January 8, 2019
BC Tree Fruits transition continues
BC Tree Fruits Co-op has lost long-time horticulturist Hank Markgraf.
The son of orchardists and a graduate of Washington State University, Markgraf joined the co-op in May 1988.
A comment wasn’t immediately available regarding the reasons for Markgraf’s departure. However, it comes as the co-op seeks new executives to oversee its operations.
It posted an ad at the end of November for a new CEO to replace Stan Swales, who had been with the co-op for just two years. He was the co-op’s third CEO since the amalgamation of packinghouses in 2008. An ad for a successor to Warren Everton, who had served as CFO since February 2013 was posted at the same time.
The co-op has not commented on the progress of the competitions, nor announced a deadline for the selection of new leadership.
The co-op has more than 430 members across the Okanagan Valley, and received sharp criticism in a report last summer regarding the competitiveness of the tree fruit sector.
with files from Tom Walker
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