A group of apple farmers in Canada has mobilized to voice their opposition against the potential sale and break-up of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative. These farmers have been actively seeking intervention from various government levels to preserve the cooperative, which has been declared insolvent and subjected to a court-ordered sale process since Aug. 26.
The protesting group, which included farmers who drove their tractors and vehicles across the William R. Bennett Bridge, is advocating for a pause in the sale process. This pause would allow them to develop a business and restructuring plan aimed at ensuring the cooperative's survival. Al Gatzke, an Oyama farmer and former member of the cooperative, emphasized the critical need for more time to propose a viable plan before the cooperative's assets are sold.
The demonstration aligns with the recent agreement to sell the cooperative's storage facility on Sexsmith Rd. and follows the provincial government's decision to allocate $4 million in funding. This funding is intended to expedite payments owed to tree-fruit growers for previous harvests, bypassing the delays typically associated with court proceedings.
Kelly Wander, another apple farmer, highlighted that while the financial assistance is welcomed, the primary objective remains to safeguard the future of the cooperative. The concern is that many growers, especially those with smaller operations, are being overlooked in the current scenario, potentially leaving hundreds of apple farmers without support.
The sale process for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative is progressing, with bids for the entire asset portfolio being collected until Sept. 27. The final deadline for individual asset bids is set for Oct. 18, with the sale process expected to conclude by Nov. 30.
Source: Castanet