Orchard & Vine Pre Spring 2023

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Cover Photo by Ronda Payne. Andi Manuel, co-proprietor, and Patrick Blandin, viticulturist and winemaker at Cannon Estate Winery.

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Choose One Word to Define 2023

How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up? Did you make big plans to exercise more, go on a diet, stop smoking or drinking, spend more quality time with family, or have less screen time? Maybe you decided to not make any resolutions at all. Have you dropped off or still having great success?

Have you ever heard about having a word of the year? Some of my friends choose a word for the year. Choices for some of the words range from: adventure, gratitude, prosperity, integrity, love, and abundance. This year I decided to choose a word for the year and that being the word fun. Saying yes to even the smallest activities or things that bring about moments of happiness and fun are easy to do. No resolutions for me. Fun is easier.

The word fun also covers off a bunch of other categories mentioned above like; adventure, family and love. If you’re having fun you’re likely enjoying all these mentioned and more. Whatever your word or resolution I hope you can achieve what you are aiming for.

Perhaps the word this year for BC Tree Fruits and their members is hope. I sincerely hope they can come to an agreeable resolution, that there can be a win-win for all parties involved. It’s been difficult to stay on top of all the meetings and changes in the print magazine since often we have already gone to press. See inside this issue.

Going through some old magazines at home, I came across an industry type advertisement in a1966 issue of Maclean’s Magazine, you’ll see it inside. It has a red apple with a bite taken out of it and the headline

reads, “ Every farmer wants the same tractor… the right one.” The Tractor Guide is inside this issue. You may want to purchase a new or used one this year.

Next issue, you will see the popular Buyer’s Guide. It will contain many quality suppliers and service providers that you need to keep your farm or wine operation running smoothly. These companies can offer you a lot of valuable advice. I invite you to watch for that issue and hang onto it for future purchases down the road. With so many new wineries, new owners and other ventures cropping up, it’s good to know whom you can purchase from.

In the meantime, my wish is that you have an abundant crop, prosperity, and success in your life and lots of fun in your daily activities.

Enjoy the magazine!

Vol. 64, No 1 Pre Spring 2023

Established in 1959

Publisher Lisa Olson

Editor Gary Symons

Graphic Design Stephanie Symons

Writers

Warren Arondus, Heidi Hare, Leeann Froese, Kelly Josephson, Ronda Payne, Gary Symons

Contact lisa@orchardandvine.net

Orchard & Vine Magazine Ltd.

Mailing Address

22-2475 Dobbin Road Suite #578 West Kelowna, BC

V4T 2E9

www.orchardandvine.net

Phone: 778-754-7078

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.

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Return undeliverable items to:

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Photo by Kimberly Brooke Photography

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International Fruit Tree Association

February 12-15

Grand Rapids, Michigan www.ifruittree.org

Oregon Wine Symposium

February 14-15

Portland, Oregon www.oregonwinesymposium.com

Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention

February 22-23

Niagara Falls, ON www.ofvc.ca

BC Cherry Association AGM

February 23

Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna, BC admin@bccherry.com

BCFGA Annual Convention

February 28

Penticton Lakeside Resort, BC www.bcfga.com/

Ontario Craft Wine Conference & Trade Show

April 18

Niagara Falls Convention Centre www.ontariocraftwineconference.ca

J Jeremy Siddall District Vice PresidentPacific Agriculture Services British Columbia

250-681-4656

jeremy.siddall@td.com

Jamie Rivard, B .Comm Account Manager

250-552-0638

Jamie.Rivard@td.com

Vancouver International Wine Festival

April 22-30

Vancouver, BC https://vanwinefest.ca/

Spring Wine Festival

June 2-11

Okanagan, BC www.thewinefestivals.com

The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

Actor Jason Priestley & Friends Launch New Q&A Winery in the Okanagan

Hollywood actor-director Jason Priestley has partnered former broadcaster Terry David Mulligan and winemaker Michal Mosny in the creation of Q&A. The winery will focus on a single red wine sourced from some of the top vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. The BC-born Priestley was previously a co-owner of the acclaimed Black Hills Estate until it was sold to Andrew Peller Limited in 2017.

“After the sale, I continued to search for exceptional terroir capable of producing a peerless Bordeaux-style blend,” said Priestley. “After looking everywhere, all roads lead to one answer and the answer is once again in the Okanagan. This time, the difference is in the details, with a focus on elegance and finesse.”

The grapes for the 2020 Q&A come from the sun-drenched Quails Wayside and Chahal

Vineyards in Oliver. “The purity and intensity of the fruits are accentuated by a meticulous oak regime and crafted through traditional winemaking methods,” explained Mosny, who also owns Winemakers CUT in Oliver. “Q&A and Winemaker’s CUT share the same vision and philosophy towards wine,” said

Mosny. “Both labels reflect our curious and detail-obsessed demeanour. We leave no stone unturned in finding what we seek. If the answer does not exist, it is the opportunity to make the calls for ourselves.”

The inaugural vintage of the Q&A red wine was released on Nov. 19, 2022.

Okanagan Crush Pad Reopens as Haywire, Ends Custom Crush Service

After 11 years running Canada’s first purpose-built custom crush winemaking business successfully, the team at Okanagan Crush Pad is saying goodbye to its original business model.

When Okanagan Crush Pad opened in 2011 the winery was constructed with a capacity much larger than what was needed for Haywire, with the intention of sharing the space until its own production grew. The available space was used to incubate other BC winery startups.

The custom crush service offering has run its course for the team, as sales of their own wines have grown and now house brands have taken over the production space that was previously used for clients. Over the past five years the team has been actively reducing custom crush as they move towards capacity.

Along its 14-year-history, Haywire has grown from a tiny virtual wine to become the anchor brand in the Okanagan Crush Pad portfolio of wines, with recognition across Canada and in Europe.

The winery closed in 2022 and is set to re-

open as Haywire Winery in spring 2023, with a new, modern tasting lounge, and a bold new label for Haywire, the wine that started the journey in 2009.

Winemaker Matt Dumayne remains dedicated to his role at Haywire Winery. In addition to Haywire, the Narrative, Free Form and Bizou + Yukon wines will continue to be made.

The team also maintains its commitment to organic farming and sustainable winery practices, with an added passion for creating wines in concrete vessels.

With a bold new label and an inviting yearround tasting lounge, visitors to Summerland can relax and enjoy personalized service, scenic lake and vineyard views and savour their favourite Haywire wines.

New Owners for Sonora Desert Winery and South Okanagan Craft Distillery

Artisan Food & Beverage Group has announced the acquisition of Sonora Desert Winery and South Okanagan Craft Distillery. Founder and Winemaker Mark Simpson has partnered with Siren’s Call Wines Sales Director Teresa Centanni to acquire the stunning property located roughly five kilometers north of Osoyoos. The deal includes a 3.75-acre old vines vineyard planted with Merlot and Tempranillo, a seven-bedroom inn, a boutique winery, and a craft distillery, all set in the spectacular Sonoran Desert. The relaunch is planned for April 2023 and the next six months will be spent developing plans for winery events and experiences along with reimagining Artisan Group’s flagship Siren’s Call wine brand to reflect its new home.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this acquisition,” said Simpson. “It’s been a long-held dream of both Teresa and I to own and operate our own winery and estate vineyard. The Sonora Desert property is an incredible opportunity for us to bring those dreams to fruition.”

With branding, websites, and 2023 programming to be developed, the next months will be a busy time for everyone involved. “We have lots of work to do but are filled with excitement and energy as we look ahead,” said Centanni. “We can’t wait to share news about our new wines, products, and events with BC wine lovers.” www.sonoradesertwinery.ca

Mark Simpson and Teresa Centanni working in the Vineyard.

Photo contributed.

Remembering Vice President of BCFGA Jeet Dukhia

Jeet Dukhia died at age 74 on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Jeet previously served as President of the BCFGA in 2012, and is the current Vice-President of the BCFGA, elected in February 2021 to a two-year term. Jeet immigrated to Canada as a youth with his family, landing in Port-Aux-Vasques, Newfoundland, where his father taught high school. After training as a power engineer in Calgary, Jeet worked at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and became chief engineer for

the Interior Health Authority in 2010. After arriving in Vernon, Jeet purchased his first orchard in 1974 with his brother. His current 43-acre farm in Vernon was purchased in 1979. Jeet replanted to high density apples (primarily Gala, Ambrosia, and Honey Crisp), with three acres of cherries.

