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Current Issue:

September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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4 days ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

7 days ago

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7 days ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle...
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1 week ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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1 week ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Strategic partnership struck

February 8, 2023 byPeter Mitham

The closure of BC Tree Fruit Co-operative’s packing lines in Kelowna and Winfield has opened the doors to a new partnership.

While the co-op intends to consolidate packing operations for all fruit in Oliver, the closure of its Kelowna operations has opened the door to a partnership with Sandhu Fruit Farm in Summerland.

Sandhu recently installed a new optical sorter and fully automated packing line which the supplier, Italy-based Unitec, describes as a game-changer for cherry packers.

“The new Unitec technology reduces production costs significantly and adds value to your cherries,” it says, calling out the labour cost savings, improved efficiency and reliability.

The partnership gives BC Tree Fruits access to the latest technology without bearing the full capital cost of the equipment. Its cherry line in Kelowna was due for an upgrade, having been installed in 2014 and now outdated.

“Cooperative growers who grow export-quality cherries will have even more opportunity to maximize their returns through shared volume and technology which will enable greater access to markets by air and ocean,” the co-op said in a statement announcing the partnership.

The equipment will also be more productive for Sandhu, which has grown its business over the past 14 years to include markets across North America as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

“The opportunity for both organizations to utilize their collective strengths to maximize returns for cherry growers is exciting,” says Sandhu CEO Chanpreet Sandhu.

BCTF president and CEO Warren Sarafinchan says the marketing connections of Sandhu will serve co-op members well.

“[Our] brand is extremely strong in Asia and this opportunity will maximize returns for our export growers,” Sarafinchan says. “We look forward to a strong season as we pool our collective knowledge and resources to bring high quality BC cherries to the world.”

Securing greater sales in high-value export markets is a key objective for the industry in the wake of the tree fruit industry stabilization initiative coordinated by the province. While expanding access to high-value markets for apples is the primary goal, all inroads are welcome as the industry faces increasing competition for market share on all fronts.

 

 

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