Association executive gets a major overhaul By Judie Steeves
A
s dozens and dozens of the valley’s East Indian growers began to file into the room in the final hours of this year’s B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association
annual convention, it became clear there was going to be a sea change in the makeup of the executive board. A short time later, Kelowna grower Kirpal Boparai had defeated his neighbour and the current vice-president, Fred Steele, to become the first East Indian president of the grower organization. Joining him on the board as vice-president is Vernon grower Jeet Dukhia, a newcomer to the executive. Boparai had served previously as vice-president in 2009 and 2010. Re-elected to the board are organic grower Peter Simonsen of Naramata, representing the Southern District; Nirmal Dhaliwal of Oliver, representing the Okanagan-Similkameen Region; Summerland grower Denise MacDonald, representing the Okanagan Skaha
new varieties. Although he no longer works off-
farm, his wife Tansem is employed by Sun-Rype. Boparai admits he has been working for the past two years toward this day when he would lead the BCFGA . In his election speech to growers,
he said he is honest and speaks his mind. He said the BCFGA is lacking
strong leadership and that change is in order. “I am not just someone who needs the job,” he noted. Boparai promised he would not
run for re-election when he is certain he can’t continue to make a difference for growers. He says he is determined to find out why returns are so low and to make changes so growers are making money. He promises that his focus will be
on getting the ear of government in order to put more money into growers’ pockets. “People are hurting. I’d like to get government funds direct to growers.” Although such things as research
are important, Boparai says they are only important if growers are in a healthy financial position. The industry once was 10 million
boxes, and today it’s down to three million, he noted, and he wants to ensure it becomes healthy again.
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Region; Lake Country grower Madeleine van Roechoudt, representing the North Region, and Amarjit Lalli of Kelowna, representing the Central Region. Jora Dhaliwal of Kelowna was elected to the board representing the Northern District, defeating incumbent Sukhdev Goraya of Kelowna.
Summerland grower Joe Sardinha, Jeet Dukhia
who had served as president of the BCFGA for the last seven years, declined to let his name stand again this year, in order to spend more
time on his own orchard, after a total of 11 years on the executive. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of growers after he delivered his last executive report to the 24 delegates at this year’s convention.
“Government needs to decide if agriculture is important. Growers are doing their part. Agricultural land is protected, but the farmer is not,” he commented. “Tourism is tied to agriculture in
this beautiful valley and it will lose too if agriculture goes down.” Asked what he would do if the government refuses to give any money to orchardists, Boparai said they would then have to decide what action to take. He said the BCFGA has a fantastic manager who works hard and is very sharp. He admitted he doesn’t expect change to happen overnight, but his focus will be on getting government to invest in agriculture.
Perhaps some funds just need to
be re-directed into growers pockets, he suggested. “Some programs just aren’t working for growers.” In order to take time away from
his own operation, Boparai said he plans to bring in some more Mexican workers. Once he succeeds at obtaining
more income for orchardists, he looks forward to farming beside his sons and teaching them what he knows about growing tree fruits. The boys help during the summer
and he expects his eldest to return during the summer break from university to work on the farm. However, he is somewhat philosophical about their future. “They have their own destiny.”
AGRICULTURAL NETS & FABRICS
www.farmsolutions.net
250.494.1099
neal_carter@telus.net British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2011
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