Cherry growers reorganize


Council idea fizzles, but new group intends to focus onmarketing opportunities as well as research.


By Judie Steeves M


embers of the newB.C. Cherry Association have agreed to a restructuring ofmembership


fees in order to expand and include more than just research. Created fromtheOkanagan-


Kootenay CherryGrowers Association, the groupwill actmore like a trade association, explains president ChristineDendy, since the proposal to create an industry-wide B.C. Cherry Council,withmandatory fees, did notwork out. The newBCCA includes


packers, brokers and researchers aswell as growers, and in addition to funding research,Dendy says itwill be proactive in marketing to both export and domesticmarkets, aswell as working onmarket access issues, such as to the Chinamarket. A core of fundingwill be needed to


instance, she said. “Some growerswill get


a free ride, but they also wouldn’t be included in specific promotions or opportunities either. “We’removing forward


and this neworganization is extremely active and expanding its efforts in research, extension and market development,” she commented. Newmembers are


welcome. Newboardmembers


Christine Dendy


include JoeHart,Gord Sandhu, RaviDhaliwal, Manjinder Khela, Bill Sandhers,Don Westcott, Andre Bailey andDavid Geen of Coral Beach Farms in Lake Country,who chairs theMarket AccessGroup. Continuing directors include vice-president Sukhpaul Bal, the otherDavidGeenwho remains as treasurer,GraemNelsonwho remains as secretary,Greg Norton and ChrisDanninger who chairs the Research


Committee. Cherry researcher Peter Toivonen


remains on the board ex-officio. Dendy said technical issues are still


further the expanded aims of the group, so increased fees per acrewill be needed frommembers in order to move forward. Although not all cherry growers are


part of the group, the largest of the commercial growers have agreedwith the proposal, she said. The group can apply formatching


funds fromother sources once the BCCA is able to raise somemoney on its own. The executive is currently developing


a number of options for expanded fees to put to themembership. Likely itwill change froma voluntary levy to a levy per acre thatwould be tied into membership, she said. All growerswould benefit fromsome


of the generic promotion, but non- memberswould likely be excluded fromaccess to some of the research and other parts of thewebsite, for


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Summer 2013 17


beingworked out to permit access for B.C. cherries to the Chinesemarket, but she is optimistic those can be resolved for at least a trial project to proceed this year.


Therewill


be opportu- nities in Bejing this month for continued talks, along with federal agriculture ministerGerry Ritz, and discussions are proceeding to find agreement over phyto sanitary protocols, she said. Dendy


JUDIE STEEVES


Access to more foreign sales could mean busier times in the orchard for workers such as Jen Larch of Kelowna.


noted the association’s market access group has been very active,working with


government people fromCanada and China to resolve the issues standing in theway of exporting fresh cherries to China. “We’re cautiously optimistic that


continued talks and exchanges of informationwill result in trade conditionswe canworkwith.” It’s expected that Chinese authorities


will visit theOkanagan in July to do an inspection,Dendy said. The Canadian Food Inspection


Agency has registered growers and packers interested in shipping to China, in preparation for a positive outcome of talks, she added.


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