Orchard & Vine Spring 2022 by Before & After Media

The Wine Festival Returns Vertical Farming on the ALR Climate Change and the Wine Industry Canadian Winemaker Roberto Fiume Spring 2022 $6.95

2022 Buyers Guide

Display Until June. 15, 2022 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40838008 www.orchardandvine.net

Spring 2022

Toasting the return of the Spring Wine Festival.

CONTENTS 6

Publisher’s View – Lisa Olson

10 Events Calendar 12 News and Events 25 How Climate Change Could Affect the BC Wine Industry 27 The Spring Wine Festival Returns After Two Long Years

Vertical farms could be coming to the BC ALR.

2022 BUYERS GUIDE

Spring 2022

29 Vertical Growing Comes to the ALR 33 2022 Buyer’s Guide 51 Does Identity Matter for the BC Wine Producing Territory 54 Word on Wine – Kelly Josephson 55 Marketing Mix – Leeann Froese 59 Safety Tips – Rob Macc 57 Money Matters – AJ Gill 61 Seeds of Growth – Glen Lucas 62 Canadian Winemaker Series – Robert Fiume Cover Photo: Wines of British Columbia, Corcelettes Winery

You put the food on our tables. We put the tools in your hands. At Syngenta, we’re passionate about Bringing plant potential to life®. Our dedicated team is committed to helping you grow higher quality produce – and more of it – with innovative crop protection products and agronomic advice tailored to your farm. Whatever the season brings, we’ll be there with the solutions and support you need to grow a crop that looks good, tastes great, travels well and exceeds expectations from farm to table.

Learn how we can help you achieve your production goals at Syngenta.ca.

Spring 2022

 PUBLISHER’S VIEW | LISA OLSON

Spring 2022 A Season of Change It’s finally here, something I’m quite sure we’ve all been waiting for, Spring! The weather is warmer, the sun is shining a lot more and buds are popping out all over. Hopefully your buds are healthy from winter, you have a good growing season and no other catastrophes present themselves this year.

Vol. 63, No 2 Spring 2022 Established in 1959 Publisher Lisa Olson Editor Gary Symons

As you look out your window or if you are already outside reading this at your mailbox, what do you see? Do you feel excitement for the day ahead, or overwhelmed by all the many things you still need to do?

Photo by Kimberly Brooke Photography

Graphic Design

I hope you take a few minutes to enjoy some ease and relaxation, as your chores will all get done in due time. The trade conferences and wine festivals are back on this year. It’s a great time to learn a few things and connect again face to face with your customers, suppliers and fellow industry colleagues. Those smiles will sure be nice to see. Take an extra special notice inside this issue for our guide to suppliers and advertisers, as we’ve collected the top providers for the industry in this issue. Hang onto this edition and refer back as needed throughout the year. These industry suppliers are ready to provide products and services to help you in your business. Inside this issue, editor Gary Symons has researched not only the dangers of climate change, but also the opportunities to expand wine production in Canada. It’s a must read for growers adjusting to our new climate reality. We also welcome back the Okanagan’s

Spring Wine Festival for the first time in two years with a guide to the main events, and we profile hardworking winemaker Roberto Fiume from the charming West Kelowna winery Ciao Bella, which specializes in Italian-style vino. Finally, we remember the influential and talented Niagara winemaker Paul Pender, tragically murdered at his cottage in Ontario, but who left behind a lasting legacy for sustainable winemakers across Canada. It’s been a tough winter in many ways, but as the sun comes out and warms our land it’s time to move from inside tasks to outside work and play. Wishing you all the best! Enjoy the magazine!

Stephanie Symons Writers Leeann Froese, AJ Gill, Kelly Josephson, Glen Lucas, Ron Macc, Gary Symons, UBC Okanagan Media 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 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 Undeliverable copies should be sent to: 22-2475 Dobbin Road Suite #578 West Kelowna, BC V4T 2E9

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions BRITISH COLUMBIA Phone 250.809.6040 bcsales@vinetech.ca 6

Spring 2022

ONTARIO Phone 905.984.4324 sales@vinetech.ca

Custom Climates Refrigeration Inc.

