$4M in funding to aid fruit growers after closure of BC Tree Fruits

Photo: BC Tree Fruits - file

The provincial government says $4 million in funding will be redirected to help tree-fruit growers receive money owed for past harvests without having to wait for court proceedings to play out.

The money will be redirected from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC for growers affected by the recent closure And application for creditor protection by the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative.

“These are very challenging times for B.C.’s tree-fruit growers and we are continuing to support them in getting their fruit to market as well as with cash in their pockets now,” says Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food.

“Our priority from the beginning has been working with growers to ensure they are receiving as many of the services the co-op provided as possible, including food-safety certification, access to storage and bins, and connecting with packing houses.

“We are monitoring the court process closely and will continue to support growers in finding alternative arrangements for their harvest.”

The province says it has also provided $100,000 to the BC Fruit Growers Association to support food-safety certification previously done by the co-op.

The ministry says it will continue to offer specialized assistance to all producers who have not made arrangements with a private packer and are in need.

Growers looking for support, in both English and Punjabi, can call the AgriService BC line at 1 888 221-7141 or visit the tree-fruit support website set up by the ministry.

The province says more than 73,000 bins of apples have been shipped to packing houses and 120 out of 179 apple-growing co-op members have been connected with packing houses