packinghouse has been preserved at
Fintry, in the provincial park there.
pricing much beyond the levels
established by others,” said Gary
a
In 1984, the packinghouse underwent Schieck, CEO of the co-operative.
other things, increased CA storage
n extensive expansion which, among
capacity to 12,000 bins.
markets compared to Washington,
B.C. is a small player in global
where 102 million cartons of apples
culmination of decades of consolidations
Today’s co-operative is the were grown this year, compared to 3.2
and mergers in the tree fruit industry in
million in B.C.
the Okanagan and Similkameen. Summerland is not the first such move
Termination of packing operations in
for the cooperative.
operations in Naramata were shut
In December 2008, the packing
down and this April, the plant
was closed entirely.
house is devastating for the
“The closure of the packing
community. There are 80 people
SUSAN McIVER
who will lose their jobs,” said
With 18 years of service, Cathy
Summerland Mayor Janice
Seminoff, above, would welcome the
Perrino.
opportunity to relocate.
approximately 11,500 residents,
In a community of
property would look at some mixed use
“I would think anyone buying the
SUSAN McIVER
well-paying jobs will inevitably
the loss of such a large number of
such as a combination of commercial
Art Greenough, lead hand on the electronic
have economic and social spin-offs.
and residential. There is a little over 7.5
sizing equipment, is considering his
acres of land, so it could accommodate a
options following termination of packing
keep their operation going in some
“I do hope they will find a way to
variety of uses,” said district director of
other way. I do believe there are
finance Ken Ostraat.
operations at the Summerland
packinghouse.
opportunities. They just have to
independent shippers and five grower-
The 36 cooperative societies, 20 The land on which the Summerland
figure them out,” Perrino said.
shippers selling their product through
facility is located has considerable value
BC Tree Fruits in 1957 were eventually
which would only increase with an
consolidated down to four co-operative
upswing in the real estate market.
packinghouses in 1998. long-term plans for the property at this
“We have no further updates or any
in 2008 as the result of the amalga-
The 900-member OTFC was formed time other than what has been
mation of these four grower-owned
announced,” Schieck wrote in an email
houses.
in mid-November.
Valley’s main tree fruit crop, and are the
Apples continue to be the Okanagan total of $91,630 in taxes to the District
The packinghouse currently pays a
fruit mainly handled at Summerland.
of Summerland.
However, while 20 years ago the region
produced 5.2 million boxes of apples,
redeveloped, the district could see an
If the property were to be sold and
SUSAN McIVER
today that’s been reduced to about 3.5
increase in the amount of taxes
Linda Margues is among several
million, with a decline in acreage. Much
collected.
Summerland employees who were
relocated from other packinghouses.
of that in the south of the valley, has
been replanted to grapes. Agricultural Nets
OTFC run a more-efficient business that
Closure of the plant should help the
will give growers the opportunity to
and Fabrics
compete and have a chance at
profitability, according to board chair
Farm Management Softwar
and orchardist Jim Elliot.
a19
e
a19
a19
unbeatable bird protection
a19
field-to-consumer traceability
terminate operations included declining
Factors contributing to the decision to
a19
ef ficient barcode-enabled tool a19
hail, shade rain and other fabrics
revenue from the marketplace, increased
competition from Washington State and
a19
reduce payroll, manage costs!
over 20 management reports
the stronger Canadian dollar.
primarily against Washington, and for
“We compete on a global basis, but
N
a19
easy to apply and remove
EAL C AR TER & A SSOCIA TES
a19
we protect all types of crops
custom nets and structures
L TD . (250) 49 4-1 099
the most part it is difficult for us to get
www .farmsolutions.net
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2009-10
9
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