Wineries, Breweries, Fruit Processing & Storage Facilities Commercial • Industrial • Agricultural

Custom Climates Refrigeration Inc. is a full-service refrigeration company, specializing in commercial refrigeration, as well as all aspects of heating and air conditioning. From the chiller in your winery or brewery to blast coolers/freezers and controlled atmosphere applications, we thrive on any challenge and feel very confident that we will exceed your expectations.

• Refrigeration • Chillers • Geothermal • Controls Red Seal Refrigeration & Gas Fitter Certified Proudly Serving the Okanagan Valley 24 hours a day - 365 days a year Spring 2022 Kelowna, BC 250-869-5308 www.customclimatesrefrigeration.com

RE/MAX Canada 2021 Diamond Team Award JERRY GEEN Personal Real Estate Corporation

✚

ELYA BYRNE Personal Real Estate Corporation

✚

SHAUN EVEREST,

MBA

250-878-6545 Text or Call

OKANAGANFARMS.COM Sales@GeenByrne.com

Listing Specialists

Purchasing Specialist

With over 36 years of combined experience as Central Okanagan based Real Estate Professionals, you can be assured working with Geen + Byrne that you are in good hands. Our team has been trusted with the sale of over 250 farm properties in our time in the industry! In addition, Jerry, Elya, and Shaun all have personal, direct experience in the farm industry. We have seen almost every unusual scenario that can come up during a farm transaction and have learned how to handle them professionally and to the benefit of our clients. Real estate is a unique industry that is constantly evolving, and even after all these years we are still always learning, updating and adding new skills. Experience gives us the edge in countless ways, chiefly strategy, foresight and knowledge from the sheer number of transactions with related diligence and negotiations we’ve been involved in. With that long history comes a respect within the industry from fellow agents granting instant credibility.

Despite record increases in local farm land prices in 2021, we see 2022 farm prices continuing to climb. It’s obvious to farm buyers from around the province and points further away that the Okanagan has become the # 1 destination for many buyers! If you’ve thought about selling this may be the best time ever. “We made the right choice using Geen + Byrne to sell our farm. “No second thoughts here. You get a team of extremely They are very professional, prompt, informative and just overall professional people. Selling/buying is not easy and almost great to deal with.” - Mike VB impossible to understand the rules. Geen + Byrne worked with us start to finish and earned our trust forever.” - Howard T “Jerry and Elya were most professional and personal involving the sale of our farm. Their team, including Hedy, always “Got a sale fast they marketed to the right persons. Got the responded promptly to any of our concerns. Any issues price we were looking for. Honest straight forward, great sales were quickly resolved. Our property was more specialized people. If you want to sell a larger property or farm get this with being a small hobby farm, so more complicated than a team on your side and fast.” - Crystal F residential home. The right buyer was found and the Geen + Byrne team again was most helpful in finding the next perfect property for us.” - Murray and Barb S

Check out OkanaganFarms.com and you’ll see why this website gets so much traction!

OkanaganFarms.com 8

Spring 2022

RE/MAX Canada 2021 Diamond Team Award

JUST LISTED SE Kelowna, MLS® $1,950,000

East Kelowna site well suited to orchard and on city of Kelowna water. 5.5 acres located near the end of Senger Rd. Quiet location backing on to Gallaghers Canyon. 3 bed 2 bath home and shop. Ideal hobby farm set up.

JUST LISTED West Kelowna, MLS® $2,150,000

Excellent timing to purchase 9.41 acres right in the heart of downtown West Kelowna! This acreage is nestled between Glen Canyon Regional Park, Highway 97, and downtown West Kelowna. Many farm based business opportunities here! City water rights. City sewer and natural gas available too. Small cottage on site currently rented month to month.

