prunings
announcement of a $2.8million investment in innovation and research through the federal government’s AgriInnovation Programunder Growing Forward 2. The application for funding was
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made by the LowerMainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA), in partnership with the B.C. Blueberry Council, the Raspberry Industry Development Council, the B.C. CranberryMarketing Commission, and the B.C. Strawberry Growers Association. The funding will build on previous research done into cultivar breeding. It will support 14 different projects, including a big win for the berry breeding programbased out of the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, which will receive $1.6 million over the next four years. The programwill add blueberries to the breeding program, in addition to work with raspberries and strawberries. “The LMHIA, with its industry partners, is committed to fostering a profitable, sustainable horticulture industry through research and ducation,” saidDavidMutz, chair of the LMHIA. “This support ... will be invaluable in achieving these goals.” Sharmin Gamiet, executive director for the B.C. RaspberryMarketing Council, said government funding “really helps keep berry growers competitive through innovative products and scientific research. This continues with the collaborative nature amongst the berries for solutions to production challenges. All of the berries are on the same page...” Meanwhile, a lawsuit south of the
border disputing the rights to berry research and varieties is on hold as the University of California-Davis negotiates with the California Strawberry Commission. The suit alleges that UC-Davis breached its contract with the commission. Among the allegations, the commission says growers are no longer receiving strawberry germplasmspecifically developed for them. It wants a judge to stop UC-Davis fromallowing two scientists to control and profit from research and cultivars for which commissionmembers have already paidmillions of dollars. The two scientists have been working on
he bright lights of the B.C. berry industry were all out and shining for the January
than $18million during the past 25 years... Nova Scotia
On hand for the announcement of $2.8 million in federal funding were, from left: Sukh Kahlon, of the Raspberry Industry Development Council and the B.C. Blueberry Council; Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz; Langley MP Mark Warawa and David Mutz, chair of the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association.
strawberries since the commission’s formal arrangement with the school began in 1980. They are not named as defendants in the case. Commission communications director Carolyn O’Donnell said Jan. 31 that while the commission has been in conversation with university representatives, there have been no procedural steps taken to alter the legal action. She said the university breeding programis a “critical” industry partner and the strawberry commission has contributed to it since 1955, withmore
strawberry producers whose fields were hit by two viruses last year complex will receive assistance through a new federal AgriRecovery initiative providing up to $2.3 million for removal of diseased plants and replacement with healthy ones. The viruses are spread by an aphid that went undetected by a provincial government certification program. About half of Nova Scotia's early crop was destroyed, with some growers losing 90
percent of their crops. Themoney, which is being handled by the provincial government, will be sent to producers after they begin replanting crops. Growers will be paid between $1,900 and $6,500 per acre, depending on their growing practices.”Strawberry production in Nova Scotia accounts for seven per cent of Canada's overall strawberry output and is amajor source of nursery plants for the rest of Canada,” Greg Kerr,MP forWest Nova, said in a release.
www.glbc.com British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2014 15
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