Jeet was known for his connection to the grassroots, as well as his strong-willed approach to life and advocating for the under-represented.

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Vice President of BCFGA Jeet Dukhia was a powerful supporter of BC agriculture.

CCOVI Lecture Series on Wine Returns in Person and Online

The return of a long-standing Brock lecture series later this year will allow people from around the world — as well as those on campus — to dive into the University’s leading grape and wine research.

The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) Lecture Series will return in person for the 2023 edition, while also being livestreamed online for interested viewers around the globe.

The lectures can also be viewed live online and the recordings are then archived on the CCOVI Lecture Series website.

2023 CCOVI Lecture Series

• Jan. 25: Belinda Kemp, CCOVI Principal Scientist, Oenology, Brock University. Targeting Tannins: Six vintages of six red varieties

• Feb. 1: Justin Renkema, Research Scientist, Entomology, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, London Research and Development Centre. Progress identifying insect vectors of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV) in Ontario vineyards

• Feb. 8: José Ramón Úrbez Torres, Research Scientist, Plant Pathology, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Centre. Cultural practices and biological agents: Towards a sustainable control of grapevine trunk diseases

• Feb. 15: Kevin Ker, CCOVI Research Associate, Brock University, Grape IPM – Dynamic Never Static.

• March 1: Joachim Scholz, Assistant Professor of AR/XR (augmented reality and cross reality) Marketing, Goodman School of Business, Brock University. How to tell epic brand stories on social media: A system, instrument and metrics

• March 8: Sudarsana Poojari, CCOVI Principal Scientist, Virology, Brock University. Importance of a clean plant program for grapevines

• March 15: Jim Willwerth, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University. Improving resiliency in grapevines to avoid freeze damage in a changing climate

• March 22: Amy Lemay, Research Fellow, Niagara Community Observatory, Brock University. The role of knowledge mobilization in the adoption of best management practices in horticulture

• March 29: Wendy McFadden-Smith, Tender Fruit and Grape IPM Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Grapevine viruses in Ontario: What have we learned?

• April 5: Charles Dépres, Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University. Pharmacogenomics strategies for yield security in agriculture.

Winesecrets Presents Recovered Water Solutions

American Winesecrets, LLC. (Winesecrets), North America’s leading wine filtration company, has expanded its engineered solutions offerings to include facility wastewater recovery under the name Recovered Water Solutions (RWS).

“As changing regulations concerning processed water discharge and water scarcity challenge the security of this vital resource, our expertise in filtration can serve wineries, food, beverage and agricultural production with filtration-based recovery of wastewater,” said Winesecrets president Eric Dahlberg. “Winesecrets’ channel partnership with Veolia Water Technologies (formerly Suez Water Technologies/GE Water) provides us access to world-class knowledge and experience that would not otherwise be available for operators of smaller plants like wineries.

“The benefits of wastewater recovery systems include reduced well or municipal make up, reduced land application and less reliance on wastewater ponds,” he added. “This paves the way to sustainability as water availability is threatened by ongoing drought and tightening governmental regulations.” RWS allows facilities to be industry leaders in making a positive environmental impact. www.recwatersolutions.com.

New Bursary Honours the Memory

of Quails’ Gate Vineyard Employee

The Quails’ Gate Shawn Prescott Memorial Bursary was recently created in memory of Shawn Prescott–Subranni (Ghyslain Subranni), a member of the Quails’ Gate viticulture team who lost his battle with cancer in 2022 at the age of 37.

An annual bursary of $1,500 has been created by the Stewart family in honour of Shawn’s memory to provide financial support to one individual each school year with aspirations to attend the Okanagan College Viticulture Certificate Program.

Shawn started his career with Quails’ Gate in 2014 as a seasonal worker and quickly made his way up the ranks to a supervisory role as Vineyard Lead Hand before being diagnosed in 2018. Shawn had a passion for the outdoors and was deeply dedicated to the vineyards at Quails’ Gate. He had a great sense of humour and inspired a sense of team spirit and camaraderie among his colleagues. A true member of the Quail’s Gate family, Shawn was a respected and dedicated member of the team. His absence is felt throughout the Quails’ Gate estate.

Shawn aspired to attend the Viticulture Certificate Program at Okanagan College but was unable to due to his illness. The bursary honours Shawn’s passion for viticulture and helps individuals like Shawn discover the same appreciation for vineyards and horticulture.

Brian Pauluzzi, B.Com., RI, AACI, MRICS

Stephanie Nelson Named as New Chair for BC Cranberry Commission

The BC Cranberry Marketing Commission will have a new chair, due to the shuffling of a number of regulated commodity positions.

Kalpna Solanki is moving on from the position to join BC Turkey, and will be replaced by Stephanie Nelson, the current executive director at BC Broiler Hatching Egg Commission .

“I just celebrated 15 years with Hatching Egg,” she says. “This is my first chairmanship and we have a new minister. We’ve met with her and we’ve got some information on what she’d like to see.”

While she loves working at Hatching Egg, Nelson also recognized she was longing to add new opportunities to her work experience without changing her job. She spoke to the former BC Agriculture and Food Minister, Lana Popham, and offered to serve in whatever way her skills might benefit the province’s agriculture sector. Cranberries was a fit and she became chair on December 21.

“I didn’t apply for it specifically. At the time, I’d talked to [Popham] and asked if there was anywhere I could help,” she says. “Cranberries is interesting. I’m not involved in horticulture so it’s going to be a brand-new world. I’m interested in learning a whole new area of agriculture.”

Nelson knows a few of the faces in the cranberry industry and is looking forward to working alongside those she knows and those she doesn’t yet.

“It was a slow start over Christmas, but I was able to attend their Christmas social,” she says. “I will definitely be at the AGM [on March 7]. I want to learn about being a great chair and about cranberries.”

Stephanie Nelson, New Chair of the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission.

Photo contributed.

New Support for Okanagan Apple Growers

The BC government is providing support in four strategic areas to help BC’s tree-fruit industry to provide locally produced fruit to British Columbians, while supporting the Okanagan economy.

“BC apple growers are an important part of our province’s food security and economy,” said former Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham. “We are working directly with the industry, family farms and businesses to ensure they succeed into the future, and putting BC’s apple growers in the best position to increase their efficiency, production and profitability.”

Over two years, $2.5 million will support crop health, fruit production, apple marketing and skills training.

The funding includes:

• Establishing a tree-fruit extension program that will provide on-farm support to an estimated 250 growers each year to support improved fruit quality, increased production and farm business operations;

• Supporting the Okanagan Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program;

• Working with the tree-fruit industry on a domestic and international marketing strategy for BC apples; and,

• Supporting Okanagan College in developing a tree-fruit-specific certificate course to increase industry capacity and help meet labour needs.

“The extension program can help people transition their business models from producing quantity to producing quality, which offers a much better financial return, and in my view, is one key element to the stability of our industry,” said Rick Machial of Fairview Orchards Ltd.

“Coming from a farming family, I know how hard farmers work and how difficult these past few years have been on them,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee, said. “That’s why our government is working hard to strengthen the industry to ensure its longevity. The Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan was developed jointly with industry and is part of the Province’s larger plan of supporting BC growers.

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Partnering with B.C. agriculture to improve workplace health and safety

Understanding employer responsibilities

Identifying the risk factors, implementing prevention strategies, and eliminating or reducing the causes of injuries can all go a long way in improving workplace health and safety. Effectively managing risk in your workplace involves four steps:

1. Understand the risks — identify the hazards (anything that could cause harm) and assess the risk these hazards pose to workers.