JUST LISTED SE Kelowna, MLS® $5,299,000

Unbeatable East Kelowna location on Rose Rd! 12.11 acre apple orchard with large modern home, two additional homes, massive insulated shop and other outbuildings.

JUST SOLD 2220 Hayman Road West Kelowna

Sale Price $2,175,000

Call or text 250-878-6545 to get in touch. We are here to ensure you get the highest quality guidance and price for your property.

OkanaganFarms.com

KELOWNA Independently owned and operated toll free: (800) 663-5770 9 Spring 2022 100-1553 Harvey Ave Kelowna BC V1Y 6G1

Photo Credit: Dmitrii Chebotaev | Dreamstime.com

 SPRING | CALENDAR

• CUSTOM 3D DESIGN & MODELING SERVICES • METAL FABRICATION • ALUMINUM AND STAINLESS STEEL CONTRACT MANUFACTURING SERVICES • TRANSPORT TRAILERS • ALUMINUM PLATE, TUBE AND SHEET PROCESSING SERVICES • SPECIALTIES - CATWALK, STAINLESS STEEL FLOOR DRAINS AND MARINE FABRICATION (BOATS) 5thelementmfg.com # 2 - 876 Leathead, Kelowna BC

250.470.2658

Ontario Craft Wine Conference April 5-6, 2022 Virtual Event www.ontariocraftwineconference.ca Columbia Valley Food + Farm: Dinner and a Movie AGM April 7, 2022 Radium Community Centre 4683 Stanley St., Radium, BC https://foodandfarm.ca/ Spring Wine Festival May 5-15, 2022 Okanagan, BC www.thewinefestivals.com Vancouver International Wine Festival May 9-12, 2022 Vancouver, BC https://vanwinefest.ca/ Wine Islands Growers Association Conference May 13-14 Duncan, BC http://wiga.ca/ The International Cool Climate Wine Symposium 2022 July 17 - 21, 2022, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON., https://iccws2022.ca/ Fortify Conference Nov. 14-15, 2022 Penticton, BC https://fortifyconference.ca/

10 Spring 2022

DON’T TAKE YOUR SOIL FOR GRANTED P E AT MOSS

WESTON COMPOST

C O M P E AT

Tried and tested for over 30 years.

A well matured green waste compost, free from biosolids.

An organic compliant blend of compost and peat improving overall soil health.

P E AT PLUS

RAISED BED GARDEN SOIL

A true winner. A blend of mushroom manure and peat

A very fertile, free draining soil blend to produce the most nutritious vegetables for your home and restaurant.

retaining moisture and nutrients.

ENRICH YOUR SOIL TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S HARVEST.

PENTICTON, BC

24 Spring 2021

Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

$228M Flood Recovery Fund Helping BC Farms Return to Production BC farmers will receive $228 million in provincial and federal aid to help their farms recover from the devastating flooding in November last year. The province’s agriculture minister Lana Popham announced the aid package on Feb. 7, saying it will help farmers recover from an estimated $285 million in damages.

Photo Credit: Province of British Columbia

“There are some very desperate situations right now, farmers need cash now, and so we’re going to be able to give interim payments quickly and get that cash into their pocket,” Popham said. Much of that damage was suffered by dairy and poultry farmers in the Sumas Prairie region, but blueberry farmers also suffered catastrophic losses that will have enduring impacts. Jason Smith, a blueberry farmer and chair of the BC Blueberry Council, said the funding may cover most of the initial losses, but may not cover the years of losses from destruction of established berry bushes. “The devil is in the details,” Smith said. ““I don’t know what level of coverage it is going to provide – does that include the 10 years of lost income?” BC farmers who suffered extraordinary damages during November’s devastating floods will have access to up to $228 million in federal-provincial government support to help their farms return to production. The funding will also support British Columbia’s food security and agricultural communities in the years ahead. Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Lana Popham,

