Okanagan fruit growers and farmers protested at the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) in Âé¶čAV on Wednesday (May 29) morning.
About 30 people held signs that read âDictatorship,â âCorruptionâ and âWe Have No Voice.â
Âé¶čAV grower Armajit Lali said they want the BCTFC to live up to promises following the expansion of a packing house in Oliver.
It was met with protest from fruit growers in the Central and North Okanagan after BC Tree Fruits dropped facilities in Âé¶čAV and Lake Country in favour of Oliver.
READ MORE:
âThere were budgets made at the time and assumptions made,â Lali explained. âThe growers want accountability for everything that was promised and guaranteed during that process.â
He said there has been a lack of communication from the cooperative.
âRelationships become solid when you have communication and we havenât had any communication since our last AGM in November.â
Lali said while the vote amongst growers to expand the Oliver facility was close, they do accept democracy.
âWhat we want now is accountability. Weâre not getting that.â
The group presented a letter of their concerns and demands to the BCTFC.
âAbout the move to Oliver and all the associated costs and the fact we havenât received any information. Our first advance was dismal. We were supposed to receive another in May we havenât received it to date.â
Lali also attended a Stronger Together rally in Osoyoos on Tuesday (May 28), organized by the BC Fruit Growers Association, and had a chance to speak with Premier David Eby who was attending a NDP caucus retreat.
âHe was concerned, so we hope that the government is listening and our messages getting through.â
However, Lali pointed out that, per capita, B.C. spends the least on agriculture than any other province.
âGovernments have never put their money where their mouth is. Thatâs what farmers are asking for.â
READ MORE: âWe need to fightâ: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat
