Cherry growers get break from City

by Wayne Moore - Kelowna Correspondent - Story: 95133 Jul 16, 2013 / 5:00 am

Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly

Independent cherry growers, concerned about the onset of of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly, are getting some relief from the City of Kelowna.  Council Monday agreed to an emergency request to allow cherry growers to have their culled cherries composted at the Glenmore Landfill.  Solid Waste Organic Supervisor, Gordon Light, says should cherries be left on the ground to decompose, the fly can spread and cause harm to the cherry industry.  According to Light, many cherry growers are finding it difficult to find available land on their property to bury the culled cherries and the Ministry of Agriculture does not support disposal by landfilling.  Light says the ministry does support composting as a disposal method.  "At the landfill, composting utilizing the existing Turned Windrow Technology is technically feasible for disposal," says Light.  Council agreed to the method at an anticipated cost of $16.57 a tonne.  Councillor Mohini Singh suggested providing the service for free as is the practice in Oliver and Osoyoos, however, Councillor Andre Blanleil felt the charge was fair. "The cost of $16 per tonne seems very reasonable to me. We already subsidize the farm industry a lot," says Blanleil.  "We have done it for years and I think it's a positive. On the same token we have to look after our costs to the taxpayer as well and I don't feel the cost of $16.57 a tonne is huge and I think it has to be charged like everything else. Everybody pays to use the landfill."  Light says the landfill will see between 200 and 2,500 tonnes of culled cherries between mid July and the end of August.  He says it is important to provide the service to cherry growers immediately.  "This came up quickly in California and spread into Washington," says Light of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly . "In 2008 there was more than $500M damage to the crop. I am prepared if the landfill is prepared to accept it as soon as council can approve it."  Because time is of the essence and final reading will not take place until the end of the month, city staff will try and figure out something that can work for everybody.
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Spotted wing Drosophila - A new vinegar fly pest in British Columb A new vinegar fly pest in British Columbia. Management: • Good sanitation practices are critical to controlling spotted wing drosophila.