WorkSafeBC’s Agriculture Initiative was developed through the examination of claims data and identification of work activities with the highest potential for causing injury. The initiative focuses prevention activities on identified factors that drive injuries, in order to apply resources and effort where they will be most effective. Our areas of focus are:

• Workers struck by machinery, animals, and equipment

• Tractor safety

• Falls on the same elevation and from ladders

• Sprains and strains

• Safeguarding and lockout

• Confined spaces

• Pesticide storage and use

• New and young worker orientation and training

2. Control the risks — the greatest risk should be addressed first. Start by trying to eliminate the risk or substitute the process. If that is not possible, apply engineering controls, using equipment or other means to prevent workers from being exposed to the hazard. The next level is administrative controls, using safe work procedures to enable workers to perform the work safely. The final level of control is personal protective equipment (PPE), by itself or in combination with another type of control.

3. Communicate — make sure all affected workers and supervisors know what controls are in place and how to use them.

4. Monitor and update — assess how your control measures are working and make improvements if needed.

Preventing incidents is a shared responsibility

Workers have great insights into the demands of the job and can help to identify risk factors and potential controls for mitigating risks. Employers need to consult with workers and their joint health and safety committee, or worker health and safety representative, when completing risk assessments.

BC’s New Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis

By Gary Symons

BC now has a new Minister of Agriculture and Food, as Pam Alexis was appointed to the cabinet post on Dec. 7, 2022.

Alexis replaces long-time Ag Minister Lana Popham, and has been charged by BC’s new premier David Eby with achieving food security for the province. Popham is now the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Food security – where we get our food, and how much it costs – is front of mind for all British Columbians,” said Eby in his appointment letter to Alexis. “Climate change, supply chain issues, and policy changes in places far from BC can impact our food supply and costs here at home.

“As Minister, your job will be to support farmers, ranchers, and seafood producers in the critical work they do for all of us, to ensure food security for British Columbians by establishing policies to use our agricultural land wisely, increase production, and add processing capacity,” Eby added. “Your role also involves building on our strong export sector by promoting the clean, safe, high-quality food produced in BC, creating jobs and growing our economy sustainably while supporting our communities and our neighbours.”

Alexis comes to the role as a former city councillor and mayor for the city of Mission, where she worked extensively with the region’s large community of farmers.

Alexis was also involved in the provincial response to the devastating flooding in the Fraser Valley due to the atmospheric river in 2021. For that reason, providing more support to farmers has become the new cabinet minister’s first priority.

Orchard & Vine got a chance to get to know Alexis better, as we conducted our first annual interview with the Minister of Agriculture and Food just weeks after her appointment.

O&V: What are your top priorities as minister?

Pam Alexis: Well, I suppose food security is top of mind, and I come at it because, as we’ve talked about emergencies before, we’ve lived through a few and my experience through the atmospheric river, and be -

ing immersed in, of course, the issues that the farmers faced, certainly were extremely impactful.

I think at that time, BC also looked at the atmospheric river as what then Premier Horgan said, that climate change was on our doorstep. For a lot of folks, access to food was top of mind and as mayor, I can tell you that we went through that exercise in a big way, in the beginning of COVID, where, you know, we saw the stores being emptied, and it was that whole nervousness began about access to food, and then having that access cut off from the rest of Canada I think people at that point really questioned, ‘okay, what are we doing to protect our food, so that we can feed our communities?’

To me, that was highly impactful, and it certainly figures front and center in my mandate letter from the premier that food secu-

rity is a top priority for our government. For food security, it means of course that I’ll be working closely with the new minister, Bowinn Ma, who’s the new Minister of Climate Change and Emergency Preparedness.

(Editor’s Note: That cabinet post is a new position created by the New Democrat government in response to the 2021 floods, the catastrophic heat dome earlier that year, and successive years of disastrous wildfires)

We’ll be looking at initiatives and certainly issues that impact the farmer because also in the mandate letter it says I’m not only to support farmers in what they’re doing now, but we have an expectation that we want to produce more, we want to produce certainly more locally, and increased exports are even in the mix with that too.

So that’s clear in my mandate, but that food security umbrella certainly encompasses so

New BC Premier David Eby welcomes Pam Alexis as the new Minister of Agriculture and Food.

Photo credit: Province of British Columbia

much. I think that’s where BC is going and where they want the emphasis, so it’s really important to me.

O&V: Speaking of climate change and emergency preparedness, is there anything happening specifically with the Sumas Prairie region to prevent that kind of thing from happening again, such as improving the current pumps and levees?

Pam Alexis: Certainly, the City of Abbotsford has submitted their priorities to the province, and outside of those priorities and the listing of the dikes that need to be addressed are the funds that will be necessary to upgrade the Barrowtown pump station.

(Editor’s Note: During the 2021 flood, the flood waters came very close to inundating the Barrowtown pump station, which would have caused even more catastrophic flooding. The disaster was averted when hundreds of volunteers showed up to sandbag the area, preventing a massive breach of the levees.)

So all of that is in the works as far as what will be tackled first, and it’s really the only way to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

And you know, it was just a miracle, to be honest, that those pumps stayed operating, and it was because of those 300 volunteers that put those sandbags in place that night to ensure that those pumps could keep going and that was it.

That was the scariest night of all for me and

it was just horrific to go through that. One thing I believe is that the atmospheric river proved it to be true that farmers will always help other farmers, and even farmers who had lost everything, were still helping other farmers. And it was those stories that would make me cry because I just thought, you know, given you have nothing left and you’re still giving.

O&V: I wanted to ask about the status on The Path Forward project, the Blueprint for the BC Tree Fruit Industry. I talked to your predecessor quite a lot about that over the years. I know a lot of the changes have happened, but what is the overall status of that project?

Pam Alexis: So the stabilization plan, it has been produced and it does list a number of recommendations. And I will be working with Peter Simonsen, the head of the (BC Fruit Growers Association) to go through those recommendations.

I’ve already met with Peter once, and I’m in the process of meeting everybody for a one-on-one kind of thing for the first time. I have pledged, of course, to work with Peter and go through those recommendations, so that’s where we are but in addition, or as part of the plan, we recently announced a $2.5 million funding announcement. I don’t know if you saw this announcement in November to support four strategic areas crop health, fruit production, Apple marketing, and skills training. So that’s in addition to

the recommendations that are part of the plan.”

O&V: Do you have anything specific for the apple growers going forward, who seem to be the ones suffering the most at the moment among the tree fruit farming community?

Pam Alexis: I’d have to defer that question until I sit with Peter a second time and go through those recommendations to see where we need to work a little bit differently perhaps, but I’m here to support the sector 100 per cent, and it’s not just the apple growers that are faced with succession issues. I talk to a lot of farmers whose kids are just not interested. And it’s a problem. And I totally get that but you know, I think what I am optimistic about is that I am meeting young farmers who may not have the family history and you know, that plan of following the path of you taking over the farm as a family member, but that they’re interested in and willing to start this business. So I am cheered by that for sure.

There are a lot of young people out there that really want to do this, and I feel that’s great, but you know, I was talking to this woman who’s got 700 acres in Deroche (near Mission) and she’s a dairy farmer. She has had her two brothers and herself that run it and so she said, my kids just look at me and say ‘No way, don’t even think about asking me because I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to do what you do’.”

O&V: We’ve had ongoing labor shortages, some of which were caused by COVID and the related travel issues, of course, but are there going to be any changes or improvements to the SAWP program? Are you looking at that area to improve the seasonal worker supply?

Pam Alexis: Certainly, we have had a number of applications come forward to the province to actually allow those seasonal workers to come in and we have prioritized those applications because we’ve got a bit of a backlog right now. Right now we have no changes to announce at this second but moving forward, maybe ask the question again in six months or so,

I don’t know if there’s changes coming. It’s possible but I just know that we are dealing with the backlog of applications right now, and certainly addressing those is a priority for us for sure to make sure farmers have the workers they need this year.

New BC Premier David Eby takes a selfie with his recently appointed Cabinet members.

Photo credit: Province of British Columbia

Keeping Up With the Co-op Controversy

By Gary Symons

Members of the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative say the battle for control of the BC Tree Fruits Co-operative is not over.

The BCTF Co-op has been the focus of a bitter battle after the organization’s board decided to cancel the construction of a new packing house in Kelowna. Instead, the co-operative decided to invest in an upgrade of a packing house in Oliver, while also closing another existing packing house in Lake Country.

