved in provincial and federal elections by ensuring growers are aware of party performance and election platforms, the BCFGA will continue to provide universal benefits, while also providing member-specific incentives and services.
Supporting our members and the industry as a whole need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, the BCFGA business model assumes that the direct and indirect approach to improving BCFGA members and the totality of tree fruit growers is mutually beneficial.
Together we are stronger.