Simonsen says without the storage, growers will be forced to scramble to sell their product in September and October, driving down prices for apples.
Last month, the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative announced that “extremely low” volumes of fruit and difficult market conditions led to the decision to close and it would be going to court to wind down the organization.
Alexis says because of the court process, it’s unlikely the government would be able to acquire the co-op’s storage.
Simonsen says growers don’t feel like the government is listening to their concerns.
“A significant segment of our industry is in big, big trouble. And they are very upset,” he said.
Alexis acknowledged the tight timeline as the galas are ready to be picked in less than a week.
“It’s a terrible situation to be in, but we value the farmer in British Columbia. We have made food security our top priority, and I can tell you that everything we do is about improving conditions so that the farmer can produce more food for British Columbia,” she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2024.
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