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a
board.
pproved in principle by the SIR a
take into account the niche market
bout broke even, and that didn’t
way in different parts of the province
Several pilot projects are under opportunities, he said.
T
Har vest time ...
to test some possible areas the
OPS WITH CONSUMERS
When the pr e s s u r e
program move into, including
clearwing moth and cherry fruit fly.
done by consultants, which indicated
As well, a consumer survey was
that quality is the top consideration
i s o n , Y ale can
in consumers’ minds when
take the load!
agreed that Philip would approach
At the July meeting, the board
industry regarding where growers
purchasing fruit, but eco-friendly is
would like to see the
also very important. In fact, it’s as
program move in future,
important as an organic
a
“
label, he said.
industry groups with the
nd would provide
ad hoc committee’s report
r
at the top of the list for
Price, he noted, wasn’t
as background.
w
e
I
a
s
b
n
id
el
t
e
ieve
a
nts
most consumers. Yet,
c
even for those who were
meet with each regional
Then, the board would
e
l
n
e
v
a
i
n
r
er, safer
sensitive to price, quality
district member board to
report on the program and a
and environmental
its mandate and proposals
g
s m
onment
friendliness were still high
for the future of the
on their list of important
program.
th
r
e
o
r
w
u
e
e
c
’s
r

s
h


d
a
o
s
, so
considerations when
V
b
purchasing.
BCFGA president Joe
OTE MAY BE NEEDED
t
een
never
r
a
leaf brand is associated
Already, he said the B.C.
Sardinha said the proposal
th
e
x
v
p
e
ol
a
a
t
y
a
e
g
r
a
with quality by
to expand the program
consumers, a fact that
may have to go to a
— Joe Sardinha
progra
i
m
ns
.
t
”
particularly impressed the
referendum amongst
growers to gauge growers’
consultants who
desires—but first a vision
conducted the survey, said
is needed, he said.
Lucas.
growers just what they can expect
“Ideally, we would be able to tell
great equity,” he added.
“The B.C. leaf brand has
from the program,” he commented.
been in use for so long, and because
That could be partly because it’s
cooperation has been achieved in the
He noted that now that area-wide
there are so many impressions of it
SIR program, it shouldn’t be let go,
in the marketplace each year, with its
particularly when consumers are
presence on each apple that’s packed
calling increasingly for more
at the coop.
ecologically-friendly food products.
apples,” he commented. There could
“That’s a lot of labels on a lot of
safer environment as much as
“I believe residents want a cleaner,
be 600 million in a year.
growers do, so there’s never been a
taxpayer revolt against the program,”
ALPP would take more than a year,
To apply for and implement the
Sardinha said. Regional district
once industry decides to move
taxpayers pay $3 for every $2 put
forward, Lucas figures.
into the program by growers.
packinghouses, agreed to proceed
If everyone, including the
the use of pesticides is the basis for
An area-wide program to reduce
with the application, it could be in
place by 2011, he said.
Forklift Sales
official designation of a region as an
Area of Low Pest Prevalence by the
World Trade Organization. This
continuation of the SIR program to
Should that decision be made,
maintain control of the devastating
and Ser vice
could then be used to brand products
to the consumer as “greener.”
codling moth is essential, since it is
the basis of the designation.
Lucas has been looking into that
BCFGA general manager Glen
to apply for it, since control of a
That’s also a good reason for B.C.
W AL-KA T
process, which is a fairly new
designation not yet applied to an
particularly devastating pest of
apples and pears, has already been
LIFT TRUCK
area anywhere else in North America. achieved in the area, without the use
of pesticides.
130-500 W arren A ve. E.,
the move, no huge costs showed up,
In an initial cost/benefit analysis of
Lucas said. The cost and the benefits members of the SIR board.
It’s a logical next step, according to
Penticton, BC V2A 3M4
18
PHONE: 250-492-6716
F AX: 250-492-4472
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2009
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