Canada’s largest independent apple grower is moving into BC following the purchase of the last remaining assets of BC Tree Fruits Co-op to Penticton construction and development company Wildstone Construction Group. Wildstone paid $22.75 million for BC Tree Fruits’ newly renovated packinghouse in Oliver, as well as receiving stations in Summerland and Keremeos in a …
Study promotes beneficial fire
Fighting fire with fire is the focus of Beneficial Fire in BC, a report released this month by the Polis Group at the University of Victoria. “The idea of beneficial fire means that there is some fire on the landscape that has positive effects on ecosystems and helps pull us away from catastrophic fire,” explains …
Driediger Farms for sale
Well-known Langley berry grower Driediger Farms is for sale. “I’ve been looking at different options for selling for the past couple of years. But I just decided this is the time,” says owner Rhonda Driediger. “I have some other projects I want to do and I can’t really do them and live where I want …
Kelowna abattoir fills critical processing gap
KELOWNA – A Vancouver Island farmer has reactivated and expanded a Kelowna abattoir, providing processing to about 80 farmers. “I’ve processed hogs and lambs from 100 Mile (and) Vanderhoof, so people need the services, but about 80% of my customers are within an hour,” says operator Dave Semmelink, who opened Creekside Meats in 2021 to …
Arts leads BCFGA forward
A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward. Summerland grower Adrian Arts was named BCFGA’s executive director on April 24 following the departure of former general manager Melissa Tesche, who left to head the Okanagan Basin Water …
BC mourns sheep advocate
A tireless advocate for the BC sheep sector has died. Barbara Ydenberg of Wind’s Reach Farm in Langley passed away April 26 following an incredibly short battle with cancer. Born in California, Ydenberg moved to BC with her family to a farm near Fort Langley in 1971. She joined Pony Club and rode in many …