Orchard & Vine Fall 2017 by Before & After Media

Scenic Road Cider Cork's Big Comeback High Spirits in BC Future of Raspberries Fall 2017 $6.95

Display Until Nov 30, 2017 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40838008 www.orchardandvine.net

Free the Grapes Goes to Supreme Court

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Photo by Gary Symons

The view from Scenic Road Cidery.

Regulars 6 Publisher's View Lisa Olson 8 Calendar 10 News & Events 39 Safety Tips WorkSafe BC

43 Seeds of Growth Fred Steele 45 Word on Wine Ashley Spilak

Photo by Ronda Payne

41 Young Agrarians Sara Dent

Berry researcher Eric Gerbrandt looks to integrated solutions for BC raspberries. 4

Fall 2017

Features 19 Cork's Big Comeback 22 Preserving the Future of Raspberries 25 Scenic Road Cidery 29 High Spirits in BC 34 Free the Grapes Case Goes to Supreme Court 36 B ack-to-school with BC Fruit and Veggies Program

Celebrate Canada 150, visit Jean Talon Market in the heart of Montréal 's Little Italy.

46 Fall 2017

Photo by © Tourisme Montréal, Stéphan Poulin

46 Canada 150: Marché Jean-Talon

 PUBLISHER’S VIEW | LISA OLSON

Leaving a Legacy Vol. 58, No 5 Fall 2017

’ve been thinking lately about how some people leave such a good impression on you. After talking to them, you walk away with a smile on your face, feel good about the time spent together or very satisfied with the service you received or the information you gained.

Established in 1959 Publisher Lisa Olson Editor Gary Symons

It usually isn’t about any discount you may have received, although we all like to save a bit of money. It’s how they made you feel.

Graphic Design Stephanie Symons

Like when I visit a fruit market and the market person says, “Here, take a bite, it’s very good, try some, go ahead,” it brings me back to the same feeling as standing in a kitchen, smelling a steaming pot of soup or stew on the stove and the cook dips a spoon in the pot and says here try this, it’s so good.

Relationships help build a business, a brand and create a fun and healthy culture to work in. You may have heard the news of the large acquisition of three Okanagan Wineries by Andrew Peller Ltd. First thing that came to mind was, wow, that’s huge money! Second thought was how much each of the winery owners and their teams has added so much to the industry. Reading Sandra Oldfield’s blog about her time at Tinhorn Estate Winery I came away inspired and very touched at how she recognized her Tinhorn team, her winery family, the customers and the ac-

Photo by Kim Elsasser mpa

Relationships are very important to our well being, and studies have shown this to be true.

Contributors

complishments that will remain with the business forever. It was about the people. Read it when you can, the link is below. I guess the third thing I thought was . . . that’s what I like to do with O&V. How many of you out there truly value your team and think of them like family. I know many of you do, because when we talk to you, we can hear your passion in what you say and we love that about you and the industry. Read Sandra Oldfield’s https://sandraoldfield.com

Blog

here:

Enjoy the Magazine…your team and your customers!

Sara Dent, Kim Elsasser, Ronda Payne, Ashley Spilak, Fred Steele, Gary Symons, WorkSafe BC Circulation info@orchardandvine.net Orchard & Vine Magazine Ltd. 1576 West Kelowna Road West Kelowna, B.C., V1Z 3H5 E-mail: info@orchardandvine.net www.orchardandvine.net Phone: 250-769-2123 Fax: 1-866-433-3349 Orchard & Vine Magazine is published six times a year and distributed by addressed mail to growers, suppliers and wineries in the Okanagan, Kootenays, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Washington State and across Canada. Orchard & Vine is also available online. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40838008

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions BRITISH COLUMBIA Nathan Phillips p. 250-809-6040 bcsales@vinetech.ca 6

Fall 2017

QUEBEC Alexandre Jacquel p. 905.984.4324 qcsales@vinetech.ca

NOVA SCOTIA Ian Kaye p. 902.740.2493 nssales@vinetech.ca

ONTARIO Wes Wiens/Tina Tourigny p. 905.984.4324 sales@vinetech.ca

Undeliverable copies should be sent to: 1576 West Kelowna Road West Kelowna, BC V1Z 3H5

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Fall 2017

 FALL | CALENDAR

CANADIAN WINE INDUSTRY AWARDS

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Award of Distinction Open to individuals who own, manage or are employed within the wine and/or grape industry. Industry Champion Award Open to all stakeholders who support the development of the Canadian wine industry. Winemaker of the Year Award Open to all grape winemakers working in a Canadian winery. Nominate at www.canadianvintners.com/initiatives NOMINATIONS CLOSE FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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DMA™ 35 – Take the Next Step in On-Site Density Measurement Digital density measurement is about to further evolve: With the new DMA™ 35 from Anton Paar. The robust portable density meter needs only 2 mL of sample for the measurement and delivers results within seconds. Simplify your measurements in the field with DMA™ 35. Anton Paar launches the new DMA™ 35 portable density meter employing the oscillating U-tube principle. This instrument embodies 50 years of density measuring experience as the market leader in digital density measurement. DMA™ 35 is exceptionally efficient and simple to use: it requires only 2 mL of sample, filled with the built-in hand pump, to conduct measurements in less than a minute, including filling and cleaning. It is now also ready for both left- and righthand use and the sensitivity of the capacitive keys is suitable for operation with or without gloves. Sample containers are identified before the measurement with the help of the integrated RFID interface. This minimizes costs and valuable working time and makes sure that all measured data are allocated to the correct sampling location. The Bluetooth® interface allows operators to send the stored results to a computer or printer wirelessly to ensure perfect documentation of results. This latest version of Anton Paar’s portable density meters measures a huge variety of different samples – ranging from fermenting beer and wine to solvents and acids. The instrument shows the result as density or concentration in units such as °Brix, % v/v alcohol, or % w/w H2SO4. Results are automatically compensated for the temperature influence, so no further calculations are necessary and potential user errors are eliminated. For filling highly viscous or expensive samples, the instrument is put in a stable position on the table and filled with a syringe from the top. The screen of the instrument rotates automatically and you will see how your handheld device turns into a mini benchtop instrument. The lock-function of the pump avoids carryover of sample or cleaning liquid. The density results are accurate to 0.001 g/cm3 and the influence of viscosity is automatically corrected. Packaged in a robust housing with a hard 12 Fall 2017

This latest version of Anton Paar’s portable density meters measures a huge variety of different samples – ranging from fermenting beer and wine to solvents and acids.

Anton Paar launches the new DMA™, this instrument embodies 50 years of density measuring experience as the market leader in digital density measurement. glass front, DMA™ 35 is built to withstand the knocks and spills of outdoor use. The cartridge containing the glass measuring cell is protected with an additional rubber housing. It is completely separated from the instrument’s electronics to prevent liquid entering the instrument in case of any cell rupture. What’s more, the cartridge containing the measuring cell can be simply replaced by Anton Paar service

personnel should your instrument suffer from a cell rupture by mischance. The new DMA™ 35 from the market leader in digital density measurement saves you time and delivers the values you need at the push of a button. Be part of the evolution of digital density measurement – with DMA™ 35 from Anton Paar. www.anton-paar.com

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 FALL | NEWS & EVENTS

Villeneuve-LePage Named As Canada's Best Sommelier

In addition to the title, Villeneuve-Lepage takes home close to $40,000 in prizes, including a personalized Vancouver Canucks jersey, trips to various points around the globe, $10,000 cash and $5,000 in wine. The national competition, presented by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS), was hosted for the first time in Vancouver by the CAPS BC Chapter on September 4-5, 2017. Villeneuve-Lepage will now

go on to represent Canada at the Best Sommelier of the Americas, to be held in Montreal, 2018, and has the right to compete for the chance to go to the Best Sommelier of the World competition in Belgium, 2019. The second and third place sommeliers are Pier Alexis Souliere, Manresa Restaurant, Los Gatos California (from Quebec); and Steven Robinson, sommelier, Atelier Restaurant, Ottawa, Ontario. While it was a vigorous competition, Villeneuve-Lepage demonstrated exceptional theoretical knowledge and wine service, which placed him first in the competition. Villeneuve-Lepage is still taking in the magnitude of his

