The protesters are demanding more transparency and accountability from their own cooperative.
Holding placards that read “we have no voice” and “no transparency” about 30 growers staged a protest Wednesday morning outside of the BC Tree Fruits cooperative office in Kelowna .“We’d like the cooperative to come clean and just communicate with us,” said protest spokesperson Amarjit Lalli.They’re raising concerns about lower-than-anticipated returns at its newly expanded packing house in Oliver .
“All volume covers overhead…so now what are we doing to make up the difference for the overhead,” Lalli said.Lalli, who is also a former cooperative board member, said growers also worried about the cooperative selling off its properties at much lower values than originally planned.“There’s probably going to be a shortfall of 30 to 40 million dollars and so the growers are wondering where is that money going to come from,” Lalli said.
“Orchardists and packers such as BC Tree Fruits Cooperative are having to adapt. Change can be difficult, but is necessary to move organizations forward,’ said Laurel Van Dam, vice-president, grower relations & corporate affairs for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative.“We look forward to engaging with them in person at that meeting,” Van Dam stated.
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative Central Okanagan Farmers Growers Protest Kelowna Oliver Packing House South Okanagan Canada
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