A Lake Country orchard owner is encouraging fellow growers and farmers to stand up to the provincial government.
During a meet and greet with growers and BC United Leader Kevin Falcon on Tuesday (July 30) at Gatzke Orchard, Alan Gatzke urged the crowd to speak up and be heard.
91裸聊视频淲e built this valley to what it is,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淟et's not lose it. So do what you can to raise your voice.91裸聊视频�
Gatzke cited extreme weather, burdensome provincial regulations, falling prices for growers, and the closure of the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) as reasons the industry is in crisis.
91裸聊视频淭he BCTFC collapse is one thing, but we've had 30 or 40 years where every year they put another regulation, they put another tax, they just make it harder.91裸聊视频�
Falcon said the provincial government should have seen the crisis coming and is refusing to act.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e got government representatives sitting at the table, this should not have been a surprise to them.
Falcon added what he91裸聊视频檚 hearing from growers is heartbreaking.
91裸聊视频淚 saw grown men crying talking about the impact this is having on their family farms.91裸聊视频�
Asked what BC United would do to solve the crisis, Falcon said it would appoint someone independent to investigate the BCTFC.
91裸聊视频淚 would say stop, you91裸聊视频檙e not going to liquidate this cooperative that91裸聊视频檚 been around for 90 years.91裸聊视频�
BC United would also provide temporary funds to growers Falcon said.
91裸聊视频淚f they don91裸聊视频檛 have somewhere to store their fruit91裸聊视频hey91裸聊视频檙e going to lose entire crops, and that91裸聊视频檚 not right. We91裸聊视频檝e got to make sure we91裸聊视频檙e there for them at a time when they need us.91裸聊视频�
In a letter to growers dated July 26, the BCTFC announced it would no longer accept produce.
"Due to extremely low estimated fruit volumes, weather effects, and difficult market and financial conditions, the cooperative will not be able to effectively operate the business moving forward," VP Laurel Van Dam said in a statement.