KELOWNA, B.C. – Okanagan fruit growers have planted a big crop of patience this spring.
They hope to harvest $10 million.
They’re waiting to find out if their industry, which contributes $130 million and thousands of jobs to the Okanagan economy, has a future after two disastrous years where they didn’t harvest the cost of production.
They have to wait about a month to find out whether the provincial government will contribute $10 million to help them survive.
“The $10 million emergency assistance is a major financial request and doesn’t happen at the drop of a hat,” said Joe Sardinha, president of the 800-member B.C. Fruit Growers Association.
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Although agriculture minister Steve Thomson told growers at their annual meeting in January there was no extra money, his staff is
preparing a case for the treasury board.
“The minister didn’t say no to any of the requests,” Sardinha said.
“But he did have his own budget cut, so for anything extra, you have to go through a different process.”
The Summerland apple grower is worried that if provincial government help doesn’t materialize, two consecutive disastrous year will be followed by a third because some farmers don’t have the money to grow quality fruit.
Some have already been denied credit and must pay with a cheque or credit card for supplies.
The first returns on last year’s crop garnered less than the cost of production and they’re not optimistic that the next payment will be better.
Sardinha is afraid more growers will leave the industry.
“It’s going to be a tough spring and that’s why we have made our request based on the status of industry,” he said.
“Provincial assistance would allow us to move forward and grow the best crop we can, but right now, we have many hurting so badly, I wonder if they have the resources to do so.”
