BC United Party calling for audit of BC Tree Fruits’ closure

The B.C. United Party is calling for a full, independent audit of BC Tree Fruits pursuing its determination to unopen down and liquidate its assets.

At a municipality hallway gathering successful Kelowna connected Thursday evening, statement leader Kevin Falcon talked astir nan hindrance that Okanagan consequence growers are successful because of BC Tree Fruits’ astonishing announcement past week.

He says pinch nan 88-year-old co-operative shutting down, hundreds of farmers are now near without a measurement to waste their produce, and location are genuine concerns that their livelihoods are astatine risk.

“The character consequence growers are successful nan worst situation that I’ve ever seen,” said Falcon. “And nan character consequence cooperative that’s been astir for almost 90 years has now collapsed and a full bunch of growers are successful a full world of hurt.

“What we need, and what I perceive from each nan growers successful nan community, is: Where is our premier? Where is nan curate of agriculture?’ Why is cipher from authorities present erstwhile nan increasing organization that produces each nan fruits that everyone enjoys successful British Columbia, wherever are they successful their clip of need?”

BC Tree Fruits was nan biggest retention and distributer of consequence successful nan province.

Summerland politician Doug Holmes said nan pressing request is wherever will growers return their fruit?

“The marketplace will fig it retired successful nan agelong run, but a batch of group are being near wondering what they’re going to do pinch their harvest this year,” said Holmes.

According to Falcon, nan state had a typical sitting connected nan BC Tree Fruits’ committee “while this full disaster was unfolding.”

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“So let’s find retired what went wrong. Was location thing that authorities needs to beryllium alert of?” said Falcon.

“The cardinal is: What’s gone incorrect and, much importantly, let’s frost nan liquidation and trading disconnected of these accommodation until we get done this increasing season.

“The authorities needs to supply impermanent financial support to thief our growers get done nan engaged season. Apples are going to beryllium harvested successful 2 weeks; they person to person a spot to go.”

Falcon says if that happens, authorities will past person clip to fig retired what nan adjacent steps are.

“It could beryllium trading to nan backstage sector, it could beryllium a re-organization of nan existing structure,” said Falcon.

“But you person to bring successful immoderate independent folks who tin return a good, difficult look astatine it and fig retired what nan correct measurement guardant is.”