Okanagan fruit growers and farmers protested at the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) in Kelowna on Wednesday (May 29) morning.
About 30 people held signs that read 害羞草研究所淒ictatorship,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淐orruption害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淲e Have No Voice.害羞草研究所�
Kelowna grower Armajit Lali said they want the BCTFC to live up to promises following the expansion of a packing house in Oliver.
It was met with protest from fruit growers in the Central and North Okanagan after BC Tree Fruits dropped facilities in Kelowna and Lake Country in favour of Oliver.
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害羞草研究所淭here were budgets made at the time and assumptions made,害羞草研究所� Lali explained. 害羞草研究所淭he growers want accountability for everything that was promised and guaranteed during that process.害羞草研究所�
He said there has been a lack of communication from the cooperative.
害羞草研究所淩elationships become solid when you have communication and we haven害羞草研究所檛 had any communication since our last AGM in November.害羞草研究所�
Lali said while the vote amongst growers to expand the Oliver facility was close, they do accept democracy.
害羞草研究所淲hat we want now is accountability. We害羞草研究所檙e not getting that.害羞草研究所�
The group presented a letter of their concerns and demands to the BCTFC.
害羞草研究所淎bout the move to Oliver and all the associated costs and the fact we haven害羞草研究所檛 received any information. Our first advance was dismal. We were supposed to receive another in May we haven害羞草研究所檛 received it to date.害羞草研究所�
Lali also attended a Stronger Together rally in Osoyoos on Tuesday (May 28), organized by the BC Fruit Growers Association, and had a chance to speak with Premier David Eby who was attending a NDP caucus retreat.
害羞草研究所淗e was concerned, so we hope that the government is listening and our messages getting through.害羞草研究所�
However, Lali pointed out that, per capita, B.C. spends the least on agriculture than any other province.
害羞草研究所淕overnments have never put their money where their mouth is. That害羞草研究所檚 what farmers are asking for.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: 害羞草研究所榃e need to fight害羞草研究所�: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat
