For the second time in less than a week a group of farmers protesting the abrupt closure of BC Tree Fruits took to the streets to plea for help.
"We still don't have a voice, and we're looking for support, we still haven't heard answers yet, so we're not stopping," says Kelly Wander, organizer of Tuesday's protest and a tree fruit farmer from Osoyoos.
Wander says she and her fellow farmers protesting in Kelowna have yet to find a place to sell their apples this season. Their fruit is still on the trees and they don't intend to pick it unless they have a place to store the fruit.
"We are looking for our packinghouse to be re-opened. We're not interested in going to a private packer. We have no bins to put it into. Private packers don't have the bins (for) storage, and where are they going to sell this fruit to? So we're in a scramble right now, it's hurting us."
Wander says if something doesn't change soon the fruit will likely rot on the ground.
"The moment it gets picked you have to store it. If it does not get stored, it's going to rot. So that's the biggest concern," Wander says.
Right now everyone in the industry is waiting for the BC Tree Fruits bankruptcy case's expected return to court on Friday. The co-op is over $50 million in debt.
Independent grower urges action
Although he is no longer a member of the BC Tree Fruits Co-operative, Lake Country farmer and local industry leader Al Gatzke hopes the iconic BC Tree Fruits can be saved. He says it has around $100-million worth of assets, and many of those are necessary for local producers.
"If there is some intervention and critical aspects are protected, then there could be an opportunity for an independent party to help operate the critical infrastructure, which at this point is just the controlled atmosphere storages," Gatzke says.
He is hoping that BC Tree Fruits' assets can be kept together instead of split off to pay creditors. Gatzke also wants the provincial government to intervene to, at least, the creditor protection time for the co-op.
In the meantime, Gatzke is suggesting all farmers who have yet to find a home for their fruit get their food safe certification for processing and packing. "Purchase or acquire some bins so that you have the power to pick your fruit and send it to your packer."
He is also encouraging growers to fill out the provincial government's online form that is being is used to connect growers and private industry. The survey is also a means to collect data on the different varieties of apples being grown and the volume.
Private packers still operating
Some private packing companies have already stepped up, including Consolidated Fruit Packers.
"We're saddened by the impact the BC Tree Fruits shutdown has had on the industry and growers in the valley. As a company with deep roots in western Canada and the Okanagan Valley, we're committed to doing everything we can to support the health of the industry and growers," said John Lambiris vice president sales CFP.
"We've taken on several additional new growers for the upcoming season and will continue to evaluate and re-evaluate what's going to be an extremely challenging and fluid situation for the industry in the coming weeks, months, and years ahead."
Lambiris says CFP is going to do everything they can to be a stabilizing presence in the industry.
