A fairly excellent showing


B.C. apple growers dominate several categories at RAWF. By Judie Steeves


S


omewhat to the chagrin of Eastern Canadian growers, B.C. orchardists cleaned up at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto this fall.


One of the two top trophies came out west, with Jim Campbell of Osoyoos picking up the Canadian Horticultural Council trophy as premier exhibitor in the New Variety division. The Commercial division was won by Ontario grower Patrick Behan. While the Red Delicious and Mac categories went to Eastern growers, B.C. cleaned up in the new varieties, as well as in Spartan and Gala.


Campbell received a first for his Aurora Golden Gala variety and seconds for his Ambrosia, plus he won the title of Reserve Champion for new varieties for his Auroras.


Tops in the new varieties category was Gartrell Heritage Farms with the Champion ribbon for Ambrosias. B.C. Fruit Grower contributor Susan McIver attended the fair and said she was pleased to see so many awards for B.C. apples.


However, she said she was


disappointed to notice how little space was allotted at the fair to horticultural winners. Nonetheless, she said it drew considerable interest.


One Ontario grower she talked to jokingly complained that, “B.C. growers win altogether too many awards.” Other new variety winners included Devin Jell of Gartrell Heritage Farms, who took first place in the Ambrosia class and third for Aurora.


Summerland grower Joe Sardinha, who is also president of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, came in third for


SUSAN MCIVER


Enio Leardo of Summerland won several awards at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto including a first-place ribbon for Nicola, above, in the new varieties category.


his Ambrosias and third for a collection of five varieties.


Fred and Phyllis Nelson took second place for their Auroras, while Lane Mitchell and Doug Crumback took fourth place for Auroras. In the categories for Empire, Jonagold, Northern Spy, Crispin (Mutsu) and Cortland, Eastern growers took them all, as well as in the Heritage Apples section.


Eastern growers also took the Honeycrisp category, but most other new varieties were largely won by B.C. growers.


For the Gala variety, Karmjit and Balvir Gill of Kelowna took first place, while Enio Leardo of Summerland took third place. He also took third place in Golden Delicious, tops for his Spartans, and also first in the Other class, for his Fujis. Joe Lucich took fourth place in Other for his Nicolas.


Harjinder Brar took second place for his Spartans.


Kelowna’s Roseridge Orchards, Germaine and Robert Hogue, took third place in the Other category for their Pink Lady variety, while Jamie Kidston of Coldstream took second in that category for Nicolas.


Tarsem Dhoot took first place in the Best Collection of Five Varieties, and Leardo came in fourth. Tristan Mennell of Mennell Brothers Organics in Cawston came third in the heaviest apple category. “Over the last three years, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has proved to be a great venue for showcasing Canadian apples and the amazing work Canadian growers do,”commented Sardinha. “As president of the BCFGA, I am also extremely proud of how successful our growers were in capturing many categories in the Royal National Apple Competition again this year, proving that B.C. apples are second to none.”


CERTIFIED ORGANIC AMBROSIA APPLE ORCHARD


on 5.47 acres of BENCHLAND


in the Similkameen Valley (45 minutes from Penticton)


WA Dawson, Orchardist Cawston, BC


wadawson@nethop.net 250-499-2873


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2010-11 15


FOR SALE


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