That enraged growers, particularly in the northern half of the valley, who say it will increase transportation costs, cause more damage to their fruit, and cost jobs for packing house workers.

As a result, a large number of growers launched a drive to replace the current board of directors.

That took place in two stages, the first being at a Special General Meeting in late November, where 64.9 per cent of growers voted to remove the board.

However, such a vote requires a super majority of 66.6 per cent to succeed.

“You needed a super majority and the vote was 64.9 per cent to dissolve the board, but that is two percentage points lower than what was needed,” said East Kelowna grower Surinder Gosal. “It’s really unfortunate but the numbers weren’t quite there for that.”

As that motion failed, some growers advanced a second motion that would have changed the nomination process for the BCTF board of directors, and allowed opponents to run in the December AGM.

However, that motion also failed.

At the Special General Meeting on November the 22nd, there was a resolution put forward to make significant changes to the nomination process,” explained BCTF CEO Warren Sarafinchan. “That resolution did not receive the required support to pass, so the current nominations process will continue to be in place.”

A total of 152 growers voted, out of a total membership of 215.

That set the stage for a second confrontation at the organization’s Annual General Meeting in mid-December.

As no slate of nominees was advanced by those opposing the current board, Sarafinchan said the nominees that had been advanced during the co-operative’s nomination process were acclaimed, with no opposition.

“The co-operative has a very thorough nomination process for directors where qualifications range from the contract type that you have with the co-operative through to the quality of fruit that the growers produce,” Sarafinchan said. “So, there were five vacancies, and there were five directors who agreed to sit on the board, and basically were acclaimed into those roles at the December 12 AGM.”

But the process also angered many of those growers who opposed the packing house plan. “The AGM happened but the membership was dissatisfied with the board, and

Where the situation is at right now is that the membership wants to have their voice heard, and the board has chosen not to listen to their voice. That’s what’s happening in a nutshell right now. They’re refusing to discuss this issue, and we’re not happy about it.

Surinder Gosal

voted to dissolve the Annual General Meeting with a vote of about 70 per cent,” said Gosal. “We felt the election of the directors was basically coerced by the board, so the membership was extremely frustrated and voted to reconvene (the AGM) at a later date.

Basically, you saw the membership rejecting the meeting minutes of the AGM and voting to adjourn the AGM, so there was clearly strong dissatisfaction with the current board.”

BCTF attempted to complete the AGM on Jan. 20, but once again the meeting was adjourned with matters still outstanding.

“Unfortunately the meeting was adjourned before we could have those discussions,” Sarafinchan said. As a result, the AGM will have to be resumed yet again.

But Sarafinchan says one thing that is not on the table is the status of the current board, as the election was completed before the meeting was adjourned.

“The core requirements of what needed to be dealt with at the AGM were complete, and the director elections are complete,” Sarafinchan explained. “There there were some new business items that were raised

that we were not able to address … because the meeting was adjourned.

“So this next meeting, this next AGM will effectively be a discussion on those new items that were raised.”

While the BCTF says the election is complete, Gosal says some growers are questioning how that could happen when the full AGM was not carried out, and he believes many will question whether the election is valid or not.

As well, Gosal says growers like him will be voicing their anger that BCTF refuses to reconsider the packing house plan, despite discontent in a much of the membership.

“Where the situation is at right now is that the membership wants to have their voice heard, and the board is chosen not to listen to their voice. That’s what’s happening in a nutshell right now,” Gosal said. “They’re refusing to discuss this issue, and we’re not happy about it.”

Sarafinchan, however, said the BCTF management and board are reaching out to members to discuss the plan, hoping to address some of the concerns raised by growers.

“I’ve talked to a number of growers who were very supportive of the plans that we have. They want to simply see the changes being implemented,” Sarafinchan said. “I’ve also talked to growers that continue to have questions and our commitment is, you know, we’ll answer any question that we can and we’ve already had some good questions around things in areas such as the impact of increased transportation costs.” Since the December meeting took place, for example, Sarafinchan says the team has done an analysis to see if the longer transportation route will increase costs, and more importantly, damage fruit in transit to the Oliver packing house.

“There was a question that growers had about, will our fruits be damaged more by transit from the north to the south? And the answer to that is no,” Sarafinchan said. “We’ve done multiple tests now that have demonstrated that there is no increased damage and it’s also an interesting fact that we already ship a lot of fruit from the north to the south and the south to the north.

“So, while there are some increased transportation costs, we found that the benefits of operating with one facility with world class packing and grading equipment far outweigh the small increase in transportation costs,” Sarafinchan added.

The co-op hopes to have all of the renovations at the Oliver packing house completed in time for the 2024 apple harvest.

“I think we’re all saying the same thing about the need to improve the financial situation of tree fruit growers in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys,” Sarafinchan said. “So we need to make sure that everything that we do, and all the investments that are being made and the timelines that we’re working with, are all designed to improve those returns as quickly as possible. So that needs to be your focus, and we’re confident that the plan we put forward to our members will do that. 

BCTF CEO Warren Sarafinchan.

I’ve talked to a number of growers who were very supportive of the plans that we have. They want to simply see the changes implemented.

Warren Sarafinchan

Big Picture Wines in the Fraser Valley

Dry wines, that blend old world charm and new world taste, are the hallmark of

By Ronda Payne

Summers can be hot in Abbotsford, but there’s one area, in the north of the community, where a micro-climate gets even hotter, making a small wine region with a lot of taste possible. Yes, premium wines are happening in the Fraser Valley.

Cannon Estate Winery joined three other wineries in a roughly two-kilometer radius in Mount Lehman when they opened in November 2022. They bring more than 15 distinctive, flavourful and often brightly-complex wines to the historic village.

Andi Manuel and her husband Justin bought the 20-acre property in 2017 without a thought that it would become a vineyard. A complete surprise to Andi, during their home-design consultation, Justin announced they were going to create a winery, just as a hobby of course.

But, as Andi explains, Justin can’t do anything half-way. The hobby plan grew and

grew until it involved Andi’s dad, 12. 5 acres under vine, and grapes on contract from the Vernon, Oliver and Keremeos regions. There are four different soil types at the couple’s Mount Lehman site, now home to 16 varietals in 23 different blocks on clone root stock. Cannon Estate produced 105,000 bottles in 2022.

The winery ambitiously set forth with two distinct labels under the Cannon umbrella. Much of this has to do with the approach of their vineyard manager and winemaker, Patrick Blandin.

“Patrick has 30 years of experience,” Andi explains. “We kissed a lot of frogs before finding him.”

While some potential candidates for the role agreed to help, most wanted to remain in a remote consultant situation, which is not what the Manuels had in mind. They wanted someone on-site, willing to take ownership and be involved daily. They

newly-opened Cannon Estate Winery

wanted someone like Blandin, who has now become a member of the family.

“We sat down, tried a whole bunch of different wines and talked about varietals. We looked at wines we liked,” she says of talking about wines with Blandin to find the sweet spot for Cannon Estate. “Most of the ones we brought, he said weren’t good.”

The couple laughs about it now, but Andi sees how working with Blandin has changed what they thought they knew about wine. He honed his education and experience in enviable locales like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Sancerre before working in winemaking regions in countries like Turkey, Australia, China and Bhutan. Canada became home to him in 2014 when he worked for

Chaberton Estate Winery. He then joined Cannon Estate in 2017.

Blandin’s wines are as delicious as his accent and he has some very specific thoughts about what should be done to make great wine.

“It comes from the ground,” he says. “And the grapes. Good grapes don’t need anything else.”

As anyone in the industry knows, the process from deciding to start a winery to opening one can be fraught with potholes and the Cannon Estate experience was no different. The family was touring one of their favourite vacation spots (biking with their two boys in the chariot around Naramata bench - which actually inspired Jus-

tin’s thought to start the vineyard), when the excitement of their own endeavor had them sharing with wineries in the region. They’d left the extensive land preparation, already planted vines, house construction, winery construction and more at home to take a quick break while also learning.

“We started talking to winery owners,” says Andi. “Everyone was super supportive, but as soon as we told them it was in the Fraser Valley, we did notice this ‘oh, that’s cute; good luck’ air.”

