UPDATE: Noon

Don含羞草研究社檛 worry 含羞草研究社� the Penticton Peach will always be a peach!

The purple paint will be cleaned off this afternoon.

Huge thanks to the Peach含羞草研究社檚 Diana Stirling for making this possible and allowing the Penticton Western News to be a part of the fun.

An additional massive thank you to Mayor Andrew Jakubeit, Thom Tischik, Neil Wyper and the 含羞草研究社榩rotesters含羞草研究社� for being such great sports and jumping on board.

Happy April Fools everyone!

含羞草研究社斺赌�-

ORIGINAL: 7 a.m.

With little notice, the City of Penticton took the area含羞草研究社檚 iconic Peach on Okanagan Lake and made it a Grape.

City crews were on site Friday, taking the day to transform the peach concession into a grape to better represent the current vision of the region.

The city claims that after extensive research and community engagement, Penticton is no longer 含羞草研究社楶eaches and beaches but rather wine and dine.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淲e are 含羞草研究社楶enticton and wine country含羞草研究社� and to embrace that we feel our iconic fruit should be a grape 含羞草研究社� not a peach. The wine industry is the largest contributor to Penticton含羞草研究社檚 tourism,含羞草研究社� said mayor Andrew Jakubeit.

含羞草研究社淯p until now, we含羞草研究社檝e basically been thumbing our nose at them. 2017 is about becoming one 含羞草研究社� working together 含羞草研究社� and this is a great start. How better can we show visitors that we含羞草研究社檙e all about wine than by having a giant grape on our beach?含羞草研究社�

Believe it or not, it含羞草研究社檚 an easy task to convert the peach concession, that has in various forms been on the beach since the 60s含羞草研究社�, into a grape.

City crews began work yesterday, painting a purple base coat on it. Once finished, there will be three shades of purple much like the shading currently on the peach.

The leaves on top will be removed but the stem will remain, although it will be narrowed slightly.

While the City of Penticton is ecstatic about the new colour, the peach含羞草研究社檚 lease owner is fuming mad at the news 含羞草研究社� she only found it was happening as the first layer of paint was being applied.

含羞草研究社淚 am frustrated, I含羞草研究社檓 completely shocked,含羞草研究社� says owner Diana Stirling. 含羞草研究社淚 was only just informed the city was painting the peach.

含羞草研究社淚t is so frustrating because the peach in Penticton has been an icon for us. Everybody loves the peach. I mean, turning it into a grape may make sense on paper, but it is our peach.含羞草研究社�

Despite the angry reaction, the city含羞草研究社檚 paint job is supported by Travel Penticton.

含羞草研究社淚 think it is time to change it,含羞草研究社� says Travel Penticton含羞草研究社檚 new executive director, Thom Tischik. 含羞草研究社淚t has been a peach for so many years and now that Penticton is evolving it is time to change and turning it into a grape is the best way to go, I really do think so.

含羞草研究社淚cons are icons, let含羞草研究社檚 leave that to the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. This icon has really been a peach for long enough.含羞草研究社�

The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is on the fence about this drastic move.

含羞草研究社淲hile we are thankful that our winery members are being recognized for the economic impact they provide, we shouldn含羞草研究社檛 discount the significant contribution our fruit farmers have brought - and continue to bring - to our local economy,含羞草研究社� says Neil Wyper, chamber president.

As for Stirling含羞草研究社檚 strong reaction to the purple paint, the mayor claims hormones may be to blame.

含羞草研究社淔emales are sometimes very emotional and irrational at times and we took that as fact when we engaged in the community, 80 per cent of those engaged were male to offset that emotional factor that females bring to the table,含羞草研究社� said Jakubeit.

含羞草研究社淵ou know, you got to get over it. It is going to be really good for the community and it is exciting.含羞草研究社�

The peach含羞草研究社檚 current owner is now calling on all other angry residents to come by the peach this morning, Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. to protest the city含羞草研究社檚 decision. There will be a petition onsite to sign.

含羞草研究社淲e are going to try to #SaveThePeach,含羞草研究社� says Stirling. 含羞草研究社淲e are going to send a strong message to city council that this is not OK. Bring signs, let them know you want the peach to stay and we are going to see what we can do.

含羞草研究社淲hile it含羞草研究社檚 too late to stop the painting, we are hoping to send a strong message to city council 含羞草研究社� this has to stop.

含羞草研究社淭his has been a part of our community for 60 years and we don含羞草研究社檛 want to lose it.含羞草研究社