2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program ANNOUNCEMENT:

Application forms and the updated requirements of the 2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program are now available on the BCFGA website, www.bcfga.com. Project applications (along with the required Replant Plan) will be received between September 1, 2017 and November 15, 2017. Please avoid the last minute rush and get your application in early. An horticultural advisor is required to help prepare and sign individual applications for the 2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program. The following information will be provided to assist growers in completing applications. a. A list of qualified advisors. b. Information on project grading. c. Program operational policies. d. A series of reports on replanting and variety performance and selection are available and should be referenced when preparing a Tree Fruit Replant Program Application. The Tree Fruit Replant Program provides funding for quality projects. Applications will be rated by a committee of horticultural experts. The rating of individual applications will be based on meeting the program requirements and on the quality of the Replant Plan. Projects will be placed in order of rating for projects, and the top-rated projects will be approved until all funding is utilized. The Tree Fruit Replant Program is a 7 year program, funded by the Province of BC.

Photo by Scott Little

After an intensive two-day competition alongside Canada's top sommeliers, Carl Villeneuve-Lepage, sommelier, Restaurant Toqué!, Montreal, Quebec, has been named the Best Sommelier of Canada.

Carl Villeneuve-Lepage is the Best Sommelier of Canada 2017.

title and all that comes with it. "It was amazing! You never expect the title. You hope for it, and you are visualizing, but when it arrives," he says, with a pause of emotion in his voice, "it's perfect." Mark DeWolf, CAPS National president adds "Competitions

such as this are demanding, and I would like to congratulate all the competitors for their dedication to their profession. These are not just the best sommeliers in Canada but some of the best sommeliers in the world."

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 FALL | NEWS & EVENTS

Plant Health Lab Marks Half-Century of Research in BC The Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Health Laboratory is celebrating 50 years of performing state-of-the-art plant health diagnostics and surveillance of plant health in British Columbia. The laboratory was originally established in Cloverdale by the ministry’s plant pathologist, Dave Ormrod. The first official record of submission was dated Jan. 16, 1967 and was handwritten in a spiral notebook. In 1995, the laboratory was relocated to the Abbotsford Agriculture Centre, a facility equipped with

advanced tools to help identify the cause of plant-health problems on more than 200 different commercial crops that are grown in the province. The laboratory provides its services primarily to commercial growers and agribusinesses serving the commercial industry. The total recorded number of commercial crop samples diagnosed since 1967 is 30,000 and an estimated 150,000 slides have been examined in the past 50 years.

Plant samples sent to the laboratory range from berry crops to landscape plants. All samples submitted to the laboratory are voluntary and provide an avenue for surveillance of invasive pests and diseases in B.C. An electronic record of each sample has been logged since 1987. This provides valuable information of pest and disease detections and trends that have occurred over the past 30 years.

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BELGO 12.12 acre estate. Approx 2.5 acres of modern apple varieties. Beautiful, meticulously built 2659 sq. ft. rancher (built in 2002) and a separate shop/commercial building with legal suite set well off from the house. Perfect for a home-based business/fruit stand. MLS® $2,098,800

SOUTH EAST KELOWNA 17.6 acre property in central location planted to modern apple orchard with great varieties. Quaint farm house for farm help or tenants. Fronts on Jaud Road and Wallace Hill. Build your family dream home! MLS® $1,790,000

OLIVER Scenic 6.2 acre property bordered by Hike & Bike trail. Prune plum orchard with fantastic rate of return! Drilled well. Good access off Hwy 97. Great spot for dream home or ag business. MLS® $595,000

LUMBY VALLEY 76 acres in the scenic Lumby Valley minutes from town. Bring your horses and cattle to this mainly fenced ranch. Quaint & simple farm house on well with irrigation from Bessette Creek. 39 acres cleared and roughly 29 in hay plus timber across the creek. MLS® $849,000

EAST KELOWNA Build your dream home here. Flat 1 acre lot on the first bench in sought after East Kelowna. Currently zoned P2 - also a great opportunity to buy and hold. City has indicated support to either downzone to A1 or develop within P2. Lots of options! MLS® $599,000

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 FALL | NEWS & EVENTS

Croatian Winery Cellars its Premium Wines Under the Adriatic Sea Canadian wineries age their product in some unique places, from caves to the base of a pyramid, but no one can match Edivo Vina. The Croatian winery stores their wine under water in the Adriatic Sea, contained in traditional amphorae, the slim clay jugs favoured by the ancient Greeks. Located in Drace, just north of Dubrovnik, Edivo Vina believes the cool ocean 20 meters below the surface could serve as an ideal wine cellar. The wine is aged for three months on land, in barrels, transferred to the two-handled clay jugs, and then stored in steel cages near a sunken ship wreck for up to two years. Visitors to the winery can don a wetsuit and scuba tank and descend to the ocean floor to see the aging process in action. Even the ship wreck below has been converted to become part of the wine cellar, and can be explored by Scuba-certified wine lovers. The barnacle encrusted bottles come up looking like they too came from an ancient shipwreck.

NNZ Inc. Announces New Produce Warehouse in Surrey, BC NNZ Inc. new 4.550 sq. ft. warehouse in Surrey is designed to serve the agricultural market in Western Canada. It is built according to the latest standards and will become a central service hub for the company's clients in BC and Alberta. The focus of the Western Canada branch is in servicing clients active in growing, processing and packing mushrooms, berry-crops, hard and soft fruits, greenhouse vegetables, (grain and seed) pulse crops, potatoes, onions and other land vegetables. NNZ will offer a vast assortment in-warehouse and provide fast delivery times to clients active in these markets. NNZ creates packaging solutions for their clients in the fresh produce and industrial market with its partners in 40 other countries and to a worldwide customer base.

NNZ has been proudly serving customers in the agricultural sector for over 95 years in packaging.

July 1st 2017 we opened a new branch to optimally service the BC and Alberta market.

16 Fall 2017

NNZ Inc. Unit 107 – 2076 192 Street Surrey, BC V3S 3M3 Canada

1-778-819-1139 1-778-785-1128 west@nnz.ca www.nnz.ca

 FALL | NEWS & EVENTS

BC Ag Minister Lana Popham Announces Wildfire Relief The worst wildfires in BC’s history are over, but the damage they wreaked is still affecting farmers' lives and livelihoods. The BC and Canadian governments say they are acting to help ranchers and farmers affected by the devastating 2017 wildfires. The announcement was made in August at the first meeting of BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham with her federal counterpart Lawrence MacAulay. Popham says the governments are working together under the AgriRecovery disaster plan to provide assistance for the BC agriculture sector. "The AgriRecovery response will help BC ranchers and farmers recover from their losses, and return to their land and their livelihoods,” says Popham. “Our governments are working with producers, local officials and stakeholders, and the results and spirit of resilience is collective and clear; we will work together to respond to this emergency until the job is done."

While farmers have been affected, ranchers were generally hardest hit by the raging fires across BC, particularly in the Cariboo region.

Government officials have been working to assess the extraordinary costs farmers are incurring and what additional assistance may be required to recover and return to production following the wildfires. The types of costs under consideration include:

"B.C. ranchers are happy to hear that the two governments are doing the necessary assessments that will be needed to give them a fighting chance to get back into business,” says Kevin Boon, General Manager of the BC Cattlemen’s Association.

• Costs related to ensuring animal health and safety. • Feed, shelter and transportation costs. • Costs to re-establish perennial crop and pasture production damaged by fire.

"While the funds may go towards ranchers rebuilding the infrastructure and supplying

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feed for their animals, every dollar will be spent in the communities where they live. Those funds will be every bit as important to rebuilding the communities as they are to rebuilding the ranches and helping the B.C. cattle industry to survive.”

