
While the City of Kelowna admits it has no direct influence on fruit industry operations, it says it will step in to do what it can in the wake of BC Tree Fruits closure.
In a statement Friday morning, Mayor Tom Dyas said the city is working to help fruit producers and packers find solutions so orchardists can get their fruit to market.
“In response to the neighbouring community’s concerns regarding wastewater disposal processes, I am pleased to advise the city will assist the fruit growing industry by entering into an arrangement with Sandher Fruit Packing for wash water disposal on a limited term basis while they work through their provincial approval for a longer-term solution,” said Dyas in a release.
“This arrangement supports the local fruit growing economy and our local farmers address the concerns of the surrounding community and adds further measures in place to ensure the protection of the natural environment.”
Sandher was recently fined $78,368 for discharging effluent into a failed septic field. That is on top of a $32,000 fine in August of 2022.
Neighbours in the Ellison area have long complained about the effluent coming from the fruit packing plant., concerned over the odour and threats to arable farmland and local waterways.
In making the announcement, Dyas also says the hope of city council is the industry can come together to find long-term solutions to allow for the continued distribution of Okanagan fruit across the country and around the world.
At the same time the union representing BCTree Fruit employees says the shutdown has resulted in the loss of about 125 jobs.
The union says there have been signs over the years that the fruit cooperative was facing financial challenges.
And, while much is being said about the fate of growers, UFCW Local 247 representative Elisca Long says much more needs to be said about the people displaced by this decision.
“Never forget that we have members who spent their working lives, in some cases nearly 45 years, working for the cooperative,” Long.
“We expect the company will do the right thing by settling up with our members. At the very least, they should avoid making things any more difficult than they already are for our members.”