B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, have announced the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program, which will be delivered by the Government of British Columbia and will leverage the federal government’s AgriRecovery Framework and Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). “The B.C. agricultural community has pulled together and demonstrated its strength and determination in the face of devastating floods,” said Bibeau. “There is still a long way to go, but the Government of Canada will continue to work with the Government of British Columbia to support our farmers. We are here to help them rebuild so they can quickly get back

…We build wineries too • General Contracting • Project Management • Commercial • Industrial • Institutional

sawchukdevelopments.com 12 Spring 2022

to doing what they do best: producing high-quality food for Canadians.” “Our government will continue to be there for families, farmers and communities in British Columbia as they recover from the devastating floods and extreme weather events that hit the province last November,” said Bill Blair, president of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness. “We know that building back in the aftermath of a disaster is a long and difficult road, which is why we’re here to support all of those who need help – every step of the way. Together, we will get through this.” Application forms are available online: gov.bc.ca/agrifloodrecovery

Behind Canadian food? We’re behind you. We’re FCC, the only lender 100% invested in Canadian food, serving diverse people, projects and passions with financing and knowledge. Let’s talk about what’s next for your business.

DREAM. GROW. THRIVE.

FCC.CA/FOOD

Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Quail’s Gate Estate Winery Certified by Sustainable Winegrowing BC Tonner and Stewart say there are several ways the winery farms sustainably, including:

The certification from SWBC sets a high bar for environmentally sustainable practices, and recognizes a deep commitment to farming sustainably.

• Drip irrigation to conserve water, ensuring the appropriate amount of water is used throughout the year • Use of organic fertilizers and nutrients derived from the winery’s composting program • Increased equipment efficiencies help minimize the environmental footprint • Setting up natural filtration throughout the vineyard to reduce runoff

“Environmental stewardship has always been one of the foundational pillars at Quails’ Gate, said Quail’s Gate owner and CEO Tony Stewart. “Our dedication to sustainability means we consistently apply best practices and ensure prudent use of resources. We feel a personal responsibility to protect this land for future generations to enjoy.” Stewart says the family-owned business spans three generations over more than a century of farming in the Okanagan Valley. While the certification is new, he says the winery has a long tradition of using low-impact viticulture practices. The winery’s senior viticulturalist, Ed Tonner,

Photo Credit: sfewine.com

Quail’s Gate Estate Winery says it has just been certified by Sustainable Winegrowing BC.

adds that the certification does set the bar for how Quail’s Gate works on an ongoing basis. “The SWBC certification holds us accountable on many levels when it comes to precision viticulture,” Tonner explains. “The SWBC program is a goal-driven standard that provides tools to assess our practices regularly to find opportunities for continued improvements and innovative approaches to farming responsibly.”

“Our commitment to sustainability extends past our vineyards into other areas of our business,” Stewart says. For example, a composting program diverts 150 pickup truck loads of yard waste to compost, the winery uses biodegradable plastic bags, paper bags and reusable bags in the wine shop, and even the lighting and water features turn on only when needed.

To some, it’s an irrigation system To us, it’s a masterpiece Custom designed orchard & vineyard irrigation systems •

Existing irrigation system evaluations

•

Design and specification •

•

Full product recommendations

Fully automated systems Customer support: workshops and demos

Kelowna

Vernon

Penticton

Oliver

Creston

2605 Acland Road (250) 765-4500

1200 Waddington Drive (250) 545-1278

108 Dawson Avenue, (250) 493-2885

5911 Sawmill Drive, (250) 498-4022

754 35 Avenue South (250) 428-2125

14 Spring 2022

growerssupplybc.com

MADE FOR CANADIANS

WORK BETWEEN THE LINES NO MATTER WHAT. Work can be a battle of inches. A battle that continues when the temperatures change and the path gets tighter. Good thing Kubota’s got tractors, attachments and implements with plenty of power and versatility in a slim package – so you can conquer vineyards and orchards all season long.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER

KUBOTA.CA/FARMSOLUTIONS

Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Fourth Generation Farmer Peter Simonsen Elected BCFGA President Fourth-generation farmer Peter Simonsen has pledged to lead a cohesive and focused board of directors of the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association. He was elected at the annual general meeting held virtually on February 23, 2022.