Fall 2017 17

 FALL | NEWS & EVENTS

Cherry Industry Expanding Thanks to China Exports If you observe carefully in BC orchards throughout the Okanagan and Kootenay regions, you’ll see more and more cherry blossoms out in the fields. The reason is largely due to increased exports to China, following a 2014 agreement between that country, the BC Cherry Association, the BC government and

the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Prior to 2013 cherries from Canada faced tight restrictions over concerns regarding the cherry fruit fly, which lays eggs in ripe fruit. Chinese inspectors wanted to make sure cherries leaving Canada for the China market would not contain any of the

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eggs or larva, which could impact their own cherry growers. A program of inspections, fly traps, and other safeguards were enacted over a two-year pilot project in 2013 and 2014, resulting in BC exports now being accepted. And the results, says BC Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal, have created much more demand for premium cherries. “This is especially important now that we’re getting into the big population centres like Shanghai and Beijing,” says Bal. “We can now ship to any port in China, and as a result we are getting more and more requests from importers in different areas of the country.”

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China is now the second largest export market for BC agrifoods, and has also begun importing BC blueberries. The export value of cherries more than tripled from 2013 to 2016, from $3.5 million to $16.8 million. The increased demand is leading orchardists to replant cherry trees, which were previously in decline throughout the province. Bal himself planted 40 acres in cherry trees in 2015, almost doubling his cherry orchard from 50 acres to 90 acres. “Achieving the agreement with China and living up to that agreement has been a lot of work,” says Bal. “But at the end of the day, it definitely has been worth it. “To get access to that market we had to follow their protocols, but as a result there’s more demand for our premium product, and already things are looking up for the cherry industry in BC.”

18 Fall 2017

CORK’S Photo by Ginasanders | Dreamstime.com

BIG

COMEBACK By Gary Symons Go into any wine store in Canada and you’ll see rank upon rank of bottles closed with metal screw top caps. It’s a lingering sign of the massive switch from cork stoppers to synthetic stoppers that happened over the late 20th Century and accelerated in the first decade of this century. At one point cork stoppers, mainly imported from Portugal, held 95 per cent of the market for wine closures. But new technologies such as synthetic corks or sophisticated metal caps began eating into that dominance. And then the Great Taint Debate began.

Fall 2017 19

There are pluses and minuses with any type of closure… screw caps are convenient, but cork is still the best if you’re planning on aging a quality wine. Alan Marks About 15 years ago the use of cork stoppers fell off a statistical cliff face, driven by reports that a sizeable percentage of wine bottles were corked … or in technical terms, tainted with TCA. This compound (2,4,6-trichloroanisole) is created when some fungi are treated with antimicrobial agents used in the processing of wood, including cork bark. TCA causes the cork to become moldy, which in turn ruins the wine. Makers of caps and other alternative stoppers benefited mightily by the growing problem of cork taint, and in many countries like South Africa, New Zealand and Australia the use of corks has almost disappeared completely. Today, only about 10 per cent of wines in Australia use cork stoppers. In the massive US market, artificial corks and metal screw caps surged to take half the market by 2009.

For more than a decade the use of cork seemed to be in an inevitable, unstoppable decline. Companies like Amorim, the largest cork manufacturer in the world, saw their sales numbers and their stock prices plunge. But over the last few years that’s changed. Cork is making a comeback. In fact, Amorim’s share price soared by 600 per cent since 2009, and exports from Portugal have surpassed their peak of 15 years ago. Cork stopper exports hit a low point in 2009 at 458 million Euros, and have since rebounded to set a new export record at $592.5 million Euros. “When you go back 12 or 15 years the forecast for cork was anything but optimistic,” says Carlos de Jesus, marketing director for Amorim. “Where we are today is a completely different territory from what most people thought possible then.” So, given the constantly improving technology offered by competitors, why are wine producers switching back to the humble cork? Part of that is due to marketing by the cork manufacturers, but it’s also due to some of cork’s undeniable advantages, and ongoing research to improve corks and reduce the incidents of cork taint. In particular, a growing number of people are choosing cork for environmental reasons. Cork is a natural product harvested from trees, and is fully biodegradable. Considering many billions of bottles of wine are sold every year, plastic and metal caps actually create a significant amount of waste that either goes to the landfill, or must be recycled.

Le Vieux Pin use cork for their higher end wines. 20 Fall 2017

As well, Mediterranean cork forests are considered beneficial for the environment, reducing carbon in the air, and harbouring endangered species like the Iberian Eagle and the Barbary Deer.

Mediterranean cork forests are beneficial for the environmen

But the bigger reason is research to find new and better ways to clean cork and eliminate TCA, meaning far fewer tainted bottles. Portugal alone invested more than 700 million Euros in research and development over the past decade, resulting in new production methods that have greatly reduced issues with TCA. Amorim, for example, uses robots, lasers and ranks of chromatographic analysis machines to detect just a few parts of TCA per trillion. Very few tainted corks now make it through the new ‘ND Tech’ process. Alan Marks of Scott Labs in West Kelowna says the tide has turned, thanks to better production methods and better Quality Control by distributors. “We don’t take anything for granted,” says Marks. “We have our own quality

taint from things like wooden barrels or even the pallets the wine is placed on.” The major wins for cork have been in Europe, China, and the United States. The US has bounced back to 60 per cent market share. China is going heavily cork as it’s seen as more prestigious, with exports to that nation soaring by 22 per cent in 2016 alone. Many French wineries are also switching back to cork from screw caps. Laroche Wines made headlines in 2005 when it adopted screw caps for all its Chablis, including the high-end Grand Cru, but last year the winery giant went back to ND Tech cork stoppers from Amorim for all its finer wines.

Photo by Janina Landisa | Dreamstime.com

This has been driven by consumer choice. A study by Neilsen Scanning Statistics found for the top 100 premium wine brands in the US, cork stoppered wines saw a 42 per cent increase in sales between 2010 and 2016, compared to just 13 per cent for alternative closures. They also commanded 39 per cent higher median sales prices.

nt, reducing carbon in the air, and providing a home for endangered species.

A similar study in Canada by the American Association of Wine Economists found similar results. They found Canadian consumers were willing to pay on average $1.69 more for cork finished wines compared to those using screw caps or synthetics. While cork will never again monopolize the market, industry analysts are now predicting cork will maintain a powerful presence in the industry for decades to come. ■

control testing on the ground in Portugal, and we do it again here, so we double up on testing. “Our goal is to be 100 per cent TCA free by 2020.” Marks says BC is “a screwcap province” with producers here primarily using the metal caps. A few producers use all cork closures, and many others use cork for their higher end wines. Photo by Igor Palamarchuk | Dreamstime.com

“There are pluses and minuses with any type of closure,” Marks says. “Screw caps are convenient, but cork is still the best if you’re planning on aging a quality wine. Marks also points out that a few years ago a contaminated batch of metal caps caused thousands of bottles of wine to be ruined. “You can’t just point at cork,” he says. “Problems can come from any type of closure, and you also see TCA

Fall 2017 21

Photos by Ronda Payne

Preserving the Future of BC's

The future sustainability of raspberry production in the Fraser Valley requires integrated solutions to soil-borne disease and pest issues. Eric Gerbrandt By Ronda Payne A berry researcher recognizes the need to look to the integration of methods to sustain the future of a much loved berry. Growers and farmers differ. They have different land, different practices, different points of view; but there’s one thing raspberry farmers have in common – the struggle against declining crop yields. It’s something Eric Gerbrandt, berry scientist and owner of Sky Blue Horticulture, wants to help change. He believes the key is to bring multiple methodologies together for the berry’s benefit. “The future sustainability of raspberry production in the Fraser Valley requires integrated solutions to soil-borne disease and pest issues that contribute to a yield decline complex,” he says. The scary truth is that raspberry plantings don’t last for as long as they once 22 Fall 2017

did. Their yields and vigour have been impacted and the preferred methods of dealing with soil-borne issues have been altered by regulatory controls,. Together with other researchers, Gerbrandt has been involved in a number of studies to look at solutions to help raspberries return to their former productivity levels. It’s a complex issue and one that requires complex trials. A number of these studies are happening in Clearbrook (at the Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Clearbrook Substation) in tandem with the BC berry breeding program. “We’ve taken the first stab at integrated solutions…obviously there’s more to look at. One step that we have worked on recently is to integrate bed fumigation with organic amendments and the use of tissue culture plugs with plastic

