The deadline for 25% U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods is approaching, causing concern among B.C. fruit farmers about their future. The provincial government's recent $10 million investment in the sector may not suffice against rising challenges.
Peter Simonsen, president of the BC Fruit Growers Association, stated, "This sort of funding is something that our U.S. competitors have gotten year after year." The B.C. fruit industry faces issues like severe weather, labor shortages, and the closure of the BC Tree Fruit Cooperative. Simonsen notes that U.S. tariffs add further uncertainty. "I think we are potentially sleepwalking into a bad situation right now, and we have made our government aware of the problem, but this response doesn't make up for the last 10 years," he said.
Simonsen also highlights that the investment will cover only a small portion of farmers' costs. "That $10 million is being divided up 700 ways, and it's only going to cover maybe five or 10 per cent of growing that crop. If we had been getting this every year, since the 2021 heat dome, I think we probably wouldn't have lost the growers that we've lost in the last little while."
He mentions increased unity within the farming community as a positive, stating, "It's been encouraging to see more support for local growers, but I wouldn't call it an opportunity because I don't think that's the right word. Canadians have to recognize that we can't let the American taxpayer feed us."
Source: City News