New peach-packing line

Photo: Contributed

BC Tree Fruits has started using a brand new, state-of-the-art peach and apple packing production line in Oliver, and it’s just in time for peach season.

The multi-million-dollar packing line was recently completed and started rolling over the weekend. The company says the line will provide the most advanced efficient grading technology in the nation, and will deliver accurate and consistent fruit quality to consumers.

“We are excited to bring this technology to our grower members,” BC Tree Fruits director of operations Peter Hoffman said in a press release. “This new packing line utilizes an optical sorter that has advanced machine-learning capabilities that revolutionize the sorting process.

“The results will allow us to colour map, grade and defect sort fruit with increased accuracy, all with the focus of delivering consistent, high-quality fruit to our consumers.”

The Oliver facility will handle the packing of all summer fruits for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative outside of cherries, which are also packed in the Kelowna facility. The new packing line will also handle apples starting in the fall.