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91ƵWe need to fight91Ƶ: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat

The agricultural industry has faced years of climate disasters that have left them stretched thin

Several hundred Okanagan farmers united at Gyro Park in Osoyoos on Tuesday, to rally support for B.C.91Ƶs agriculture industry, while just metres away the BC NDP caucus was gathering for a retreat.

The Stronger Together rally was organized by the BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA), supported by other organizations such as the BC Grape Growers Association, to drive home the impacts that have left the agriculture industry reeling.

Multiple years of drought and wildfire, combined with cold snaps and extreme heat, have taxed farmers91Ƶ resources to the point that for some, it91Ƶs not a question of when their situation will improve, but if.

91ƵHow long can we say there91Ƶs always next year? It used to be one bad year in every five to 10. Now, it91Ƶs been four climate disaster years in a row and 2020 was the COVID disaster,91Ƶ said BCFGA vice-president Sukhdeep Brar to the crowd of farmers and supporters.

91ƵI would rather sell a crop than collect insurance. Insurance is supposed to protect us in bad years, but the system wasn91Ƶt designed for multiple bad years in a row.91Ƶ

The number of local staples, that either won91Ƶt produce fruit at all or only in greatly reduced amounts, was emphasized at the rally to illustrate the direct impact climate disasters have had in recent years.

Plants such as grapes, which experienced , , nectarines, peaches and other soft fruits, were all severely impacted over the last several years.

Those losses are leaving some farmers without any product to sell.

READ MORE: Kelowna farmers must diversify to adapt to climate change

Further complicating the situation is how market prices have become disconnected from what farmers are getting paid, said Brar.

91ƵYes, the shoppers who bought the apples paid $3/lb, but the farmer who grew them got 10 per cent less than they would have 39 years ago,91Ƶ said Brar.

BCFGA president Peter Simonson also called on grocery stores to step up, urging for them to finally sign onto the retail code of conduct, or for the federal government to force them to sign it. He also echoed the point that sticker prices have not led to an equal increase for farmers.

91ƵPrices at retail are higher than ever. Farm returns are the same or less,91Ƶ said Simonson.

Even beyond the immediate financial impact, which has seen orchards and vineyards up for sale across the Okanagan, there is an emotional and mental toll on the region91Ƶs farmers. Some of the farmers are concerned about whether there would be a future for their families in the industry, while others wonder where new generations of farmers might come from.

Members of the NDP caucus, including Premier David Eby and Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell, attended the rally as did BC United MLA Dan Ashton. The politicians were asked to not address the rally to keep the event non-partisan.

Eby spoke briefly to media about some of the concerns that he had heard first hand from farmers.

91ƵWithout farmers, we don91Ƶt have food, without food, we91Ƶre in real trouble,91Ƶ said Eby.

Through the rally, the BCFGA repeated the importance of standing together and getting support from not just the government but consumers too.

91ƵWe91Ƶre still farmers. We91Ƶre not going anywhere. We need to fight. We need to stand together,91Ƶ said Brar. 91ƵI91Ƶm not ready to give up and I don91Ƶt think anyone here is ready to give up. None of the farmers are ready to give up.91Ƶ

Ways of support from the average consumer laid out included simply buying local, whether that is directly from the farmer or by making sure that truly local food is stocked at the local store, by holding retailers accountable and by putting pressure on MPs and MLAs to get government support.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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