On the way home, Andi’s doubts rose up, but Justin was confident. “It’s too late, we’re too far in. The wick is already lit.” And inadvertently, he named the winery and the two branded labels.

“Cannon is strictly French style connoisseur wine,” Andi says. “It’s light, delicate. The other brand, The Wick, is middle of the road. New World. It’s more punchy, fruit focused and expressive.”

All of the wines are dry, yet the precise blending Blandin does for each premium product makes for an anything but bland experience on the palate.

“Having Patrick doing everything and seeing it from a big picture approach shines through in our wines,” she notes. “Adding no sugar to our wine is definitely unique.”

She adds that one of Patrick’s goals is to make sure the wine is “digestible”

“I never want someone to have two glasses of our wine and feel full,” she says. They’re all super, totally drinkable.”

While some, like the light, delicately fruity Cannon Pondéré are perfect for patio drinking, others, like the Bordeaux-Claret-style Cannon Rapture bring added flavour to pizza and seafood. The Wick Zoom Zoom (for Blandin’s nickname within the industry: Zoom Zoom Zoom) is a bold Riesling blend with playful, punchy fruit flavours and an easy mouth-feel. The deep red of The Wick Bootstrapper, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, is robust and flavourful without the weight of some outspoken reds.

The vineyard layout, plantings and 5,000-square-foot production facility and tasting room are all products of merging the Manuels’ and Blandin’s visions. In the future, there will be three picnic areas, a lounge (to be the new home of the tasting room) and potentially a restaurant. Andi hopes the lounge will be completed by the summer and that their official greeter, Daisy the

Co-owner Justin Manuel created the winery as a hobby; a hobby which now includes 6 varietals in 23 different blocks on clone root stock, producing 105,000 bottles in 2022.

Photo contributed

Cocker Spaniel, will have more visitors to keep her on her paws as the season turns to outdoor adventure.

With half their grapes coming from Naramata, Cannon Estate falls under the 50/50 land-based rule as opposed to the typical 75/25 rule. Sons Tate and Rudy are likely to be on many more visits to the family-favourite vacation area as the couple continues to make connections with other wineries, their contract grape-growers and potentially even find a vineyard in the Naramata region.

Because Blandin takes on the vineyard management and the winemaking, he’s incredibly busy, but retains both the freedom and control to ensure the vineyard is minimally sprayed, the wines follow traditional winemaking procedures and the end products are as expected.

“It allows for more playfulness, more creativity for Patrick,” Andi says of the minimal additives and focus on blending to create the desired results. We want to create things that people will enjoy.”

Photos by Ronda Payne

Cannon’s winemaker Patrick Blandin is a 30-year veteran of the industry with a nose for what makes a great wine.

Co-owner Andi Manuel says winemaker Patrick Blandin is now like a member of their family, after five years of crafting wines at Cannon Estate.

BC Entomologist Lists Top Pests in BC

By Ronda Payne

Stink bugs, strawberry weevils and good news pest-predators top BC’s entomologist’s watch list

Pest pressures vary from year to year as climate change alters the environment and growers change control strategies. BC’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food entomologist Tracy Hueppelsheuser spoke to Orchard and Vine Magazine about her watch list for pests in 2023. Together with other experts in the industry, she is sharing that not all the bug news is bad.

Like many pests, the BMSB is more active in warmer weather when they are more mobile and will fly. This increased appearance may have given the false impression of higher volumes of the pest. They overwinter as adults, so if more were able to complete their life cycle, the numbers may be higher in the 2023 monitoring.

While damage to berries and grapes is possible, the key concern in these crops is that the bugs may be harvested with fruit and the chemicals that produce their infamous stink when frightened could easily taint juices or other processed products. Direct fruit damage seen in backyard berry growing areas can be misshapen fruit and dead spots.

Damage has been seen commercially in greenhouses and fields in peppers and tomatoes.

plant. This is bad news,” she says. “It’s also been found in Europe and that’s bad news because it impacts the nursery industry and of course, the Americans don’t want nursery plants to come into the US – strawberries, raspberries, ornamentals, whatever – that might have this insect. It’s a trade issue.” Therefore, the concern around the pest is for those producing and selling plant stock rather than those producing fruit.

“We’re still on the lookout for this. Its current distribution is just in the Fraser Valley, but keep an eye out for it in other regions,” she says. “If you think you might have it, you can certainly submit samples to me at the plant lab at the ministry or send pictures.”

A national survey of the strawberry blossom weevil was launched by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Stink Bug

Seen in a wide range of crops such as pome fruits like apples as well as grapes, nuts, berries, vegetables and ornamentals, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) which originated in Asia, has been a problem in North America since 2001. It was first seen in BC in 2015 and Hueppelsheuser says the hot weather of 2022 likely allowed more nymphs to complete their life cycle and become adults.

“We have been seeing damage mostly only in backyards,” she says. “The Okanagan did not see this huge appearance of the BMSB in the fall, so they didn’t see an increase in public reports or anything like that.”

Many people around the province have seen more of the pest this year, but she says that may not necessarily mean increased populations.

“I think it was a response to the hot dry fall where we could see lots of activity during their regular aggregation period,” she says. “We don’t know if that means it’s going to be a higher population that are going to be available to impact the various crops in 2023 or not. They are in backyard berry patches, but not known to cause damage to commercial berries as of yet.”

The good news is that a parasitoid of BMSB eggs called Trissolcus japonicus, or the Samurai wasp, has been found established in both the Fraser Valley and Kelowna.

“This is great news,” Hueppelsheuser says. “We hope that this beneficial insect will help decrease the populations of BMSB over the next few years.”

Growers can sign up to assist with research on the Samuri wasp through the stink bug pest alert on the government of BC website.

“We’re trying to collectively learn if it’s in other places besides the Fraser Valley,” says Hueppelsheuser.

Strawberry Blossom Weevil

A fan of cane berries, strawberries and ornamentals, the strawberry blossom weevil has not yet been seen in the Okanagan or on Vancouver Island but is widespread in the Fraser Valley. It was detected and confirmed in BC in 2019 and has been watched since to determine the biology and hosts of the pest.

“This year we have found that it can complete its lifecycle on… a common landscape

SWD parasitoids

Another point of good news is the discovery of two larval parasitoids of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) established in the Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island: Leptopilina japonica, the Ronin wasp, and Ganaspis brasiliensis, the Samba wasp.

“Both originated from Asia which is also where SWD is from,” she says. “Over the next few years, the parasitoids will hopefully contribute to a reduction in SWD.”

Natural enemies such as these parasitoids from the SWD’s originating region help control the pest’s population in its wild habitat which is expected to reduce populations over time. The two predator wasps are tiny at less than two millimeters long. They deposit eggs into the SWD larvae, then a new wasp will emerge from the pupae and no flies will hatch.

Multifaceted Approach For Challenging Disease

Researchers Dig Into Blueberry Scorch Solutions

By Ronda Payne

Blueberry growers got a sense of just how bad scorch virus can hit the industry this summer when fields throughout the Lower Mainland and beyond started showing signs of decline from the disease.

Researchers throughout Canada have come together to explore solutions. As Eric Gerbrandt, research director with the BC Blueberry Council explains, it’s likely going to take the efforts of all those currently involved and more, to establish control for the future of the industry.

While Gerbrandt would love a silver bullet solution to prevent the spread of scorch and its economic impact, together with his fellow researchers, he understands that’s not possible. Everyone recognizes the value of the industry and is pulling together to find solutions. It’s a four-pronged approach at present.

Gerbrandt says the four avenues being explored are: Mapping the presence of the virus within fields using drone and satellite imagery; looking into plant genetic resistance to aphids; studying the taxonomy of the aphids responsible for the spread; and

assessing the potential for new viruses and viral strains in the mix.

In the first avenue, satellite imagery and/ or drone camera images may help identify scorch faster. Jason Smith, chair of the BC Blueberry Council thought there was something wrong in his fields. He reached out to Jonathon McIntyre chief technology officer of i-Open Group to help him validate that hunch. McIntyre bought a cheap drone to explore the issue.