Berry researcher Eric Gerbrandt looks to integrated solutions

mulches,” Gerbrandt notes. “In addition to this, we are using germ plasm from the BC berry breeding program to understand the genetics of resistance to pest and soil-borne disease pressures.” With so many inputs, the latest experiments involving Meeker variety tissue culture plugs and bare-root plants from commercial nurseries have required multiple plots and replication to look at all the potential aspects, and provide growers with sound results. The final results

Raspberries

to keep raspberries free of disease and pests.

of one study are being compiled and new areas of study are now underway. One of those new studies includes looking at applying bed fumigation via the drip line. Others involve reviews of alternative fertility management options in raspberries as well as in blueberries. The approach to address overall raspberry yield declines is three-pronged. As Gerbrandt explains, the first step is looking at improved establishment practices.

“To give the plants a better, healthier start,” he notes. “This includes things like plastic mulch, tissue culture and organic amendments.”

(through a drip line, which is not a common practice). Studies have shown that fumigation is still the best known method for control of nematodes.

The second prong is what Gerbrandt describes as “directly waging war against the causal agents, pests and diseases we know are going to be a problem in the future.”

“We are looking at fumigation alternatives in a more restricted regulatory environment,” says Gerbrandt. “We’re primarily targeting parasitic nematodes using pre-plant fumigation. We’re also evaluating post-plant options in the context of tissue culture plugs planted under plastic mulch.”

This involves tools like bed fumigation and application post-plant nematicidal products applied in a unique way

Fall 2017 23

Photo by Ronda Payne

Eric Gerbrandt surveying raspberry crops in a field in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.

Novel activities like the post-plant dripline application of nematicides are being evaluated and may help to accelerate the application for new product registrations for the industry.

When asked just why the raspberry industry is experiencing a decline in yield, Gerbrandt pointed to a variety of reasons, one being the longevity of the industry in the Fraser Valley. “It’s because the raspberry industry has been growing on the same land for three or four decades,” he says. Rising land prices, limited ability to rotate crops, soil-borne pests and a range of diseases have had the opportunity to accumulate and work against the industry in limiting production. That reduced productivity has been a double-edged sword for the raspberry in24 Fall 2017

Photo by Dragomir Radovanovic | Dreamstime.com

The third prong is, “utilizing all fertilization practices to foster a healthy soil environment and stimulate better plant growth,” he notes. “For example, the use of organic acids to alter nutrient availability. This work is in the early stages for both raspberries and blueberries. We are building on work by other researches in the Pacific Northwest.”

dustry as it was one of the elements that led to the decline in raspberry acreages. Not only were berry growers achieving smaller yields, some were removing their raspberries in favour of other crops as a result of those declined yields, causing an overall reduction in the tonnage of berries in the market from BC All is not doom and gloom however. Gerbrandt sees his work, and that of other berry researchers, as having a positive

impact on keeping the industry growing and sustainable for generations to come. “The raspberry industry is very supportive of both plant breeding and finding ways to combat yield declines,” he notes. Raspberry yield decline is a serious issue of concern to growers and those who value the berry. Fortunately researchers like Gerbrandt are looking at new possibilities, with multiple options, to keep the industry alive and growing. ■

Photos by Gary Symons

A diverse mix of apples and occupations – it all comes together beautifully in award-winning cider and growing innovation. By Ronda Payne A court reporter, a pharmacist, a commercial pilot and a VP of business development walk into an orchard… and no, it’s not the start of a joke. It’s the genesis of an award-winning cidery – Kelowna-based Scenic Road Cider Company – which is firstly a story of friends coming together and secondly a story of ideas and growth. Marina and Harv Johal bought eight acres on Packinghouse Road off Scenic Road (yes it’s actually named Scenic Road) about four years ago. With four acres planted in dessert apples, the orchard was already leased to Caroline and

Harv and Marina Johal

Taylor and Caroline Sebastien

Fall 2017 25

Four friends came together and created something… a good, high-quality product and we doubled production in our second year. Harv Johal

Taylor Sebastian. The Johals intended to continue to leave the four acres of orchards with Honey Crisp, Gala, Ambrosia and Spartan, but also to look at other ideas for the property. “There’s a packing house on our site,” Harv says. “The original farm was much larger. Probably two, three thousand acres. For whatever reason, this packing house ended up on our eight acre parcel.” Harv went to the city to see if the building could be torn down and replaced because he’d been told that approach was easier than making use of the existing building. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an option. “I found out we wouldn’t be able to build anything there,” he says. “Once I found that out it became much more important to Marina and me to do something with that building. She didn’t like my man cave idea.”

Turns out, Taylor already had an idea taking hold that didn’t involve a man cave – more like an apple cave. “Taylor had been checking into growing cider fruit,” Caroline says. “He’d been researching, going all over the place, looking at property.” The two men starting talking about options. Taylor’s desire to make cider combined with Harv’s need to do something with the building, which led to a conversation with their wives in early 2015. Prior to that, to push his interests forward, Taylor had taken a cider making course; though interestingly, his passion is in the growing, not the making. “He came back and basically said, ‘we’re probably capable of doing this, it doesn’t take a PhD,” notes Harv. “In April 2015 we put in the formal application. July 2015 we would have gotten the approval or pending approval and then in September we had the final inspection to say we

Marina Johal pours a taste of Scenic Road Nearly Dry Cider, a

were good to go and then the final milestone would have been June 2016.” Marina and Caroline took the cider making course in July 2015, production of cider began in fall 2015 with the doors open to the public in June 2016. So just how does this group segment the work? Ultimately, the tasks sort themselves out. “We all have brought certain skills to the table that are very complimentary,” says Harv. “Taylor’s been in the orcharding business for 10-plus years and also grew up on an orchard.”

Cidermaker,Caroline Sebastian testing a sample of cider from the tank. 26 Fall 2017

Caroline takes care of cider making and finance, while Marina is the other cider maker and manages operations. Harv manages sales and marketing while also supporting the others. While life on the farm is a far cry from their day jobs and former day jobs, those experiences have contributed.

blend that uses traditional cider apple varieties grown in the Okanagan Valley.

“I think people are drawn to the story that four friends came together and created something,” Harv says. “Overall we’ve been quite happy with our success. We’ve created a good, high-quality product and doubled our production in our second year.” “We just wanted to use up all the apples,” Marina adds. Before the cidery was built Marina and Harv tried to make use of those extra apples in a unique way. They call it Applepalooza and it began as an invitation to friends and family.

September 23 marked this year’s Apple

Photo by Gary Symons

“The first year was a housewarming when friends and family picked all the apples,” notes Marina. “Then the following year we grew into mobile juicing… we did that for the next two years and last year was the first time with the cidery. We invite other cideries.” The former packinghouse that is now the home of Scenic Road Cider.

Fall 2017 27

Scenic Road's award winning cider offers powerful fruit tastes in three varieties.

