APRIL 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


39


Cherry growers look for export efficiencies Access to other countries could be faster if protocols were negotiated simultaneously


by TOM WALKER KELOWNA – Okanagan cherry


grower David Geen called for more resources from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to work with Canadian export programs when he delivered his export marketing report to the BC Cherry Association (BCCA) annual meeting in February. “The executive is getting


increasingly concerned with what we regard as a funding shortfall at CFIA,” says Geen, who is president of Jealous Fruits, based in Lake Country. “These are the folks who administer the programs that we use to maintain and also help us get into new markets,” Geen explains. “They have fantastic people both locally and federally who work their butts off. That’s not the issue.”


DAVID GEEN


What is evolving, Geen says, is that many industries, in addition to cherries, such as blueberries, grains and oil seeds, are trying to increase their exports. “CFIA needs to hire more qualified staff, both at the local level doing inspections and at the regional and federal level working on access protocols and agreements,” says Geen. “So, CFIA comes under increasing pressure both to establish access protocols but also to administer the programs once they are in place,” he says. A good example would be the lack of movement on trade with Korea, Geen points out, despite the fact that there is a free trade agreement in place between the two countries.


“As a cherry grower we cannot ship to Korea until we get an access protocol,” he says. “That is developed and negotiated by CFIA, and presently with CFIA, it is one country at a time.” “We are working on Japan and once Japan is available to us, Korea is next on the list,” Geen says. “It would obviously be much nicer if we could be working on Korea simultaneously. It is an issue that I think we need to attend to.” “In December, a number of us on the executive met with our new MP, Steven Fuhr,” Geen says. “He was sympathetic to the case


that we made. “Fuhr promised he is going to be


bringing the (federal) ag minister out to the Okanagan this coming spring,” Geen says. “We don’t have a date on that yet.” The BCCA has completed two years of


work to access the Japanese market. “Japan has received all of our


information but we are hearing some talk that they want to come back for a third year and that is really not what we want to hear,” Geen says. “Hopefully in 2017, we can ratify a program into Japan.” Geen reviewed the cherry sales to China for this


past year. “In 2016, 1,459 acres were registered for the


China program,” he says. “I think that is a pretty big number. It’s roughly one-third of the total cherry


bearing acres in BC.” The BCCA administers the export program and


last year they ran a surplus which has been distributed back to the growers who participated. “Last year, it was new for our industry to administer the California export program,” Geen notes. “The province did step in and became the governing body and for that we are very appreciative.” Approximately 70 lots shipped to California in 2016, or about 415 tonnes. “Without the province and the


cherry association stepping in, that market was not going to be open to us.”


“I do think that this is a trend to have the industry do more of not just the leg work on getting access to a new market, but also now


administering the


programs,” Geen says. The California program was formerly administered by CFIA.


It’s a concern to the BCCA


for a couple of reasons Geen explains. “Number one, it’s a financial burden and


number two, CFIA does have a very strong reputation world-wide,” he says. “They have a record of zero transmissions and they are respected by other countries around the world. As a grower organization, we don’t have that same history or experience and, with due respect, neither does the provincial government.”


of summer BEST PART


It’s the


RCMP Musical Ride will be performing at The Fair Aug 19-23.


LARGEST AGRICULTURE SHOWCASE COME CELEBRATE AT BC’S


In celebration of Canada 150, the famous


PNE 4-H FESTIVAL AUGUST 19–22


Off ering over 30 types of project competitions as well as provincial programs for judging, speak and show and educational displays. Travel assistance off ered to clubs outside of the Fraser Valley through the


BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation. ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2017


FARM COUNTRY AUGUST 19–SEPTEMBER 4


Come out and experience BC’s remarkably diverse agriculture


industry. Featuring the crowd favourite Discovery Farm exhibit, pig racing, BC Dairy Association’s Dairy Zone, and BC Egg Marketing Board’s brand new egg laying competition plus a whole barn full of exciting animal displays.


604-252-3581 • agriculture@pne.ca


PACIFIC SPIRIT HORSE SHOW AUGUST 23–SEPTEMBER 4


Competitions in:


Junior Amateur Jumping, Draft Team and Indoor Eventing along with Canadian Horse Demonstrations and much more!


ENTRY DEADLINE: JULY 28, 2017


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