Chilling upgrade for Winfield plant


High-tech CA storage project gets financial boost fromAgriFlex program.


By Judie Steeves A


lthough the money isn’t new, its allocation is — and growers who are members of the Okanagan


Tree Fruit Co-operative will benefit as $2.7 million in federal-provincial AgriFlex funds are earmarked for installation of state-of-the art chilling technology at the Winfield packing plant. The project is part of what will be a


$44 million updating of infrastructure throughout the valley at OTFC facilities in the coming years. In all, the Winfield component will


cost $5.25 million, but growers will see estimated savings of at least $340,000 a year in energy costs and increased fruit quality from the more-efficient process. OTFC executive-director Gary Schieck


says the environmentally-friendly salt brine chilling and cold storage system first has to be engineered for the plant before it can be installed. Currently, an ammonia system is


used for controlled atmosphere storage. Although this system is used in some European apple-producing regions, only two places in North American currently use it, and this would be the first in Canada. Schieck said he believes Cawston Cold Storage is also looking at it. Because of the energy savings that


will be possible with the new system, which uses smaller motors than the other system, and which is more accurate and efficient, it’s hoped the co- op can partner with B.C. Hydro on the project as well. OTFC operations manager Rod Vint


said the new system will chill fruit faster and will “quickly and efficiently put apples to sleep.” Not only will less energy be required,


there will be more accurate control of the temperature in each CA room, he said.


When apples are taken out of cold storage they should be better quality as


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JUDIE STEEVES


On hand for announcement of $2.7 million grant from the federal- provincial AgriFlex program were, from left: Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan; Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative executive director Gary Schieck, and B.C. agriculture minister Don McRae.


a result, so there will be more apples shipped to market. “It helps us to be competitive,” Vint commented, adding, “Consumers want the perfect apple.” As well, Scheick said they will look at improving the sealing on the doors of the cold storage units. About a quarter of the co-op’s CA is in Winfield and it’s one of the more modern packing facilities, even though the building is 50 years old or so. Two years ago, a new line went into


the Oliver facility, including high-tech defect equipment that sorts for quality, colour and size. Winfield will become the focus of upgraded facilities in the northern part of the Okanagan Valley, but in order to continue with the upgrade, existing properties where the co-op has shut down operations need to be sold. “We want to become a lean manufacturing company,” said Vint. The funding was announced by Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan and B.C. agriculture minister Don McRae at the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association convention in Kelowna at the end of January. However, the initial announcement of


$5 million from the AgriFlex program to the Okanagan tree fruit industry was made two years ago. Some of it has


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2012


been allocated to research, and there’s now $1.86 million left to be allocated. Applications for funding have been received from independent packing houses as well as other industry groups looking to update infrastructure or make use of new technology. In announcing the allocation, McRae


said modern packinghouses will result in more efficient operations and place B.C. apple growers in a better position to compete in domestic and international markets. However, McRae refused to commit


on any of the other recommendations in the recently-released report of the Tree Fruit Industry Working Group, which has been meeting for the past year, chaired by former agriculture deputy minister Larry Pedersen. He wrote the final report. The first phase of that group’s efforts involved a review of industry costs compared to those south of the border in Washington State. That showed that labour costs make up the lion’s share of higher costs in the Okanagan, said Pedersen, which points to modernization of packing facilities, with more mechanization, as a good focus for lowering operating costs. The report also recommended that


the province consider support for an orchard renewal program, jointly with


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