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 含羞草研究社淒ictatorship,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社淐orruption含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社淲e Have No Voice.含羞草研究社�
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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含羞草研究社淭here were budgets made at the time and assumptions made,含羞草研究社� Lali explained. 含羞草研究社淭he growers want accountability for everything that was promised and guaranteed during that process.含羞草研究社�
He said there has been a lack of communication from the cooperative.
含羞草研究社淩elationships become solid when you have communication and we haven含羞草研究社檛 had any communication since our last AGM in November.含羞草研究社�
Lali said while the vote amongst growers to expand the Oliver facility was close, they do accept democracy.
含羞草研究社淲hat we want now is accountability. We含羞草研究社檙e not getting that.含羞草研究社�
The group presented a letter of their concerns and demands to the BCTFC.
含羞草研究社淎bout the move to Oliver and all the associated costs and the fact we haven含羞草研究社檛 received any information. Our first advance was dismal. We were supposed to receive another in May we haven含羞草研究社檛 received it to date.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淗e was concerned, so we hope that the government is listening and our messages getting through.含羞草研究社�
However, Lali pointed out that, per capita, B.C. spends the least on agriculture than any other province.
含羞草研究社淕overnments have never put their money where their mouth is. That含羞草研究社檚 what farmers are asking for.含羞草研究社�
READ MORE: 含羞草研究社榃e need to fight含羞草研究社�: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat
