Karma and Kuku Gill have been farming in the Okanagan for the last 25 years, but their children weren91裸聊视频檛 as keen to continue the family business, as is. They wanted to innovate, expand, help their parents build on years of hard work.
Avi, his wife Binny and his younger brother Sumeet decided to use the fruits their parents already cultivated to make something new 91裸聊视频� fruit soda.
Binny said the reason for the new venture was to help stabilize the family91裸聊视频檚 income after they saw the financial uncertainties farmers faced.
91裸聊视频淪ome years are great and others, not so much. But we wanted to do this because then we can grow our own fruit, we turn it into a product which we then can have some control over what the retailer is marking it up for,91裸聊视频� she said.
READ: Okanagan cherries in jeopardy due to above-average rainfall
Avi said they started with apple soda, first selling it at the Kelowna Farmers91裸聊视频� and Crafters91裸聊视频� Market. Eight months later, their apple soda can now be found in 400 grocery stores across the province, including Safeway, Buy-Low, Thrifty Foods, Save-On-Foods, Your Independent Grocer, and Nesters Market. Soon, they91裸聊视频檒l be releasing cherry and peach sodas as well.
He said it was the support of local residents and local retailers that set him and his family on the right path.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we91裸聊视频檇 ever give up-selling and going to the farmers91裸聊视频� market. That91裸聊视频檚 where we really get to interact with our local community members, who have been awesome and encouraged us to stick with it while we were figuring out the formula,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淥utside of the farmers91裸聊视频� market, we started out with Peter91裸聊视频檚 Your Independent Grocer. Peter is awesome and he really mentored me. He actually helped me get from the production side of things into retail, pointing out who to talk to and what kinds of conversations I needed to have.91裸聊视频�
READ: 91裸聊视频楿nderwhelming91裸聊视频� support for agriculture industry: BC Fruit Growers91裸聊视频� Association
Besides the fruit soda, Avi, Binny and Sumeet also launched a tasting bar at the family91裸聊视频檚 McKenzie Road property. But just as they were ready to open, COVID-19 hit, affecting not just the tasting bar91裸聊视频檚 performance, but the sales in grocery stores as well.
91裸聊视频淭he thing is, we just have to roll with the punches. It91裸聊视频檚 been difficult because we91裸聊视频檝e had our store closed for the majority of (the pandemic) and even when things started loosening up, we91裸聊视频檇 rather err on the side of safety so we91裸聊视频檝e been cautious with opening,91裸聊视频� Avi said.
Karma said the younger generation91裸聊视频檚 new venture is exciting, but he said local farmers need help from the government, provincial, federal and municipal governments.
91裸聊视频淭his year has been difficult91裸聊视频� we need support from the government. The federal government91裸聊视频檚 aid only helps the dairy, egg and meat farmers,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭hey need to look at fruit growers too. We have problems too and it91裸聊视频檚 been difficult for us too.91裸聊视频�
READ: Orchardists face challenges from COVID-19 pandemic
