Up Front


ormer British prime minister Harold Wilson once


By Bryden Winsby


Examining gains and pains of change F


remarked that the only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. Defining 'progress' can be a very subjective exercise, of course. In most cases, it involves change, which can be a good or bad thing, depending upon how it affects us and how we respond. Change certainly has


been the order of the day for British Columbia's tree fruit industry as it struggles to be competitive, from both an organizational and individual standpoint. This issue features


several articles by associate editor Judie Steeves and regular contributor Susan McIver that examine the impact of continuing efforts to streamline an industry which has faced significant challenges throughout its history. Closures, consolidations, layoffs and facility upgrades have all been part of the process. Some people are not at


all happy with the changes that have taken place. Others, while they might not have reacted negatively, find adjusting to new realities stressful. As if the weather wasn't stressful enough! On the upside, we've


got an update on how the doors have finally opened for cherry exports to China and how Summerland's Keith Carlson has implemented a new optical sorting system to make defect detection in cherries much more efficient.


4 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2013


There's also a profile on another Summerlander, Devin Jell, and his innovative trellis project at the Gartrell orchard. On the political side of


things, the door into the provincial agriculture minister’s office keeps on revolving, this time for


Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm, a non- farmer who’s putting a positive spin on the future of agriculture in B.C. Time will tell, as it always does... This summer saw yet another very


successful Enology and Viticulture Conference organized by the B.C.Wine Grape Council. The program was much too extensive for us to provide full


coverage, so we focused on three topics, plus a piece on Louise Corbeil, the council's hardworking administrator. Dealing with summertime heat stress is


the topic for orchard management columnist PeterWaterman. In the vineyard, meanwhile, Gary Strachan discusses the need for careful site planning before making modifications prior to planting. He also talks about making modifications as grapes are being turned into wine, and oh yes, back to the weather ... Gary’s got some literature to show there are things you can do about it besides complain. Enjoy!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32