Labour ruling will sharpen competitive edge: Schieck
By Judie Steeves
T
to build on. facility. Still, the new co-op has 11
h
“Retailers are proud facilities in the valley and in Creston,
down by a labour relations
e binding settlement handed
of the B.C. brand,”
he noted.
from simple receiving to comprehensive
facilities in Kelowna and Oliver where
tree fruit industry to reduce its labour
mediator in October will allow the
packing and storage are located.
costs and be more flexible with shifting
d
in the packinghouses to accommodate
currently being
evelopment plan is
A market
to be made for the long-term efficiency
“They were difficult decisions, but had
the harvest.
worked on by a
team of OTFC and
of our operations,” explained Scheick.
that should result in a more streamlined,
It was a vital link in a chain of changes
BCTF people who from the Washington State competition,
However, there are still challenges,
efficient industry in the Okanagan and
will conduct trade to consolidation of retailers; from high
Similkameen, growers were told at the
interviews with capital costs to the availability of
40th annual Horticulture Forum in
retailers and affordable labour, he told growers.
November.
develop a brand
strategy, he said. between growers’ contracts/estimates
Problems with the discrepancy
the Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative,
Gary Schieck, chief executive officer of
and fruit not being delivered as per the
said integration of the co-operatives and
Gary Schieck
a proactive 2010
The result will be
terms of that contract need to be
industry organizations such as B.C. Tree
part with funding from the industry
marketing plan, in resolved, he said. It affects the industry’s
Fruits was essential for B.C. to prepare
to compete favourably with such
innovation fund.
reputation and commitments to
customers.
industries as that south of the border,
where at lease 100 million boxes more
co-operative must deal with an under-
As well, the newly-amalgamated
apples than B.C.’s three million cartons
utilization of facilities so capacity can be
requirements as far as food safety is
Also looming are increasing regulatory
were produced this year.
matched with the industry’s
concerned, and complying will
requirements. With that in mind,
ultimately increase the costs to growers,
consumer recognition of the B.C. brand
Making better use of the strong
facilities in Westbank and Naramata
he warned.
is one thing the new co-operative wants
have been closed, and this year will be
the last harvest for the Summerland
demands for better quality, product
There are also increasing customer
continuity and food safety, he said.
10
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2009-10
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