22 PRUNING critical for hazelnut health


O’Dell said. There could be new even


more resistant varieties on the way but they will come at a price. The six varieties in the current trial are all from Oregon State University’s breeding program and are in the public domain. Shawn Mehlenbacher, who has run the program for over 30 years, says Oregon growers already have access to three more promising new EFB-resistant varieties: Dorris, Wepster and McDonald. He says Dorris has a nut


size similar to Barcelona but is much higher yielding. It is also resistant to bud mite. He calls Wepster a perfect variety for the blanched kernel market, which represents most of the demand for hazelnuts. McDonald is a high-yielding, early maturing companion to Wepster. “I view my job as giving my


growers options and with the new varieties; they now have many options.” As a result, the Oregon


industry has rebounded from the “dark days” of the 1980s and 90s when grower meetings would attract a mere 250 people. “This year, we had over 900 people at our meeting,” Mehlenbacher reported. Mehlenbacher has signed a material transfer agreement allowing Nature Tech to bring five new varieties to BC for research purposes. The varieties are patent-protected so not yet available for sale in BC.


That could soon change,


says Sylvia Mosterman of NEO Plants and Mosterman Plants in Chilliwack. She’s working with Mehlenbacher to become the lead nursery to import the new varieties into Canada.


Announcement


Quality Seeds West is pleased to welcome CLAUDIA BRUYCKERE


to our team to represent us on VANCOUVER ISLAND.


We thank Dave Lestock-Kay for his assistance and wish him the best in his future endeavours. Contact Claudia at


(C) 250-248-0924 (H) 250-951-0124 cbruyckere@shaw.ca


ABBOTSFORD 604-574-7333


support@qualityseedswest.ca www.qualityseedswest.ca 1.888.770.7733 “We want to deal with one


nursery which can secure plant breeder rights,” Mehlenbacher said. While some believe Nature


Tech should become the lead, securing rights to the varieties is too costly for a small nursery. Mosterman, on the other hand, is executive director of the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation and has the expertise and resources needed to navigate the rules. She is also promising Nature Tech a sub- license should she secure the rights. “Everything will be done legally and you can look for trees in three years,” Mosterman told growers.


Supportive efforts


New infrastructure is also being developed for the sector. Steven Fehr and Kevin Hooge of Fraser Valley Hazelnuts noted that after buying a small plant a few years ago, they ramped up their dryers last fall to meet increasing demand.


nfrom page 21 “We processed 60 tons of


nuts for six growers,” Fraser Valley Hazelnuts reports. It’s the only Canadian receiving station for George Packing, one of Oregon’s largest hazelnut processors. While the current plant will handle all the nuts produced in the Fraser Valley for the next six years, the brothers- in-law told growers they intend to upgrade and expand in step with local growers. There is even help for people who want hazelnuts but don’t want to manage the orchard, says James Dick. He and his son have been


growing and managing cedar trees for years and are now expanding their services to include hazelnut orchards. “We have equipment and


will purchase more so we can do your mowing, spraying, pruning and harvesting on a custom basis,” Dick said.


No assistance


Everyone else may be onside but the government is still refusing to provide any assistance, turning down the sector’s request to include hazelnuts in the orchard replant program. “[Chilliwack-Hope MLA]


Laurie Throness and I lobbied very hard for the growers but we were told there’s no money,” Chilliwack MLA John Martin told BC Farm Writers Association at its AGM on January 27.


HAZELNUT TREES FOR SALE NUTRITIOUS, LOW INPUT, ECO-FRIENDLY


Blight-Resistant


High-Yield Varieties BOOK NOW


for Fall 2017


info@naturetechnursery.com 778.808.1015 www.naturetechnursery.com


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2017


Food safety regs open for comment


by TOM WALKER OTTAWA – The Canadian


Food Inspection Agency is seeking feedback on its proposed changes to Safe Food for Canadians regulations. Objectives of the new


regulations include applying internationally recognized food safety standards to food that is imported into or prepared in Canada for interprovincial trade or for export. The regulations also support market access for Canadian exporters by keeping pace with food safety modernization efforts in other countries, such as the United States, and strengthening Canada’s reputation for having a world-class food safety system. There are three key food


safety elements proposed: licenses, traceability requirements and preventive controls (including a written preventative control plan (PCP).


An online tool is available to help farmers and food processors determine if they will be affected by any of the three. A fruit or vegetable grower who ships produce across provincial borders would need to keep traceability records, for example. A PCP is required only if gross annual food sales are over $30,000. A license is required only if product is packaged in the field. Web-based sessions giving


more background to the regulations are being held through March. Comments will be accepted until April 21.


March 25, 2017—44th Annual


Dawson Creek All Breeds Bull Sale April 8, 2017 — 42nd Annual


Vanderhoof All Breeds Bull Sale


April 12 & 13, 2017 — 80th Annual Williams Lake Bull Show & Sale


Check out www .bchereford.ca for a Hereford breeder near you


BCHA President John Lewis


BC SHORTHORN ASSOCIATION


President: Gary Wood 604.536-2800 Cindy Merkley 604-607-7733


250-218-2537


BCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466


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