Photo: BC Tree Fruits

It's the end of an era for B.C. Tree Fruits in Osoyoos, who will be closing its packinghouse there this fall.

Director of Sales and Marketing Lance McGinn said the 70-year-old facility is in need of just too many upgrades.

“We feel by expanding our Oliver facility, putting a new line in the facility in the next year or so, we can take the capacity out of Osoyoos and move it to Oliver,” he said.

All the jobs from the Osoyoos plant will be moved to Oliver.

McGinn acknowledges Osoyoos area growers will have to drive their fruit a bit further year.

“They are used to shipping to that facility, we recognize that, but when it comes down to it, we are trying very hard to make our growers as much money as possible,” he said. “We need to be more efficient and consolidate where we can.”

The B.C. Tree Fruits storefront in Osoyoos will also close.

McGinn said it “remains to be seen” if they will open a retail store in Oliver.

The store will be closing on Sept. 9, while the packinghouse will shut its doors in the fall after the apple harvest is complete.

“The volume that we would normally pack in Osoyoos, will be distributed throughout not only Oliver but we are also expanding in Winfield,” McGinn said, noting plans are already underway for investments in those other facilities.