UPDATE: Noon

Don害羞草研究所檛 worry 害羞草研究所� the Penticton Peach will always be a peach!

The purple paint will be cleaned off this afternoon.

Huge thanks to the Peach害羞草研究所檚 Diana Stirling for making this possible and allowing the Penticton Western News to be a part of the fun.

An additional massive thank you to Mayor Andrew Jakubeit, Thom Tischik, Neil Wyper and the 害羞草研究所榩rotesters害羞草研究所� for being such great sports and jumping on board.

Happy April Fools everyone!

害羞草研究所斺赌�-

ORIGINAL: 7 a.m.

With little notice, the City of Penticton took the area害羞草研究所檚 iconic Peach on Okanagan Lake and made it a Grape.

City crews were on site Friday, taking the day to transform the peach concession into a grape to better represent the current vision of the region.

The city claims that after extensive research and community engagement, Penticton is no longer 害羞草研究所楶eaches and beaches but rather wine and dine.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e are 害羞草研究所楶enticton and wine country害羞草研究所� and to embrace that we feel our iconic fruit should be a grape 害羞草研究所� not a peach. The wine industry is the largest contributor to Penticton害羞草研究所檚 tourism,害羞草研究所� said mayor Andrew Jakubeit.

害羞草研究所淯p until now, we害羞草研究所檝e basically been thumbing our nose at them. 2017 is about becoming one 害羞草研究所� working together 害羞草研究所� and this is a great start. How better can we show visitors that we害羞草研究所檙e all about wine than by having a giant grape on our beach?害羞草研究所�

Believe it or not, it害羞草研究所檚 an easy task to convert the peach concession, that has in various forms been on the beach since the 60s害羞草研究所�, into a grape.

City crews began work yesterday, painting a purple base coat on it. Once finished, there will be three shades of purple much like the shading currently on the peach.

The leaves on top will be removed but the stem will remain, although it will be narrowed slightly.

While the City of Penticton is ecstatic about the new colour, the peach害羞草研究所檚 lease owner is fuming mad at the news 害羞草研究所� she only found it was happening as the first layer of paint was being applied.

害羞草研究所淚 am frustrated, I害羞草研究所檓 completely shocked,害羞草研究所� says owner Diana Stirling. 害羞草研究所淚 was only just informed the city was painting the peach.

害羞草研究所淚t is so frustrating because the peach in Penticton has been an icon for us. Everybody loves the peach. I mean, turning it into a grape may make sense on paper, but it is our peach.害羞草研究所�

Despite the angry reaction, the city害羞草研究所檚 paint job is supported by Travel Penticton.

害羞草研究所淚 think it is time to change it,害羞草研究所� says Travel Penticton害羞草研究所檚 new executive director, Thom Tischik. 害羞草研究所淚t has been a peach for so many years and now that Penticton is evolving it is time to change and turning it into a grape is the best way to go, I really do think so.

害羞草研究所淚cons are icons, let害羞草研究所檚 leave that to the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. This icon has really been a peach for long enough.害羞草研究所�

The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is on the fence about this drastic move.

害羞草研究所淲hile we are thankful that our winery members are being recognized for the economic impact they provide, we shouldn害羞草研究所檛 discount the significant contribution our fruit farmers have brought - and continue to bring - to our local economy,害羞草研究所� says Neil Wyper, chamber president.

As for Stirling害羞草研究所檚 strong reaction to the purple paint, the mayor claims hormones may be to blame.

害羞草研究所淔emales are sometimes very emotional and irrational at times and we took that as fact when we engaged in the community, 80 per cent of those engaged were male to offset that emotional factor that females bring to the table,害羞草研究所� said Jakubeit.

害羞草研究所淵ou know, you got to get over it. It is going to be really good for the community and it is exciting.害羞草研究所�

The peach害羞草研究所檚 current owner is now calling on all other angry residents to come by the peach this morning, Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. to protest the city害羞草研究所檚 decision. There will be a petition onsite to sign.

害羞草研究所淲e are going to try to #SaveThePeach,害羞草研究所� says Stirling. 害羞草研究所淲e are going to send a strong message to city council that this is not OK. Bring signs, let them know you want the peach to stay and we are going to see what we can do.

害羞草研究所淲hile it害羞草研究所檚 too late to stop the painting, we are hoping to send a strong message to city council 害羞草研究所� this has to stop.

害羞草研究所淭his has been a part of our community for 60 years and we don害羞草研究所檛 want to lose it.害羞草研究所