91裸聊视频淓verybody91裸聊视频檚 drowning right now.91裸聊视频�

That91裸聊视频檚 the state of the B.C. fruit industry, according to Pinder Dhaliwal, president of the BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA).

Dhaliwal made his metaphor following the BCFGA annual general meeting in Penticton on Feb. 12 and 13.

He said the increasing minimum wage and possible changes to piece rates are negatively impacting local orchards. Meantime, local farmers are not seeing an increase in returns.

READ MORE: Temporary farm workers using Kelowna homeless shelter

Minimum wage in B.C. will be be $13.85 per hour as of June 1, 2019, and for foreign workers the employers must also cover the cost of airfare and housing.

91裸聊视频淭he wages have increased, but we need to see a fair deduction for some of the other inputs,91裸聊视频� said Dhaliwal. 91裸聊视频淲hen you take in the cost of housing, with electrical and everything, and airfare, that91裸聊视频檚 way more than minimum wage.

91裸聊视频淟ast year, we had integrity audits happening, so that put a stop on a lot of the workers come from Mexico or the Caribbean countries,91裸聊视频� he added.

For workers coming from other parts of Canada 91裸聊视频� Dhaliwal said 4,500 to 5,000 youth come from Quebec and Ontario to help harvest apples and cherries 91裸聊视频攅mployers may also choose to pay a regulated piece rate.

As of Jan. 1, 2019, the rate is $21.06 a bin for apples, $22.38 a half bin for peaches and $0.277 a pound for cherries.

Dhaliwal said the B.C. government will soon be reviewing those rates, which could result in more losses for local orchards.

He said the BCFGA is going to approach the government and emphasize the importance of farmers.

91裸聊视频淭hey protected the land, but they forgot about the farmer,91裸聊视频� he said.

READ MORE: Difficult year for Okanagan fruit growers

Dan Taylor with Cawston Cold Storage Ltd. said there are pros and cons to hiring orchard workers by the minimum wage or by the piece rate, but in his experience, they typically work out to the same.

He said this may change as the minimum wage increases, but he is still seeing a spike in operational costs elsewhere.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just overall in the industry that the wage has gone up, and the returns to the grower have not gone up,91裸聊视频� said Taylor. 91裸聊视频淐rop insurance has gone up quite substantially, too. It91裸聊视频檚 costing me quite a bit more to have my acreage insured than it used to.

91裸聊视频淲hether you go with organic or conventional (farming), the cost of the inputs in the last five years has doubled, but our return isn91裸聊视频檛 going up,91裸聊视频� he added.

Donny Espet-Post at EP Orchards said he is unable to afford hiring workers, something that likely won91裸聊视频檛 change with the cost of operations increasing.

91裸聊视频淚 do the work myself for nothing. Not until the food pays, I can91裸聊视频檛 do anything,91裸聊视频� said Espet-Post. 91裸聊视频淚 could use help, but I can91裸聊视频檛 afford to pay anybody.91裸聊视频�

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

Jordyn Thomson | Reporter
 
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