“We combined it with some open-source technologies to program the flight path, download the images, create a mosaic and then analyze the images,” McIntyre says. “We flew all his fields. We were able … to determine that there were plant health issues. Enough for him to pull his fields and order new berry plants.”

This use of open-source technology has led to opportunities. Gerbrandt is collaborating with Bing Lu, professor with SFU, on the study that brings McIntyre’s pioneering together with high-end drone and satellite work to see how technology can aid in scorch identification from a farm-to-farm level as well as a regional level.

“This is pretty preliminary,” Gerbrandt says. “It shows us the potential of what we can do. It’s not going to change the fact that we have aphids out there. But it could help us map out regional hot spots.”

Lu is bringing advanced data collection via drones and satellite imagery to the web-based open-source tool McIntyre and i-Open Group created to become an evolving data repository. Within the site, images are stored, stitched together and analyzed.

The ongoing aggregation of data is key to the tools’ efficacy. As McIntyre explains, taking public data available through the BC government and other sources of land scanning, more than 900 sources of data are used to create the initial model.

“It allows the farmers’ data to be their own,” McIntyre says.

With the images from drones, technology can identify anomalies like colour, variations, or canopy volumes that appear to be scorch hot spots in a blueberry field. Then, growers and stakeholders could be sent into the field to confirm that assumption.

“We likely will need to still go out and do

ELISA [Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay] diagnostics of each and every plant,” says Gerbrandt. “But we can make a model that allows us to take an image and show us potential issue areas.”

ELIZA can also give growers an understanding of whether they have scorch or blueberry shock virus, which can look similar initially. It’s an important differentiation as plants with shock will recover, while those with scorch will not.

Fields vary as to how many plants are infected and how much they impact adjacent

plants as well as neighbouring fields. This is the random nature of the aphids that cause the spread of scorch. The severity of symptoms also varies depending upon blueberry variety, but there are currently no varieties that are resistant to the disease.

As Gerbrandt recently said, “There are no known sources of true resistance to [the virus] in blueberry plant genetic resources making long-term efforts to breed better varieties a challenging proposition.”

Scorch initially hit Elliott hard, but then spread to varieties where Elliott was a par-

ent (like Liberty) and kept going into Bluecrop, Duke and beyond. Initially growers hoped Calypso wouldn’t be hit by the disease, but as Michael Dossett, breeder and geneticist with BC Berry Cultivar Inc. says, there are currently no known varieties with immunity to the disease.

This being said, Gerbrandt notes that developing varieties that are tolerant or relatively resistant of the virus are options for the breeding program underway. However, as growers know, when it comes to new varieties providing relief, that solution is a long way off given the testing that needs to be done to ensure the right traits come through in the long term.

This leaves growers in a precarious position in that they need to remove infected plants, but there may not be a benefit in replanting due to the re-infection possible from neighbouring fields. Fields that aren’t pulled, serve as reservoirs of the virus to neighbouring (and further flung) fields.

“The taxonomy of the aphids responsible for the spread [of the virus] is currently in question,” Gerbrandt says.

Researchers at ES Cronconsult and the BC Ministry of Agriculture are collection aphids to allow the ministry to identify how the aphids are related to better understand which are responsible for scorch. While this may sound simple, numerous types of aphids exist, making taxonomy essential. Finally, the fourth prong of the research is looking at novel strains of the virus. There have been reports that scorch is a “mystery virus” but the current observation is that these inconclusive test results are potentially new viral strains. Either way, it’s hard news for growers.

As Gerbrandt notes, “this research recently identified new strains, which should lead to improved diagnostics.”

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However as he further suggests, the potential for evolving interaction between viruses and viral strains, aphid populations and plant genetic responses to infection may contribute to the accelerated spread.

This leaves growers to scouting, removing of infected plants and continual control of aphids to reduce the spread of the disease. Without an obvious solution, growers need to rely on experts within the industry for guidance on best decisions in the moment.

MAXIMUM EFFCIENCY IN A COMPACT UNIT

Built to be low and narrow, the 5DV series is an low and ultra-narrow profile tractor. With a robust and nimble frame, and fitted with a 75 horsepower FARMotion engine, the 5DV series is the perfect tractor for Orchard and Vineyard operations.

Innovation in Farming Technology Critical for Feeding the Planet

Welcome once more to Orchard & Vine’s annual tractor issue!

Every year we survey our readers on what they’re looking for when shopping for the single most important tool on the farm, and we look at the latest technology trends. This year, we’re seeing major developments in the areas of autonomous tractors, more sustainable options to reduce environmental impacts, and also legislation that ensures farmers can repair their own equipment. In our specific sector for orchards and vineyards, there are also shifts to smaller tractors

that punch above their weight class, such as the KIOTI CK2610, according to Dylan Wiebe, sales manager for the North Vernon dealer Timberstar.

“The biggest feature we see people moving to KIOTI for is the strength of the front end loader, our CK2610,” said Timberstar. “At only 25hp, it has enough front end loader strength to stack heaped apple bins. When it’s upgraded to the 40hp engine it also makes a great spraying machine. Orchard owners are finding they can do more with less when they switch to KIOTI. With the economic slowdown looming on the horizon,

the great price points and capabilities of the KIOTI compact line make it a really attractive option.”

John Deere has once again been recognized at the Consumer Electronics Show for its advances in farming technology.

The tractor manufacturer was honored at CES in 2022 when it unveiled its fully autonomous, self-driving tractor. This year, John Deere announced the release of an electric-powered excavator and a robotic fertilizer systems.

Those two releases saw John Deere win the

2023 Tractor Survey - We Asked & You Answered

How many tractors do you operate?

Do you plan to purchase a tractor or implement this year?

We asked a dealer - Have you seen any changes in buyer behaviour in recent years?

We have seen a large shift from used equipment interest to new equipment interest in the last few years. With rising rates to finance a used piece of equipment and 0% financing on the new equipment, to say nothing of the 6 year warranty, it’s making new equipment become a no-brainer for a lot more consumers than we have seen in previous years.

2023 We Asked & You Answered

Which of the following implements do you use with your tractor?

Do you prefer to buy new or used?

Used are much less expensive in the long run.

New are usually better technology and design.

With a new tractor you know the maintenance history.

New are supposed to be less maintenance. There are very few good used tractors/ implements out there. Our relatively new tractor (from 2018) is terrible, very high maintenance, a Monday morning product.

We like to buy new for high use items because of reliability and longer life. We like to buy used for low use implements to make the cost more economical.

John Deere Wins Accolades For Advances in Farming Technology

2023 award for the Best of Innovation in Robotics at CES 2023, which is the world’s largest tradeshow.

John Deere CEO John May was also a keynote speaker at CES, and drew accolades as he explained why innovation in farming is so important to the planet and everyone who lives on it.

“Why should you care about farmers when they represent less than two percent of the U.S. population?” May asked rhetorically. “You will not find two industries that have a larger impact on our world and all of us than agriculture and construction.”

John Deere’s new ExactShot uses sensors and robotics to place fertilizer precisely where the seeds need them, instead of dropping a continuous flow of fertilizer all over the row of seeds. John Deere says it will reduce the amount of starter fertilizer needed by more than 60 percent — that’s over 93 million gallons of starter fertilizer annually.

“ExactShot uses a sensor to register when each individual seed is in the process of

going into the soil,” the company wrote in a press release. “As this occurs, a robot will spray only the amount of fertilizer needed, about 0.2 milliliters, directly onto the seed at the exact moment as it goes into the ground.”

Another innovation from the tractor company is its see and spray technology, which uses 36 cameras on a massive 120-foot-long machine to pinpoint the difference between weeds and plants. The system can kill the weeds without hurting the crops, which also reduces the amount of herbicide farmers need by up to 66 percent.

Wiebe also says the overall market for tractors is changing, largely due to inflation and the global economic slowdown. “For trends in tractor purchases, we are seeing the overall market shrink slightly,” Wiebe says. “However, in North America KIOTI continues to gain market share faster than the market is shrinking, so we continue to see record breaking tractor purchases despite a slow down.”

2023 We Asked & You Answered

The other major changes we’re seeing this year is in the type of machinery farmers are buying. Increasingly, more farmers are looking for more technologically advanced machines that increase productivity and lower costs.

