Approximately 30 growers gathered in front of Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 Ramada Inn on Wednesday morning (June 5) where members of the BC Tree Fruit Cooperative (BCTFC) were meeting.

The gathering followed a protest at the BCTFC offices on May 29.

READ MORE: Growers and farmers protest at BC Tree Fruits Cooperative in Kelowna

Growers含羞草研究社� concerns are numerous, including less than promised payment for crops, and a lack of communication from the BCTFC.

Speaking on behalf of growers, Amarjit Lali said that the average packing house price for apples this year is 13 cents per pound, but the cost of production is 34 cents.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e seen a 12 per cent decrease in the value of my crop, and some growers have seen drastic reductions of up to 50 per cent. The crop was mishandled and the growers are paying for it.含羞草研究社�

Lali added that growers were promised 40 cents a pound when a new packing house was built in Oliver in 2023, despite their objections.

含羞草研究社淲ell, the money has been spent and the return is 13 cents. Somebody has to be held accountable.含羞草研究社�

The average price has been running between 13 and 19 cents a pound for the past five years, Lali said.

READ MORE: Farmers protest BC Tree Fruits surprise facility move from Kelowna to Oliver

Growers are not paid up-front for their crops instead the BCTFC provides a projected price and farmers are given four advances throughout the year.

Some growers 含羞草研究社 spoke to said they got a bill when Co-op projections were not realized.

含羞草研究社淣ow they含羞草研究社檙e being told to give the money back,含羞草研究社� Lali explained. 含羞草研究社淪o, the grower spent the money to grow the apples and at the end of it we含羞草研究社檙e getting a bill.含羞草研究社�

Lali said BCTFC management has become complacent and no longer has the trust of growers.

含羞草研究社淭here have been a lot of irregularities regarding the rules of the cooperative and how they含羞草研究社檙e being followed. The group (growers) have asked for investigations to be done. The board has refused.含羞草研究社�

Lali has asked Premier David Eby to appoint an overseer to look at whether the BCTFC is following its own rules, adding growers are still open to dialogue.

含羞草研究社淭he last resort is pulling the plug and taking our fruit somewhere else,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e want to communicate, but there has been no communication from the cooperative.含羞草研究社�

Speaking to media outlets Wednesday afternoon, Eby said his government will continue to hear growers含羞草研究社� concerns.

含羞草研究社淲e understand that without the farmers, we don含羞草研究社檛 have food and without food, we含羞草研究社檙e not going too far. So we含羞草研究社檙e going to make sure we含羞草研究社檙e supporting our farmers in the province.含羞草研究社�

Capital News has reached out to the BCTFC for comment.

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