All have been award winners. “There were two different submissions,” Marina explains of the awards. “One was the Portland International Cider Cup. We received two bronze [one for Dry and one for Nearly Dry as Razz hadn’t been created yet]. Great Lake International Cider and Perry Competition, we received a silver for all three.” A new variety is on the horizon – possibly another berry cider. But the apples will always be the key. Caroline and Taylor now manage close to 20 acres of orchards planted with the dessert apples as well as cider apples like Kingston Black, Michelin and Yarlington Mill. In fact, Marina notes there are eight or nine apple varieties in each type of apple cider. Not all the apples grown make it to cider mind you. Caroline notes about 75 per cent are grown for fresh market with 28 Fall 2017

the remainder going into cider. On the cider side, the balance of sales is a similar ratio with about 30 per cent being sold as farm gate and 70 per cent being sold in retail locations through distributors in B.C. and Alberta. The business is growing and changing all the time, so it surprised Harv that most cideries use unsophisticated tools to keep track of the business. “We want to get our business to more of an annual business and take out the highs and lows,” Harv says of why he was exploring trends. Understanding trends was frustrating and manual. “The more I delved into it, the more I realized from the business perspective there could be an opportunity.” Now Harv’s idea of a cidery software system is being tested at Scenic Road. It tracks the process from beginning-toend. “I think we’ve been very fortunate,” Harv summarizes. “We’re based in the Okanagan which equates to apples. In 2014 we were just a couple with two jobs

living our life and then we bought an orchard, started a cidery, started a software company.” It’s not easy creating a cidery, but four friends of varied backgrounds came together to make it work. Of course, there was also the benefit of a packinghouse that stubbornly refused to be torn down. ■

Photo by Gary Symons

palooza at Scenic Road with food vendors, a pop-up liquor store and tastings. Some of those tastings included the three Scenic Road varieties: Dry, Nearly Dry and Razz.

HIGH

SPIRITS

CRAFT DISTILLERIES BOOMING IN BC Tyler Dyck, head of the Craft Distillers of BC, at his Okanagan Spirits distillery in Kelowna.

By Gary Symons Go back in time just five years, and BC was a very different place when it came to craft distilleries. A few isolated pioneers struggled to make a go of it, but were hampered by liquor regulations and high markups. Today, after wholesale changes to BC liquor regulations, BC has the hottest craft spirit industry in Canada. In fact, there are more craft distilleries in the Okanagan Valley than in all of Ontario, and BC in total has 46 thriving distilleries in operation today, with many more on the way.

Fall 2017 29

Everything we make is produced using BC-grown products that includes the grains we get from the Peace River Valley, and the fruits we get from the Okanagan. Tyler Dyck So, what was the secret to BC’s success? Alex Hamer, founder at the craft distilling festival, BC Distilled, says the biggest driver was the regulatory changes made by the BC government in 2013-14. “The province brought in a lot of changes and among those was a craft designation for the spirits industry,” Hamer explains. “The underlying philosophy is that craft distillers must use 100 per cent BC inputs in their product and must ferment and distill completely onsite in BC. “But, if you meet those criteria you get significant breaks on the taxes and markups that apply to the industry in general.” The greatest of these, says Hamer, is the provincial markup, which amounts to about 55 per cent of the total cost of a bottle of spirits. That markup made it very difficult for small volume producers to make a living, and kept the industry to a few die-hard operators. Now, craft distillers do not pay that markup for product sold onsite, and also 30 Fall 2017

face generally lower taxes overall when selling to the trades, such as restaurants and liquor stores. Combined with a Farm to Glass program through the BC government that allowed the sale of craft spirits at Farmers’ Markets, the craft liquor industry took off with remarkable speed.

Hard work goes into every bottle of craft spirits.

Hamer says it was also due to a growing ‘cocktail culture’ in Vancouver and other large cities in BC.

Dyck is also head of the Craft Distillers Guild of BC, which originally lobbied for the changes to BC liquor laws.

“The cocktail culture in BC, and especially Vancouver, is in my opinion a couple of years ahead of the rest of the country,” says Hamer. “There’s a higher demand here for unique, local products, and people are willing to pay a premium for excellence.”

“The change in regulations is positive, but it only allows us to produce up to 50,000 litres before the higher markups kick in,” Dyck explains. “By contrast, a craft beer distillery can produce 30 million litres. Even with the difference in alcohol content, that would be the equivalent of about 450,000 litres or so.

The first craft distiller in BC, Okanagan Spirits, went through the hard times and the relatively good times. Their president Tyler Dyck says the changes in 2013 have helped, and are largely responsible for the sudden growth in BC’s craft spirits industry.

But he also says the changes haven’t gone nearly far enough.

“The fact is, we can’t grow this industry if we’re restricted to only 50,000 litres, so we are asking the new government to increase this to 500,000 litres.” Dyck says the benefits will be felt by BC

farmers, particularly those producing grains and fruit products. “Everything we make is produced using BC-grown products,” Dyck says. “That includes the grains we get from the Peace River Valley, and the fruits we get from the Okanagan.

In fact, this phenomenal growth is already having a positive and growing impact on farmers across the province, particularly on grain farmers in the Peace River Valley. Spirits producers use various

Photos Contributed

“We used 1.2 million pounds of apples for our family reserve gin, and a half million pounds of berries and other fruits for other products. If the BC government helps us build this industry it will be very positive for BC’s agriculture industry and our tourism industry as well.”

Corn being harvested near Vernon for Okanagan Spirits’ craft Bourbon.

Fall 2017 31

Photo Contributed

fruits, berries and herbs in their products, but the main ingredients for most are grains. The South Peace Grain Cleaning Co-Op took an early gamble on this nascent industry, and that bet has paid off, says Assistant Manager Jocelyn Shuman. “When we started working with the craft distillers it was really a pet niche project,” recalls Shuman. “It was definitely the smallest part of our business, but it was also our favourite because, well, it’s just very cool!” When South Peace started working with craft breweries the demand for grain comprised less than two per cent of their total business, but that has grown to more than eight per cent of their sales in just four years. This past year the company shipped

roughly 175 tons of rolled wheat alone for use in craft spirits. “We only had five steady customers in this industry just two years ago,” Shuman says, “ but we have about 20 customers now, and it’s growing very quickly, so all that effort has definitely paid off. “Best of all, I now have great places to go when I travel on business or holiday, where I can drop in and try things that are made with our grain. That’s a really great feeling, and our farmers just love knowing their products are going into these really high quality spirits that are all made here in BC.” That growth, says Hamer, is bound to continue at the same blistering pace, if not even faster. “I personally know of 15 companies planning to open a craft distillery in BC over the next year or so, and I suspect there is probably double that number that I don’t know about,” Hamer says. “A lot of the early growth was in the bigger centres like Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, but now I’m seeing craft distilleries opening in smaller towns as well.” But future growth will depend on increasing production quotas for the craft distilleries. “We were the first craft distillery in the province, and we know how difficult it is to build a business under this 50,000 litre limit,” says Dyck. “The new guys coming in are just learning this, and while we have seen a lot of growth since 2013, I think that growth will stall unless we have regulations in place that allow people to grow their business.” ■

32 Fall 2017

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Fall 2017 33

Free the Grapes Case Goes to Supreme Court By Michael Botner High on the list of impediments to the prosperity and growth of BC wineries is Canada’s entrenched regime of interprovincial trade restrictions. Now, BC wineries are fighting back, applying for intervenor status in the landmark R v. Comeau case - a constitutional challenge of Canada’s interprovincial trade barriers. While three provinces (BC, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba) have open door policies, consumers in the rest of Canada are prohibited from freely importing BC wine for personal use by their respective provincial governments. Gerard Comeau of Tracadie, New Brunswick found that out the hard way in 2012 when he purchased 354 bottles of beer and three bottles of spirits in Quebec and attempted to drive them home. The RCMP stopped his car in a targeted sting operation when he crossed the provincial line. The shocked Comeau was detained, stripped of his liquor and fined $292.50 for violating the province’s liquor act. Fortunately, that was not the end of the story. In his decision to acquit Comeau, Justice LeBlanc of the New Brunswick Provincial Court held that “134(b) of the Liquor Control Act of New Brunswick constitutes a trade barrier which violates section 121 of the Constitution Act, 1867 and is therefore of no force or effect as against Gérard Comeau.” Nothing is simple about this case, but Section 121 of the constitution states emphatically that “All articles of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of any

It is an enormous deal for the wine industry in Canada. It is a once in a generation case on a section of the constitution (121) that no judge now on the bench has dealt with before.

