Justice Minister David Lametti stopped in at Hillcrest Farm on Tuesday, Aug.13, with Kelowna-Lake Country MP Stephen Fuhr and members of the BC Cherry Association to announce recent funding on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and to take a picture at the Hillcrest cherry face cut-outs.

The federal government is investing $241,000 into the BC Cherry Association to enhance global market research and grow Canada91裸聊视频檚 cherry exports internationally.

91裸聊视频淭his investment will support the sector in marketing high quality and great tasting cherries to customers here in Canada and around the world,91裸聊视频� Minister Lametti said.

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With investment from the industry, in which members of the cherry association pay a levee for, the total comes to $482,000.

Sweet cherries are the eighth largest fruit commodity in land usage at 2,097-hectares yet are the second most valuable fruit export with over 10,000 metric tonnes being shipped overseas, according to 2017 statistics published by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Following the United States, China and Japan are the next leading consumers of Canadian fruits, but David Geen, vice-president of the cherry association, not only are they looking to increase exports to existing markets but narrow their sight on other Asian countries.

91裸聊视频�(South) Korea is a very important cherry market and that91裸聊视频檚 the next one we are working on,91裸聊视频� Geen said. 91裸聊视频淪o we hope that that91裸聊视频檚 going to be in a couple of years.91裸聊视频�

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Minister Lametti expressed the importance of the B.C. cherry industry in context with the Canadian economy. He said that 96 per cent of sweet cherries are harvested in B.C.

91裸聊视频淵ou are vital to our government91裸聊视频檚 strong trade agenda,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 why we want to keep your industry strong and growing.91裸聊视频�

The government, according to Minister Lametti, set a target of $75 billion in agri-food export by 2025; which the cherry industry is paramount in.