A good example of that is in the area of

Has the current economic uncertainty and high inflation affected your decision to make a large purchase this year?

Thankfully most of our required large purchases happened in 2021 & 2022.

Poor availability of new products and much higher prices lead to holding on to existing equipment.

Cannot afford the tools we need, availability is also an issue, maintenance dollars are much higher.

2023 We Asked & You Answered

What are your plans for 2023? Replanting, installing irrigation, hiring, reorganizing, marketing, building or renovating, buying more land, or selling and retiring?

Replanting 1-2 acres.

We’ve been acquired, and new ownership may purchase equipment. Unsure.

No jobs until the government changes system. Selling land, may move out of the country.

Adjusting pruning style to accommodate extreme weather.

Might have to replant part or all the new plantings from last year due to the cold weather.

The most common answer from our readers was replanting or just continuing business as usual. Retiring. Survive!

Planting

Just the usual, keeping it all going!

Very little change from 2022. Maybe 5 acres of replanting.

Replanting two blocks, completing a warehouse (under construction since late 2021), new local wine club offerings.

Adding wine storage and patio. Working towards sustainable wine certificate.

new vineyard.

Re-Imagining the Tractor in the Shape of a Champagne Flute

automation with manufacturers like John Deere introducing both automated tractors and robotic accessories to improve efficiencies in both fertilizing and spraying crops. Another example is the third-party company Sabanto, which just announced a new “autonomy retrofit kit” for Kubota’s line of M5 tractors, which are popular with orchardists and vineyard managers. While John Deere is focused on bigger tractors for its automation drive, Sabanto sees a market for small tractors that are less expensive to buy and operate, and that reduce compaction in the field.

“We are completely disrupting the way the industry views autonomous equipment, and we are bringing in partners who share our vision,” says Craig Rupp, founder and CEO of Sabanto. “We see a future of smaller, smarter, lighter, less expensive, and more sustainable swarms of autonomous equipment that will enable users to cover more ground with less.”

Kubota itself is about to become the first Japanese manufacturer to release an electric-powered tractor. In April this year, Kubota will make its first wave of the new LXe261 electric tractor available for rental service in various regions across Europe, which is currently drafting tough laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and landscaping. The initial run of tractors is primarily aimed toward cities that use the small tractors for park maintenance and green space management.

Kubota is also working with Tesla co-found-

er Ian Wright on a line of farming robots specifically for vineyards. These robots will move through vineyards autonomously, trimming branches and eventually handling the harvesting as well.

Another development that caught our eye was an entirely new type of tractor called The Straddle Tractor Concept from New Holland. The futuristic Straddle Tractor is designed to tackle the demanding constraints posed by narrow vineyards even on steep slopes, and is built to be ready for electric traction.

The design is so novel, it just won the gold medal for Excellent Product Design at the German Design Awards 2023; more proof that while other sectors might get the headlines, agriculture is leading the way in sustainable innovation.

Straddle

Concept, is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the narrow vineyards with grapes grown in rows less than one and a half meters wide, often on steep slopes and on small vineyards.

Tractor

TRACTOR SPECS 2023

TRACTOR SPECS 2023

TRACTOR SPECS 2023

TRACTOR SPECS 2023

Confined Space Hazards A Serious Risk to Winemakers

spaces remain a major health and safety issue today.

Incidents in confined spaces may lead to the injury or death of workers, including those trying to rescue the first worker in distress.

Winery incident kills two workers

In November 2002, two Okanagan winemakers died in a wine fermentation tank with low oxygen levels. One worker, standing on a ladder above the hatch of the tank, may have inhaled a high concentration of carbon dioxide gas (a by-product of fermentation) when the hatch was opened. He then lost consciousness and slumped into a chilled liquid in the tank. A fellow worker tried rescuing him but also died after he leaned into the hatch. Two people working nearby recalled hearing the second man say he couldn’t breathe. Emergency rescuers tried draining the liquid from the tank and cutting it apart, but it was too late.

Although this incident occurred more than twenty years ago, last year alone, 10 BC wineries received violation orders with respect to confined spaces. Over 15 years, WorkSafeBC has reported 18 deaths in confined spaces. Most were caused by hazardous atmospheres such as toxic gases or lack of oxygen. The remaining deaths were the result of physical hazards, where workers were crushed, struck by falling objects, or buried in materials.

Clearly, incidents in confined

Over the next year, proper health and safety around confined space hazards will be one of the areas that WorkSafeBC will be focused on assessing for wineries and vineyards. And here are some resources and information to help you consider your own plans to decrease confined space hazards and increase health and safety.

What are confined spaces?

WorkSafeBC, the regulator of work in confined spaces in British Columbia, defines a confined space as “an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is big enough for a worker to enter. The space may be enclosed on all sides (for example, a bin or tank), or as few as two sides (for example, an enclosed conveyor).”

Confined spaces, WorkSafeBC notes, are not designed for someone to work in regularly. They are places where entry may be needed from time to time for inspection, cleaning, maintenance, or repair. A confined space is recognizable, WorkSafeBC adds, because it does not include things such as: “permanent utilities (for example, ventilation systems, lighting, plumbing services); wall coverings and furniture; and easy access (for example, large doorways, stairways.)”

Vineyards typically include multiple confined spaces, such as fermentation tanks, grape transport tank trucks, clean water storage tanks, irrigation pump stations, mobile spraying equipment, machinery spaces, sumps and stormwater manholes. Your operation may include these and more. Consult a qualified professional or trained staff to

ensure that you have identified all the confined spaces that may pose a risk to your employees.

Determine confined space hazards

Once you have identified all the confined spaces in your operation, it is important to assess what potential hazards are associated with each space—asking:

• What is the size of the entry/ exit for work and rescue?

• Is the entry way accessible or are there physical obstructions?

• What is the overall shape of the space?

• Does it have a convex floor?

• Is there grip on the floor? Slippery?

• Is the space adequately lit?

• Is there air flow from above or below in addition to mechanical ventilation?

• Is there anything that could come into the tank while someone is working in there?

• What was in the tank?

• Are there residual chemicals from sanitization or storage, and what are the hazards of those chemicals?

Based on the answers, create

and document a plan for each situation. Assign responsibilities, share written plans, and find a way to communicate these plans to all workers.

Refine health and safety plans

Your health and safety plans require continuous evaluation, reassessment, and professional development. All wineries and food processors face similar health and safety issues with confined space hazards. Reaching out to other industry partners can help identify potential risks you may have missed.

In 2023, in addition to confined spaces, WorkSafeBC will also be focusing on the following areas of concern for vineyards and wineries: Falls from elevation, heat stress, ladders, pesticides and fumigants, sprains and strains, tractors and PTO, and risks to young and new workers. For health and safety resources and help with confined space hazards or other concerns, visit your health and safety association—the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC—at safetyalliancebc.ca.

By Wayne Arondus, COO and Heidi Hare, Senior Safety Advisor, Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC

How To Get More Exposure With an Effective Press Kit

What is it?

• Press information kits help explain the main facts of your company with one stop.

Journalists are very busy people. If you are lucky enough to get the media to cover your business, you want to make it as simple as possible for them to write about you without needing to dig for the information.

If you are a brand or person hoping to gain ‘earned media’ and get your name in the press, you are going to want to put together a press information kit, or “press kit”, as a supporting tool.

In the past, these were called “media kits” – a name derived from the fact that they serve as a source of information for members of the media. However, in today’s environment of digital creators, rate sheets combined with a creator’s information is now also called a media kit. While some of the information may overlap, they are very different things. Here I will go over the press kit for earned media relations and all that it needs to include.

• A press kit is a page or folder on your website that makes it easy for journalists to learn about your brand and access photos.

• Press kits give journalists all the facts and figures they need so they can focus on telling a compelling story.

• The idea is that anyone who reads your press kit can immediately know the key people, facts, and important information about your business. They may not even need to talk to you, as all the information is there.

• This saves their time and yours and improves your earned media relations.

Who is it for?

• Journalists, bloggers, content creators, and the media in general

• The press kit may support an interview or be a follow up piece from a visit

What goes in the press kit?