Ian MacDonald one of the Provinces shall, from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other provinces.” Given the legal implications of Justice LeBlanc’s decision on the closed liquor board monopolies, it is no surprise that the Crown appealed the decision to the Provincial Court of Appeal. When that court refused to hear the case, it was appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, which has agreed to hear the Comeau

case on December 6 and 7. Joining New Brunswick’s appeal as intervenors are an array of nine provinces including Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, plus two territories, and the Attorney General of Canada. But Comeau will not be without interveners in support of more open free trade within Canada. “The Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) with the BCWI and other associations in support of a strong

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and unified industry intervention to support the interests of all 100% Canadian wines and wineries in all regions across Canada,” says Miles Prodin, President & CEO of Wine BC. Another prime backer of Gérard Comeau’s case for interprovincial free trade is the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), an independent, non-partisan charity committed to defending the constitutional rights and freedoms of Canadians in the courts of law and public opinion. To highlight how important the case is for small BC wineries, a group of BC wineries have banded together to prepare a joint application to intervene to put forward the case for small wineries.

section of the constitution (121) that no judge now on the bench has dealt with before.” Of the possible outcomes, either of the extremes - the status quo or blowing up the present system - are unlikely, Coulson says. Allowing free shipment of wine across Canada could be an attractive option for the judges. Both conservative and bold, it allows smaller wineries to grow into a mature industry by increasing revenues, making investments in quality and providing economic benefits to the province.

Originators of the application include Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estates, 50th Parallel Estate, Okanagan Crush Pad and Noble Ridge Vineyard.

To give the principles put forward by the small BC wineries group more force before the Court, the group has drafted a “Petition on behalf of Small Wineries in Support of Direct to Consumer Shipping.” Applying to wineries with production of under 50,000 cases, it has garnered an impressive 127 signatures to date. “A significant number of wineries aligned with one voice is far more persuasive,” Coulson says. To sign on while there is still time, go to: https://www.ipetitions. com/petition/petition-on-behalf-of-thecoalition-of-small. ■

LUX

“

Ian MacDonald, owner of Liquidity Wines, explains the predicament of small and mid-size wineries which are overly dependent on tasting room sales, a risky proposition especially in a year such as this when fires and floods inhibit tourism.

Our biggest concern when we switched all our wines to STELVIN® closures in 2007 was the public perception of screwcap versus cork, but we have been thrilled since. STELVIN®LUX closure is a perfect fit for us to enhance the design of our bottle/closure. We are eventually planning to switch all our wines to STELVIN®LUX.

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“As it is, a majority of small wineries do not make money,” he says. “As labour intensive farming businesses that grow grapes and make wine, wineries make an important contribution to the economy.” Critical to the survival of small and medium-sized wineries, according to MacDonald, is direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping across Canada of wine for personal use free of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. “Consider California’s story,” McDonald says. “Representing over 60% of sales, DTC shipments across state lines have allowed small wineries to survive and flourish.” Retained by the group to give small wineries a “voice,” in order “to tell their story at the hearing,” Shea Coulson is a Vancouver lawyer who specializes in liquor regulation and policy, and constitutional litigation. “By agreeing to hear R. v. Comeau, the Supreme Court has decided it is of national importance despite the paltry fine (of) only $292.50,” he says. “It is an enormous deal for the wine industry in Canada. It is a once in a generation case on a

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Back-to-school with BC Fruit and Veggie Program

Produce is picked up at farms like Harker’s Organics for distribution to the schools throughout BC.

By Ronda Payne

Some kids may prefer a chocolate bar or chips over an apple or carrots as a snack, but other kids have never had the ability to choose fresh produce. Whether it’s financial constraints, a lack of availability or even minimal information, some children haven’t been exposed to a range of fruits and vegetables. With the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program, kids grades K through 12 not only learn about the benefits of healthy produce but also about where it comes from. It’s one of many programs under Ag in the Classroom’s offerings. Ag in the Classroom (AITC) is a non-profit program that works with educators to bring agriculture to students. It’s funded through a variety of provincial sources along with private donors and the agricultural community. Emma Sweeney is the communications coordinator for AITC and notes that more than 1,460 schools in B.C. are part of BCFVNP, a significant increase since the program be-

36 Fall 2017

The program… gives kids a different environment in which to try foods that their friends are eating which usually results in a positive experience.

Troy Harker

Photo b | Dreamstime.com

Fruits and vegetables in the classroom ensure kids have a greater understanding of agriculture and receive better nutrition.

gan with just 10 schools in 2005. It’s all about ensuring kids get more of the recommended five to eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Less than one-quarter of kids are at the recommended level.

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“Students are not only getting greater access to fruits and vegetables [through the program], but are able to try new produce they wouldn’t normally eat such as kiwis and mini peppers,” Sweeney says. “We want students to develop a taste for and grow to enjoy B.C. fruits and vegetables.” Growers involved in the program go through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process each year. They are selected based on what produce is available during the program, then in-season snacks are given out in classrooms, every other week, 13 times in the school year. Produce is picked up at farms like that of Troy Harker, a fifthgeneration farmer at Harker’s Organics, by EV Logistics. From the company’s distribution centre, it’s transported to Save On Foods stores throughout the province, picked up by program delivery companies and taken to the schools. “Saputo is our largest distributor, delivering to most of the province,” Sweeney says. “But we also have volunteer drivers that help us get the fruit and veggies into more remote areas of the province. The BCSFVNP reaches the four corners of the province: Atlin, Fort Nelson, Jaffery and Port Renfrew.”

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Harker’s Organics has been part of the program since the 2007 pilot project. The Harker family provides organic peaches, plums, pears and apples. “It is an important program that helps educate the next generation on the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables,” Harker says. “Incorporating the program into a classroom setting gives kids a different environment in which to try foods that their friends are eating which usually results in a positive experience, even with fruits and veggies they thought they didn’t like.”

The range of food offered to kids is diverse; kiwis to cucumbers and everything in between.

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Harvey Krause of South Alder Farms has been part of the program for a number of years and values the benefits to kids. Krause enjoys sharing his blueberries and strawberries with school children.

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“Mainly blueberries and we started doing strawberries in the last couple of years,” he explains. “It’s a specialized pack. We label it for them. I think it’s a good thing for kids to get more local produce in the school and see more of it.”

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All produce suppliers are paid fair market value, yet as is sometimes the case, Mother Nature takes her cut before the kids get their produce.

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“Last year we did blueberries, but at a reduced amount,” Krause explains. “They were so early.”

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BC Tree Fruits is also involved and Account Manager Shea Bydlowski notes the organization has been part of BCFVNP since the beginning.

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“We have provided mostly apples, pears, prune plums and coronation grapes to the program over the years and are trying our first peaches this year,” he says. “As a supplier to the BCFVNP, we realize the significant impact that this program can

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have on the health and healthy eating habits of young children and the next generation of consumers.” Ultimately, for all involved, the important elements are getting kids to enjoy fruits and vegetables, try new things and enhance nutrition. “It is an important social and health program that initiates outside of the box thinking with students, allowing them to experience fruits and veggies they may have never had before,” Harker says. “We started off shipping 10 boxes of apples to the program and now we are shipping semi-trucks full of produce.” BC Tree Fruits sees the program as part of the company’s strategy. “These, and programs like them, help to educate Canadians about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle,” Bydlowski says. “It also helps expose children to new local fruits and vegetables and different varieties of these commodities that they may not have tried in the past.”

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Milk deliveries are also part of BCFVNP for grades K to 5 and this aspect of the program involves the BC Dairy Foundation.

