Sandher Fruit Packing to take on an additional 12 million pounds of apples with a new water management deal
More than 300 growers across the Okanagan were left scrambling to find a home for their fruit after the longstanding packing and storage cooperative known as BC Tree Fruits announced its sudden closure.
On August 26, the 88 year-old cooperative was court-ordered to sell its assets and liquidate all resources in order to pay off more than $50million in debts, cementing the urgent need for former coop members to find private storage. BC Tree Fruit was in possession of what is estimated as more than $100 million of assets including land, specialized storage facilities and equipment. Until it is sold or leased, the storage facilities will sit empty.
On September 6, an agricultural products and pharmaceutical storage company called Novem secured an emergency lease and took possession of a former BC Tree Fruit processing facility. Novem, in partnership with local company Farming Karma, will provide access to specialized storage for nearly 25 million pounds of fruit that previously did not have a home.
Lance McGinn, the spokesperson for Sandher Fruit Packers said that there are still farmers looking for a place to store their fruit, despite efforts from other private packers across the Okanagan."I know every packer in the valley is doing all they can." Since 2017, the packing house has accumulated more than $100,000 in fines from the government after failing to properly dispose of the wastewater that was used to clean fruit.
McGinn said that the new deal with the City of Kelowna, which involves constant assessments and testing, allows them to stay in operation – but noted the arrangement is costly.
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