• Fact sheet – who, what, when, and where

• About – provide both a deeper history and a boiler plate

• People bios

• Notes on production or manufacturing or growing methods

• Product information – description and any stats or pricing, where to find

• A list of any notable awards or accolades

• Visitor information – not only what to do at your business, but also what to do in the area

• Contact details, including name, email, phone, social profiles, website – it is rather hard to believe this, but many companies don’t include this – you WANT the media to be able to get in touch!

An important consideration is that you need to ensure that the contents of your press kit are not salesy, as this is only likely to put off the media.

Instead, make sure you supply them with the information to tell your story. If you include your key facts and messages within, their story about you will be the one you want told.

Past Press Releases

If you share news often, it isn’t necessary to include every single press release; just focus on milestones and other big announcements.

Images

It is super important to have a

library of photos – with a way to easily download them – as part of your press kit. A press kit without photo and video assets is a missed opportunity. Journalists normally need to include at least one image with their story, so make it easy for them by providing a few choices – and the nice thing is that if you provide them, you get to control the images you would like to see in print.

Your photo library should include images like:

• People

• Place

• Products

• Lifestyle shots

• Video B roll

If your site is not set up for a gallery that people can download from, I recommend Dropbox or a Google Drive for this.

Also please make sure any files you have available for download are all clearly labeled, so when the reporter does download a file it’s not something like “IMG2163-03-16” but rather has your company name and photographer credit included.

Finally, I cannot understate how important it is to invest in proper photography, so you have the perfect opportunity to showcase your brand. If media

The BC Fruit Growers’ Association

DID YOU KNOW?

Supporting Members through programs: ➔ BCFGA provides free magazine subscriptions to Orchard and Vine, Country Life in BC, The Grower and Good Fruit Grower (new!).

❶ EFP Incentive Program ($250).

❷ Green Spark Consulting Services

- Discount on housing bylaw assistance

❸ COR Safety Certification Incentive ($250) One-time Incentive

❹ BCFGA 2022 Food Safety Incentive ($455)

❺ BCFGA Crop Input Incentive

➔ BCFGA provides assistance to members to complete Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program applications, backed by an accredited Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant.

cannot find an image from you, they will use stock photos instead.

Where to offer the press kit

Often press kits are made into PDF documents that can be read online or downloaded and printed. It is also smart to have the same information on your website.

• Your ‘About’ page can also have press information with a downloadable press kit and photos and logos to download.

• A specific press page – can have information with logos

• News and Press pages can have press information, logos, photos and downloadable press kit and press releases and news articles

Go Pro or Go Home

A few tips to ensure that your kit is a professional reflection of you and/or your brand:

• Spelling, grammar, layout and tone all matter.

• Branding – ensure that you have consistent colours and fonts across your website, blog, social pages, and kit.

Bringing it all together

Where many companies often get stuck on their kits, is how to bring it all together and lay it out, or to get help with the writing, or sometimes both. That’s where teams like mine at Town Hall Brands can help. Find someone who is a strong writer and who knows how to maintain brand standards. 

Leeann Froese owns Town Hall Brands – a marketing and graphic design agency with 26 years experience branding and promoting beverage alcohol, food, and hospitality. See more at townhallbrands.com or on social @ townhallbrands

BC Wine Industry Annual Insight Conference this Spring

Wine Growers British Columbia in partnership with the BC Wine Grape Council, the BC Grapegrowers’ Association and the BC Wine Authority invite BC wine industry professionals to attend the sixth annual Insight Conference at the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The one-day forum brings industry together to provide an informative overview of the current and future state of the British Columbia wine industry from experts in the field.

The conference is an opportunity to learn about industry-related topics, issues, and policies that affect stakeholder business operations and collective success. After two years of hosting the event virtually or in a hybrid format, this year’s conference will take place in person. The agenda features a morning of speakers presenting industry updates and key insights for future growth. The afternoon offers break-out sessions following three sector focused topics:

Marketing & Sales, Business & Leadership, and Oenology & Viticulture. The conference will conclude with a BC Wine Soirée; a chance to network with fellow attendees and enjoy a glass of 100% BC wine.

The 2023 conference will cover the following topics:

• BC’s position in the Canadian wine market with key insights from Wine Intelligence

• The economic impact of the BC wine industry

• Retail Wine Sales Trends

• BC Wine Tourism Strategy

• Climate Change and the BC Wine Industry

Afternoon break-out session topics include:

• Key Consumer Segments in the BC wine industry

• The Data that is Changing Winery DTC

• The Gen Z Field Guide for Wine Marketers

• Sustainable Wine Growing British Columbia Certification Program

• Leading Your Team to Success

• Diversity & Inclusion in the Business Day-to-Day

• Tracking Your Carbon Footprint & more

Guest Speakers:

• Richard Halstead – Wine Intelligence

• Barbara Philip, MW - BC Liquor Distribution Branch

• Maya Lange – Destination British Columbia

Sector focused break-out session speakers:

• Darcen Esau & Arnica Rowan –Terroir Consulting

• Connor Clarkes – Commerce7

• Maxine Gurevich - Horizon Media

• Ruth King – Sustainable Wine Growing British Columbia

• Ginger Brunner – Go2HR

• Tammy Tsang – And Humanity

Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Location: Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre

Time: 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM

Register now at WineBC.com/ Industry

Conference Tickets are $85 per person and include coffee breaks, lunch, and the BC Wine Soirée. Early Bird Registration (save $10) is available until February 13, 2023. Members of the organizing associations receive additional pricing benefits, email info@winebc.com for more information. 

Kelly Josephson, Communications Manager, Wine Growers British Columbia winebc.com

Getting to Know Lynzee Schatz, Winemaker, TIME Family of Wines

O&V: How did you get started in the wine industry?

It all started when I was 18. I took a cellar job at Summerhill Pyramid Winery where one of my first tasks was to hand label their sparkling wine. I couldn’t help but wonder what else was happening in the cellar, and quickly transitioned into a full-time cellar hand. That started my interest in wine making, and I have always worked in wineries since.

O&V: Where did you go to school or apprentice?

Lynzee Schatz: I did a wine making internship in California and then studied Bachelor of Wine Science at Charles Sturt University in Australia.

O&V: Have you worked in any other countries?

Lynzee: Yes, before and after my studies, I traveled extensively and completed vintages at several wineries including Pisoni Vineyards in California, Domaine Chandon and Yeringberg in Australia's Yarra Valley, as well as Tawse, and Angels Gate in Ontario.

I grew up in the Okanagan, so coming back here to make wine is special. In the early days of my wine making journey, I was focused on trying to soak up as much knowledge as I could. This led me all around the world, but I am truly happy to be back in the Okanagan.

O&V: What is your favourite varietal to work with?

Lynzee: I LOVE CHARDONNAY. It is such a shape shifter. From barrel ferments, only stainless-steel ferments, or somewhere in-between. It is also a staple in sparkling wine, and if you know me, you know I love bubbles.

O&V: What is the best thing about your job?

Lynzee: That it is always different. We get to be creative by blending art and science. We work within a huge variable that is the vineyard and growing season. We have to continually adapt to what happens in that growing season to be able to use those grapes and produce the best wines we can. It’s also great that we move with the seasons, every month you’re doing something different in the cellar. I also really enjoy

getting to know the farmers and learning about the land where the grapes are grown. We would be nothing without our passionate hardworking growers.

O&V: Is there a particular wine or vintage that you have made that you are most proud of?

Lynzee: I have an amazing team that help me craft intentional, varietal, and super

expressive wines. In 2020 our fruit ripened perfectly and we had plenty of nice weather. This was also the last vintage I got to share with my mom before she passed. She was always my biggest fan so I have lots of fond memories from that year. The 2020 reds are now released and drinking beautifully. Every vintage tells a story and I am always excited to share the wines with everyone.

Photo by Chris Stenberg

Narrow enough to work between the vines, the Kubota M5N has the adaptability and strength to get more done in less space. Its electro-hydraulic shuttle lets you make quick directional changes, while the bevel gear front axle gives you an ultra-tight turning radius. One thing that’s not cramped? The redesigned cab that’s built for comfort. Kubota offers a wide range of implements, with an RPM management system that makes using them easier and more efficient.