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“We hope that these healthy choices will continue to follow [students] into adulthood and help our province become healthier and more appreciative of the food that is grown by our farmers,” Sweeney says. “The farmers and growers that we work with are the ones that are feeding our families around the province. It’s so important that students realize that farmers not only grow the fruits and veggies they receive in class, but also so much more.” ■

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 SAFETY TIPS | WORKSAFE BC

Working Safely With Tractors and Machinery

t seems like tractor safety is a recurring and pertinent theme for articles. Unfortunately there continues to be a need to bring attention to the hazards of working with farm equipment. Even with advancements in technology and an understanding of tractor safety, the tractor continues to be one of the most dangerous aspects of working in agriculture. Between 1990 and 2012, there was an average of over 100 deaths per year on Canadian farms. The main causes of these deaths? Workers getting rolled over, run over by tractors or entangled in equipment such as the power take-off(PTO). Since 2009 In B.C., there have been 13 machinery-related fatalities in agriculture. That means 13 workers didn’t come home to their families at the end of the day.

employer, you’re responsible for making sure your workers understand the hazards of their job and have been trained on how to operate equipment and tractors safely. Also, check in with your workers to ensure that they’re following safe operating procedures.

If you’re the one operating the tractor or working around equipment, keep these safety tips in mind: • Use the right piece of equipment for the job. • Read and make sure you understand the operator’s manual.

Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts save lives

The good news is you can prevent injuries and save lives by simply using your tractor’s roll-over protective structure (ROPS) and wearing your seatbelt. Unfortunately, there are still many farmers who operate their tractors without putting up the ROPS. Take a trip through the Okanagan valley on any given day and you’ll likely see tractors on the road without ROPS. If those tractors were to get too close to the edge of the road, they could overturn into a ditch, with potentially devastating consequences for the operator. Even with their ROPS up, tractors are still dangerous unless the operator is wearing a seatbelt. Working safely around PTOs is crucial to avoiding serious injuries or even fatalities. Ensuring all shields and guards are in place, and keeping a safe distance from a rotating PTO could drastically reduce the number of incidents. Also, before getting off the machine, remember to disengage the PTO, turn off the tractor and make sure the parking brake is applied and working properly.

We’re working with you to make sure all farmers go home safe. For resources and videos on safe equipment operation, visit worksafebc.com/agriculture.

Proper education, training, and supervision are important as well. If you’re an

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• Check to ensure the tractor is in good working condition before you operate it. • Always make sure all PTO shields and guards are in place and in good condition. • Ensure the ROPS is up, and always wear your seatbelt. • Ensure the tractor brakes are in good condition, working well in both directions (forward and reverse), and properly locked for higher speeds. • Always drive at a safe speed, and be familiar with the terrain slopes and conditions. Always review the conditions of your work area for irregularities such as holes or other obstacles. • Ensure all loads are properly secured, including large bales, and objects being raised above the head level of the operator. • Turn on level ground whenever possible, and avoid soft shoulders. • When getting off the machine, disengage the PTO, turn off the tractor, and ensure the parking brake is on and operating effectively before you dismount. • When operating a tractor with a frontend loader, keep the bucket low when travelling and turning. Never leave the tractor seat with the bucket raised. • WorkSafeBC can help you and your workers stay safe around tractors and other agricultural equipment. There are a variety of resources that can provide the information and safety advice you need at worksafebc. com/agriculture. While there, have a look at our videos on tractor safety including: 4H Working safely on tractors and 4H Working safely around tractors ■ For hands-on assistance with tractor safety, contact AgSafe at 1.877.533.1789.

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 YOUNG AGRARIANS | SARA DENT

Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Program

oung Agrarians is a network for new and young ecological farmers. Our program works to facilitate farmer2farmer knowledge transfer, and reverse the national trend of the declining number of new farm operators 35 and younger in Canada. We are currently focused on ongoing programming in BC and Alberta, and our network at the grassroots level extends across Canada. Our main program pillars are: Online outreach and engagement; educational events including workshops; farm tours and mixers; business mentorships; and land access.

to overcome when they start farms. Land is expensive in Southern BC—prohibitively expensive. Capital can be challenging to access for those saddled with student debt and without equity or collateral to leverage. Recent research conducted in 2015 by the National New Farmers Coalition, in partnership with the University of Manitoba, indicates that a whole twothirds (68% of 1326 survey participants) of new farmers do not come from family farming backgrounds.

yeah, I’m going to grow some vegetables,’ but the other side of actually running a business and making it profitable is forgotten. We’d done fairly well after our first season but realized after looking at all the numbers that, even though we set kind of unrealistic goals, it wasn’t quite enough to consider making a living on or growing our business.”

This plays out in a number of ways. Gemma McNeill and Doug Zaklan of Zaklan Heritage Farm were lucky enough to have land from Doug’s family. But, as Gemma points out, that’s only a first step. “Although we both had previous experience with farming, neither of us had the extensive business experience that is often overlooked when people get into farming.”

“Other farmers are the most valuable resources you can have,” Gemma says. The program also provided assistance and guidance in setting up their social media strategy. “It’s invaluable for connecting us to the public and to our customers, but it also connects us to other farmers. There is so much information available via social media. We can learn from other farmers all over the world.”

She reflects that, “It’s easy to think, ‘Oh

While the community of Young Agrar-

Young Agrarians helped Gemma and Doug connect to a larger network of farmers they could turn to for advice.

Young Agrarians is now the largest new farmer organization in BC. In 2016 we partnered up with the City of Surrey, in collaboration with Quebec’s Land Bank Program, L’Arterre, to pilot a Land Matching Program in the Lower Mainland. This program connects new farmers ready to start farms with farmland owners. According to the most recent StatsCanada agricultural data (2016), farmers are getting older—but also younger. Farmers over the age of 55 is the fastest growing age group, with the average national age of operators edging up from 54 in 2011 to 55 in 2016. This trend parallels the general population. On the other hand, in 2016 we saw an increase in the number of farm operators under 35. This is the first time there has been an increase in farmers under 35 since 1991 when the number of young farmers started a steep decline, falling from 77,910 in 1991 to 24,120 by 2011. As of 2016, 24,850, or 9.1%, of Canadian farmers are under 35, with 28% of those new farmers in BC. Young Agrarians represent! New farmers have a number of barriers

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ians helped get them started, it was the Mentorship program that was truly transformative. Gemma reflects that the mentorship she got through Young Agrarians has bolstered their business and their confidence. “I think mentorship is really important because it’s always helpful to have a family on board. Sometimes you’re kind of ‘stuffing your own silo’—you don’t see other things. A mentor gives you a whole other perspective, to talk through things in a different way. Last spring was really challenging so I sent our mentor a message saying ‘Hey, I’m really struggling and I was wondering if we could have a pep talk.’ We talked on the phone for about an hour and worked through some of the challenges we were experiencing. It helped us feel a lot less isolated. Having a bigger community out there that can provide support is huge and really helps us avoid costly mistakes.” A new generation of young people have a number of reasons for getting into farming. Concern for the planet and climate change is a primary motivator for many new farmers. New farmers also want to be a part of supporting their local communities by providing access to fresh and ecologically grown foods. The best thing that people can do these days is to continue to get to know your local food producers, and help grow more interest in small-scale farms. ■ About Young Agrarians (YA): In B.C. Young Agrarians is a partnership with FarmFolk CityFolk. Our mission is to grow the next generation of farmers in Canada. To learn more about us visit: youngagrarians.org. Sara Dent is Young Agrarians' cofounder, producer, and lead project manager. She has almost 20 years experience in the non-profit sector working on youth initiatives, and has focused on agriculture and food systems since 2006.

Be Our Next Business Feature of the Day Ask us How! info@orchardandvine.net 42 Fall 2017

 SEEDS OF GROWTH | FRED STEELE

Regaining Trust in Farming a High Priority trust is the disconnect between agriculture and urban consumers. This is natural if you consider the evolution of how it happened. One hundred years ago, fifty-two percent of the Canadian population was in some way connected to agriculture, to earn their living. Today that number is two percent.

