Okanagan fruit growers and farmers protested at the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) in Kelowna on Wednesday (May 29) morning.
About 30 people held signs that read 乌鸦传媒淒ictatorship,乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒淐orruption乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒淲e Have No Voice.乌鸦传媒�
Kelowna 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 Kelowna and Lake Country in favour of Oliver.
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乌鸦传媒淭here were budgets made at the time and assumptions made,乌鸦传媒� Lali explained. 乌鸦传媒淭he growers want accountability for everything that was promised and guaranteed during that process.乌鸦传媒�
He said there has been a lack of communication from the cooperative.
乌鸦传媒淩elationships become solid when you have communication and we haven乌鸦传媒檛 had any communication since our last AGM in November.乌鸦传媒�
Lali said while the vote amongst growers to expand the Oliver facility was close, they do accept democracy.
乌鸦传媒淲hat we want now is accountability. We乌鸦传媒檙e not getting that.乌鸦传媒�
The group presented a letter of their concerns and demands to the BCTFC.
乌鸦传媒淎bout the move to Oliver and all the associated costs and the fact we haven乌鸦传媒檛 received any information. Our first advance was dismal. We were supposed to receive another in May we haven乌鸦传媒檛 received it to date.乌鸦传媒�
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.
乌鸦传媒淗e was concerned, so we hope that the government is listening and our messages getting through.乌鸦传媒�
However, Lali pointed out that, per capita, B.C. spends the least on agriculture than any other province.
乌鸦传媒淕overnments have never put their money where their mouth is. That乌鸦传媒檚 what farmers are asking for.乌鸦传媒�
READ MORE: 乌鸦传媒榃e need to fight乌鸦传媒�: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat
