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Success breeds award for PARC, PICO
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Frank Kappel, has provided growers
The PARC breeding program, led by
w
h
ith self-fertile varieties that yield
growing season, and in an assortment
igh-quality fruit over an extended
By Judie Steeves
I
of growing conditions.
t’s about time B.C.’s cherry
breeding program received
has transformed the way the new fruit
PICO’s variety commercialization
varieties are introduced and
response from B.C. Fruit Growers'
national recognition. Such was the
marketed, with more than 250
Association president Joe Sardinha to
domestic and international licensing
news that the Pacific Agri-food
agreements which have returned more
Research Centre (PARC) at
than $2 million in royalties to the
Summerland and the Okanagan Plant
ministry in the past decade.
Improvement Company (PICO)
received an award from the federal
Frank Kappel
began at PARC in 1936, but it is in
The breeding program actually
government for excellence in
technology transfer.
and competitiveness of the B.C. cherry
recent years that it began to take off.
industry and generated substantial
recognition of “the successful
Presentation of the award was in
royalties for both PICO and the
Van, Sweetheart, Samba, Stardust,
PARC varieties include the popular
development and transfer of a
ministry.
Staccato, Sovereign, Lapin, Sandra
Rose, Santina, Skeena, Sonnet,
breeding program to evaluate,
Sentennial, Satin, Sonata and Sylvia.
propagate and commercialize a range
agriculture ministry began its
Since 1994, when the federal
of high-quality sweet cherry varieties.”
partnership with PICO, that
relationship has enhanced the sweet
Transfer award was presented in June
The Federal Partners in Technology
in Ottawa to Kappel, Richard
by the BCFGA and Sardinha believes
PICO is a company that was created
cherry horticultural sector, now a vital MacDonald, Ann de St. Remy,
the award was well-deserved.
component of the province’s tree fruit
industry. Export sales in 2007 were
Christian Fortin and Goewin
Demmon, all of the ministry, and
successful collaboration between
“It’s no secret that this very
more than $21 million, compared to Kingsmill and Ken Haddrell from
government and industry to develop
$1 million in 1994, and in that time, PICO.
and commercialize new cherry
90 per cent of new plantings of
varieties has created tremendous
cherries in B.C. have been to varieties cherries.
B.C. is Canada’s largest producer of
opportunity for Okanagan cherry
growers,” he commented.
back to the introduction of Plant
“This arrangement traces its roots
A tradition of quality
Breeders’ Rights in 1990,” says John
Kingsmill, chief executive officer of
and service. Family
PICO. “That’s when legislation was
owned and operated.
put into effect to strengthen the
intellectual property rights of
breeders, opening the door to
a73 Complete Irrigation Supplies
licensing and other intellectual
property management instruments to
a73 Free Estimates
return royalties on new releases.”
legislation provided an incentive to
He further notes that the new
Experience
market new varieties more
aggressively. It also helps keep the
you can rely on.
a73 Professional Consultation
and System Planning
stream of new material flowing, as the
returns can be reinvested in further
research and development.
First” policy to ensure that Canadian
PICO has also adopted a “Canada
growers have unrestricted access to
new cherry varieties. The relationship
Serving the Okanagan’ s irrigation needs for over 30 years
has allowed for an increase in the size
8950 347th A venue a79 Oliver a79 485-0246
20
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2009
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