Orchard growers appeal for city’s help
By David Skelhon Monday, August 28, 2006 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_482.php
The BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) will be updating Vernon city council today on developments in the industry. The association’s president, Joe Sardinha, said it was important to obtain the city’s support because of the crisis the industry is experiencing. So far, he said, 
“We’ve haven’t got anywhere with provincial and federal assistance.”“We need some bridge assistance funding,” said Sardinha. “Without that we stand to lose acreage and producers.”The problem, he explains, relates to the 2004 crop year where there was a rise in imports from Washington and that resulted in a 40 to 50 per cent decline in income for Okanagan growers.Income from the 2005 crop was slightly better but, “Two years of very poor returns have left apple growers pondering their future.” “The (Government’s) Income Stabilization Program gave $7.5 million for 2004 on a $24.5 million loss . . . it should have produced $15 – 18 million,” he said.Sardinha anticipates this year’s crop will be, “down 25 per cent on due to hail damage.”He said the BCFGA wants Vernon to show its support by sending letters to Premier Gordon Campbell and federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.Today’s presentation will also include issues that are of valley-wide concern, but are dealt with differently according to the municipality. They include the supply of affordable and adequate water, starling control, the Sterile Insect Release Program, and farm labour housing. Sardinha said there needs to be a consistent, valley wide approach to these issues.In the case of water supply, he explained that there are about 65 different water purveyors in the valley and the BCFGA endorses the approach taken by the Okanagan Basin Water Board. “Resources are finite and there has to be a balance between urban and agricultural demands. Trees cannot be managed without water in summer.” Currently, he said, it costs producers between $60 and $150 per acre to irrigate their land, which is not competitive with producers elsewhere. “We would like the municipalities to support basin-wide policy.”Starlings are also a problem for growers, Sardinha said, and many of these birds roost in urban areas and in particular in municipal buildings. “There needs to be a valley-wide starling control initiative . . . starlings are an invasive species that compete heavily with native song-birds.” Their presence requires the use of propane cannons to keep them away from orchards.At one-10th the size of the Washington industry, the Okanagan industry is much smaller. However, Sardinha said the Okanagan produces 30 per cent of the Canadian crop. At one time the Okanagan was a bigger producer than Washington State but after the Columbia River Treaty was signed, guaranteeing Washington a stable water supply, the situation reversed and now Washington is a much larger producer than the Okanagan.Asked whether he is optimistic about the future of the industry, Sardinha replied, “Only if we see a commitment from government.”
The BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) will be updating Vernon city council today on developments in the industry. The association’s president, Joe Sardinha, said it was important to obtain the city’s support because of the crisis the industry is experiencing. So far, he said, 
“We’ve haven’t got anywhere with provincial and federal assistance.”“We need some bridge assistance funding,” said Sardinha. “Without that we stand to lose acreage and producers.”The problem, he explains, relates to the 2004 crop year where there was a rise in imports from Washington and that resulted in a 40 to 50 per cent decline in income for Okanagan growers.Income from the 2005 crop was slightly better but, “Two years of very poor returns have left apple growers pondering their future.” “The (Government’s) Income Stabilization Program gave $7.5 million for 2004 on a $24.5 million loss . . . it should have produced $15 – 18 million,” he said.Sardinha anticipates this year’s crop will be, “down 25 per cent on due to hail damage.”He said the BCFGA wants Vernon to show its support by sending letters to Premier Gordon Campbell and federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.Today’s presentation will also include issues that are of valley-wide concern, but are dealt with differently according to the municipality. They include the supply of affordable and adequate water, starling control, the Sterile Insect Release Program, and farm labour housing. Sardinha said there needs to be a consistent, valley wide approach to these issues.In the case of water supply, he explained that there are about 65 different water purveyors in the valley and the BCFGA endorses the approach taken by the Okanagan Basin Water Board. “Resources are finite and there has to be a balance between urban and agricultural demands. Trees cannot be managed without water in summer.” Currently, he said, it costs producers between $60 and $150 per acre to irrigate their land, which is not competitive with producers elsewhere. “We would like the municipalities to support basin-wide policy.”Starlings are also a problem for growers, Sardinha said, and many of these birds roost in urban areas and in particular in municipal buildings. “There needs to be a valley-wide starling control initiative . . . starlings are an invasive species that compete heavily with native song-birds.” Their presence requires the use of propane cannons to keep them away from orchards.At one-10th the size of the Washington industry, the Okanagan industry is much smaller. However, Sardinha said the Okanagan produces 30 per cent of the Canadian crop. At one time the Okanagan was a bigger producer than Washington State but after the Columbia River Treaty was signed, guaranteeing Washington a stable water supply, the situation reversed and now Washington is a much larger producer than the Okanagan.Asked whether he is optimistic about the future of the industry, Sardinha replied, “Only if we see a commitment from government.”
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