The most hard hitting was a Canadian show called This Hour Has Seven Days. It was the model for the ongoing American program Sixty Minutes.

nyone of a certain age has seen the front page of the old Saturday Evening Post, and dozens of other publications from the past, extolling the virtues of agriculture. Remember front cover photos of smiling rustic faces? Then came the inclusive interview era of radio. Again the “everything is alright” virtue was promoted and re-enforced. At some point in time, television changed the way viewers received information - we entered the time of hidden cameras and ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ reporting. Controversy sold newspapers. Some of the stories exposed weaknesses in the system and showed up less than ethical businesses.

Why am I telling you all this? Because history doesn't just happen, it evolves, and the story of agriculture has gone from fairyland-wonderful to being the subject of suspicion. The agriculture industry was oblivious to the downside of criticism. The internet made everyone an expert in “Real Time”. Correcting a ‘runaway mistake’ buried in the next Tweet is near impossible. The Tweet takes on a life of its own regardless of whether or not it is fact. These communication channels are being segregated, leading to more extreme views as one group is not entering into discourse with others in society. What was once Public Trust can become Public Dis-trust overnight.

As well, the agriculture industry took for granted the confidence consumers have in farmers and the farm industry, (the food distribution system). In an August 31, 2017 editorial in Western Producer, I came across an article written by David Miller, a research and commodity services director for an Iowa farm. He found some startling disconnects and inaccuracies in the beliefs of bloggers. I would like to share some of his findings to help us give our collective heads a shake. While agriculture extolled the virtues of the family farm and chain stores promoted locally grown, social blog-

How does this affect agriculture? The biggest reason for dis-

gers said that wasn't true. You see, there were signs in fields saying this field this land is owned by Syngenta, or DeKalb, or Monsanto or any other corporate name you want to add. What actually happened was the bloggers mistook the signs indicating what seed was being used, as ownership signs by corporate farms. When this misconception came to light, farmers were flabbergasted. Urban consumers hear the endless stories about Monsanto and big factory farms and the negative visual imprints on the mind they leave, and assumed seed signs were signs of ownership. The Iowa story was a US one but it could happen here and likely does in a variety of ways. Instead of addressing the seed sign problem, the first reaction was to scoff at the suggestion. But think about it for a moment. In the urban setting, signs tell people what the business is and who owns it, so it became a natural assumption.

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Here is something that must be understood to correct future problems of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and distrust. “People fill in what they don't know with what little they do know, and often that picture is not what reality is,” is a David Miller quote that is both educational and chilling. “It demonstrates just how much work we have to do to reach the hearts and minds of those we are asking to trust us as farmers,” Miller adds.

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So, what and where and how do we begin to untangle the web of misinformation bombarding us on a daily basis? Even more importantly, farming is now a complex business and farmers themselves need to be informed so they can answer questions in their own neighbourhood. This summer I got to see some of this in action. On tour I watched David Geen telling his story to the Labour Minister of St Lucia. I thought to myself, Mr Geen really knows his stuff. It was interesting, informative and David was engaging his guests and answering questions. How do we gain the public trust of people who don't believe in any sprays at all? Our consolidated retailers are demanding cosmetically perfect fruit, so there is a disconnect with the consumer. How do we bridge this information gap? How do we bridge our reality with the fact the agriculture industry can no longer take public trust for granted. Programs such as the one being developed by BCAC on public trust will help bridge the gap. We, the two percent still in agriculture, must use every available means to inform the ninety eight percent of the population as to what the realities of farming really are. Ignoring the questions and sometime inaccurate statements on social media means we enhance public distrust and in so doing risk the pressures on politicians to regulate our industry more and more.

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When the public perception of farms is different from the true farm experience, the public perception is right, even though it is wrong. As farmers and those who make up the agriculture community, it is our task to make sure urban consumers know what reality is and band together to gain Public Trust. ■ Fred Steele, President BCFGA

 THE WORD ON WINE | ASHLEY SPILAK

The Winners – Best of BC Wine Country Awards

t was about learning first hand from winery-goers what keeps bringing them back. This was the passion behind the BC Wine Institute’s Best of BC Wine Country Awards, which called on the public to vote on their top picks from the Wines of British Columbia. Voting lasted four weeks and crowdsourced close to 2000 votes, with 30% of people voting on multiple wine regions! The BC Wine Institute’s Director of Marketing Kim Barnes is all smiles. “The participation from both the public and wineries was outstanding,” she said. “We have decided to make this an annual awards contest. “I think folks saw this as the people’s choice awards on wine experiences, and I believe that’s why we had such healthy uptake, especially on social media,” Barnes added. So what are the public’s favourites or “best of” in BC wines for 2017? Drum roll please...

Wine Best BC Red: Painted Rock Estate Winery, Icon Red 2014 Best BC White: Tantalus Vineyards, Riesling Best BC Rosé: Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Hush Rosé Best BC Sparkling: Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Cipes Brut

Best Place to Bring Out-ofTowners: Dirty Laundry Vineyard Best Winery Accommodation: Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Best Winery Tour: Mission Hill Estate Winery Best Winery Experience Overall: Dirty Laundry Vineyard Visit www.bestof.winebc.com for a complete list of other region winners and honourable mentions in each of the above categories.

Culinary Best Winery Restaurant: Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Best Restaurant Showcasing Local Foods: RauDZ Regional Table Best Local Food Product: Poplar Grove Cheese Best Overall Culinary Experience: Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

What was clear from the votes is the tremendous diversity and popularity of the Okanagan wine region with its many wine varietals and winery sizes. In the Fraser Valley, the voting illustrated a large appreciation for the quality of local backyard wines and, similar to Vancouver Island, certain familiar local wines performed strongly with BC consumers. The Similkameen Valley wine region established recurring top wines and wineries, and a top three theme emerged for this region specifically.

Atmosphere Best Patio: Dirty Laundry Vineyard Best Tasting Room: Painted Rock Estate Winery Best View: Mission Hill Estate Winery Best Winery Pet: Buddha from Bella Wines Best Architecture: Mission Hill Estate Winery

Finally for new and emerging wine regions, Fort Berens Estate Winery was a definite stand-out for the number of votes in almost every category.

Experience Best Kept Secret: Noble Ridge Winery and Vineyard

Votes also indicated that beyond general enjoyment of wines, the local culinary, culture, art, and scenic views are also attracting people to explore beyond their usual BC wine experience. What does the future hold? Many BC wineries are working hard right now to expand their wine touring experiences for consumers. On-site restaurants, shops and accommodation, seasonal locallysourced food pairings, art and yoga classes in the vineyards, cooking classes, vineyard tours, concerts, aboriginal cultural experiences and festivals are just the beginning, with more creative opportunities to come. The BC Wine Institute’s Best of BC Wine Country will be back next year to recognize and award top winners. Please don’t forget to vote, and tell your friends and family to vote as well. We appreciate the feedback, direct from you. ■ Ashley Spilak, Content Marketing Manager at the British Columbia Wine Institute. www.winebc.org @WineBCdotcom

Fall 2017 45

M ARCH É JEAN-TALON Situated in the heart of Little Italy, Jean Talon Market is one of the oldest public markets in Montréal. Inaugurated in May 1933, it was first called Le Marché du Nord, but in 1983, its name was changed in honour of Jean Talon, the first intendant of New France. Village-like and familyfriendly, it’s a place where generations of both merchants and customers have grown up.

Whether you’re a locavore or on the hunt for gastronomic treasure, you’ll find high quality, seasonal and fresh produce every day from the growers and processors. Jean Talon Market is overflowing with local specialties, but also products from other places: there’s something for every occasion and every taste! Jean Talon market is open year-round and its enthusiastic and experienced producers and merchants offer fresh and locally grown or processed foods, and discoveries from other places. Jean Talon Market, one of the largest openair markets in North America, bustles with activity year round. 46 Fall 2017

Jean Talon Market stands out with its many local fruit and vegetable growers, its diversity of small shopkeepers (butchers, bakers, fishmongers, grocers, etc.) and its restaurateurs, who are sure to whet your appetite when you visit.