as part of a promotional program, retailers are downloading that cost to the grower. “It’s not right to put that burden on the grower,” he says. For food-safe reasons, there’s also a move toward more packaging, rather than bulk sales. However, Lucas feels it’s important we focus on the real risks, the science- based risks.
“Some common sense is needed in the regulations and in the inspection process,” he believes.
“Let’s not create problems where there aren’t any problems.”
Growers need to use common sense and science as well, and to focus on the principles of Environmental Farm Planning, he says.
They should be concerned, but not overly concerned. “Focus on the big picture,” he advises.
“Canadian food has always been trusted in the world, and we do need to maintain that trust,” he notes. He recalled recent outbreaks of listeria-contamination of greens and cold cuts and e-coli contamination of a Salmon Arm cheese, to remind producers how close they could be to a disaster if they don’t strictly follow food safety regulations as well as the related environmental farm planning standards.
This fall, with the assistance of a dividend from the BCFGA-owned Summerland Varieties Corporation, the association offered a $425 credit towards the cost of implementing a food safety program to each grower who is a member of the BCFGA. Members of the B.C. Tree Fruit Co- operative participate in the food safety program as a group.
In announcing the incentive program, BCFGA president Fred Steele said, “Our BCFGA executive is composed of tree fruit growers, and they have direct experience with the cost, effort and occasional frustration of implementing food safety programs on the farm and at the same time recognize the benefit of food safety in giving confidence and promoting our apples, cherries and soft fruit. We feel that giving the grower a one- time break by providing an incentive will strengthen our industry’s commitment to food safety.” He noted that enrolling in food safety costs growers not only in fees paid to accrediting bodies, but also in meeting program standards, and often changes in farm practices and record-keeping.
Top co-op posts filled A
By Judie Steeves
fter four newcomers were voted onto the board of the B.C. Tree Fruits Co-op board in October, the board named Vernon grower Jeet Dukhia as president in November, with Steve Day as vice-president representing the north and Joginder Khosa the south.
On Nov. 29, the board announced that Stan Swales had been hired as chief executive officer of the BCTFC. Swales started with the industry in 1985 at Okanagan North Growers Co- Op in Winfield, where he spent 20 years in various roles, including both horticulture and operations. He then moved to Growers Supply Co. Ltd. as general manager and was there for 10 years. During the last year Swales has been with BASF Canada as a business representative.
Although Swales is now on the job, he won’t be full-time until Dec. 27. The co- op’s chief financial officer Warren Everton will remain acting CEO until then.
Swales will be tasked with management of a growing company worth $130 million a year. It includes not only a packinghouse of 500 grower- family members and the marketing arm which used to be B.C. Tree Fruits, but also Growers’ Supply as well as a new cidery which produces Broken Ladder products. New this year were a pear brew as well as an apples and hops blend. New out next year will be a peach cider.
The previous board terminated the contract of CEO Alan Tyabji this fall, after he had served four years of a five- year contract. He replaced Gary Schieck, who was also removed from
Jeet Dhukhia
Dukhia is also the only member nominated to run
against incumbent president of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, Fred Steele, a grower from Kelowna.
He served a part-term as president of the grower lobby group after the resignation of president Kirpal Boparai in 2012, then was elected over fellow- candidate Steele in 2013.
Steele defeated Dukhia in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
At regional meetings this fall, Pinder Dhaliwal was nominated in the north and south to continue as vice-president of the BCFGA, while in the north, incumbents Sukhdev Goraya, Tony Nijjar and Surjit Nagra have been nominated, along with Niel Dendy and Parm Gill; while in the south, incumbents Ravinder Bains, Deep Brar and Peter Simonsen have all been nominated to continue on the executive. The 2017 vote will take place at the BCFGA annual meeting in Penticton Feb. 2 and 3.
his post by the board of the day. There were 217 voting members in attendance at the BCTF annual general meeting and they voted four new faces onto the board: in the north, Sam DiMaria and Amarjit Lalli were elected, while in the south, Steve Brown and Harbhajan Sidhu were elected. They joined incumbents Dukhia, Day and Karmit Gill from the north; Khosa, Talwinder Bassi and Mohinder Dhaliwal from the south. Former president Malcolm Mitchell did not run for re- election.
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2016-17
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