Strategic partnership struck

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 Its cherry line in Kelowna was due for an upgrade, having been installed in 2014 and now outdated.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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5 hours ago

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10 hours ago

Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

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4 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. "Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival," says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. They're the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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There is a problem... having lived in the salmon river ( silver creek ) area, I remember a fish biologist telling family members that salmon only "survive" in high iron content creeks, they do not "thrive".... salmon river ( silver creek ) is a very high iron content, would stain clothes brown when i would use bleach... So don't expect high salmon numbers off of that creek , even in ideal situations...

I just wish they would take an interest in CHASE CREEK....went bone dry...100% of trout abd other species died...smell was terrible from rotting fish. Understand this has happened many times in the past. Chase Irrigation District totally responsible for this disaster. Now fishermen are complaining about major drop in water levels at Pillar Lake.

They could not mismanage things worse than they have. It's impossible for them to. The fact that farmers that we need for our animals are now suffering the consequences our governments have not protected us from, is absolutely fucking wild.