A Lake Country orchard owner is encouraging fellow growers and farmers to stand up to the provincial government.
During a meet and greet with growers and BC United Leader Kevin Falcon on Tuesday (July 30) at Gatzke Orchard, Alan Gatzke urged the crowd to speak up and be heard.
害羞草研究所淲e built this valley to what it is,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淟et's not lose it. So do what you can to raise your voice.害羞草研究所�
Gatzke cited extreme weather, burdensome provincial regulations, falling prices for growers, and the closure of the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) as reasons the industry is in crisis.
害羞草研究所淭he BCTFC collapse is one thing, but we've had 30 or 40 years where every year they put another regulation, they put another tax, they just make it harder.害羞草研究所�
Falcon said the provincial government should have seen the crisis coming and is refusing to act.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e got government representatives sitting at the table, this should not have been a surprise to them.
Falcon added what he害羞草研究所檚 hearing from growers is heartbreaking.
害羞草研究所淚 saw grown men crying talking about the impact this is having on their family farms.害羞草研究所�
Asked what BC United would do to solve the crisis, Falcon said it would appoint someone independent to investigate the BCTFC.
害羞草研究所淚 would say stop, you害羞草研究所檙e not going to liquidate this cooperative that害羞草研究所檚 been around for 90 years.害羞草研究所�
BC United would also provide temporary funds to growers Falcon said.
害羞草研究所淚f they don害羞草研究所檛 have somewhere to store their fruit害羞草研究所hey害羞草研究所檙e going to lose entire crops, and that害羞草研究所檚 not right. We害羞草研究所檝e got to make sure we害羞草研究所檙e there for them at a time when they need us.害羞草研究所�
In a letter to growers dated July 26, the BCTFC announced it would no longer accept produce.
"Due to extremely low estimated fruit volumes, weather effects, and difficult market and financial conditions, the cooperative will not be able to effectively operate the business moving forward," VP Laurel Van Dam said in a statement.