The B.C. Fruit Growers Association has expressed concerns regarding the potential corporate acquisition of B.C. Tree Fruits, a pivotal co-op that managed a significant portion of B.C.'s tree fruit production, following its recent bankruptcy filing. This apprehension is fuelled by the consolidation trends observed in Washington state and California, where packing houses have been acquired by larger corporations, impacting local farmers negatively.
Ed Schaplow, a Washington-based farmer, shared his experience, stating, "We used to send 100 per cent of our fruit to a warehouse or co-op, and then hope that they gave us some money back." He highlighted the shift towards corporate control, where "those co-ops or warehouses have been taken over or controlled by large corporate interests, so now they answer to shareholders and not the growers."
In 2019, International Farming Corporation, an agriculture investment firm from North Carolina, acquired three fruit-packing co-operatives in Washington, including Legacy Fruit Packers, Valley Fruit, and Larson Fruit, followed by the acquisition of Chelan Fruit in 2021. This trend of consolidation, also observed in California with the closure of Sonoma County's last apple processing plant, has raised alarms about the future of local farming communities.
Schaplow noted significant financial losses and challenges in the market, exacerbated by the influx of low-quality produce, leading to an inability to break even. These developments underscore the concerns among B.C. farmers about the potential repercussions of corporate takeovers on their livelihoods and the broader agricultural landscape.
Source: vancouversun.com