Photo contributed

“I have always had an interest in politics and respect the political process no matter how slow, painful and frustrating it may be,” he wrote to members before the virtual vote. “I am very grateful to live in a country that is governed by rule of law, those laws created through a process of open, reasoned and democratic debate.” Simonsen and his family operate 45 acres of certified organic apples, pears and peaches near Naramata.

Peter Simonsen, the new BCFGA President.

16 Spring 2022

He’s currently chair of the Summerland Varieties Corporation. He will be joined on the board by: Jeet Dukhia, vice-president and directors Annelise Simonsen, Mani Gill, Avi Gill, Ravinder Bains and Sukhdeep Brar.

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Kalala Buys Little Straw Vineyards

YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS IN VINEYARD, ORCHARD AND AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE VALUATIONS From our central Kelowna office, NCA Commercial Inc. is best placed to offer experienced, reliable and professional valuation and consulting services to those owning and operating agricultural land and businesses in BC’s interior. Our team of accredited commercial real estate appraisers specializes in a variety of services including: • market valuations for financing • property settlement & estate planning • site selection & pre-acquisition negotiation • insurance replacement cost & risk management

Photo contributed

• compensation in expropriation & partial takings • subdivision & ALR applications • arbitration & expert witness Brian Pauluzzi, B.Com., RI, AACI, MRICS Owner/Commercial Appraiser

From left to right: The Slamka family, Peter, Timothy & Tina Slamka and the new owners Narinder & Karnail Sidhu, their sister Sattu Dhaliwal and daughter Kiran Sidhu.

Kalala Organic Estate Winery is pleased to announce they have acquired Little Straw Vineyards. Little Straw Vineyards began operating as Slamka Cellars in 1996.

• land leases & rent reviews • “going concern” business valuations

We invite you to call us today, or have your financial advisor contact us, if you require an accurate opinion of value.

Toll free: 1-844-644-7815 Local: 250-868-9244 www.ncacommercial.com

“We relate to the Slamka family in so many ways. We are both immigrant families who started a winery in West Kelowna. We understand how hard it is to start a winery from scratch and how much time, effort and patience is required. Since I am passionate about organic viticulture, our new location had to have a high potential to become a sustainable organic winery and Little Straw Vineyards showed great potential. It was a perfect fit for both of us. My family and I are looking forward to continuing their legacy and seeing what the future holds.” said Karnail Singh Sidhu, founder and viticulturist at Kalala Organic Estate Winery

Premium Finished Trees and Rootstock

Taking Orders for Cherry Trees Spring 2023

CALISSI FARMS Inc. 250 317 2164

james_calissi@telus.net • www.calissifarms.com 3810 East Kelowna Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 4H2 Pre Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Vancouver International Wine Festival May 19-20 “VIWF 2022 will welcome 101 different producers from 14 countries,” says David Hopgood, chair of the Winery Selection Committee. “Our largest representation is from British Columbia, with 41 participating wineries, but there is also very strong participation from Italy with 18 producers and the United States with 14 producers. For the first time, we will be showcasing a winery from Georgia (the country, not the state)! “We are thrilled to have so many international wineries join our strong B.C. contingent, considering the challenges posed by

18 Spring 2022

continuing uncertainty in the world and the shortened timeline for this year’s festival.”

wineries will gather for four International Festival Tastings and two Trade Tastings.

The festival is headquartered at the Vancouver Convention Centre; in addition, restaurants and venues around the city will host winery dinners, lunches, seminars and wine minglers taking place May 16-22.The sumptuous Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, and benefiting Bard on the Beach, will take place on Tuesday, May 17 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The heart of the festival is the Tasting Room, where all 101

Trade Days The Trade Days Conference, which runs May 19-20, features six events, including two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, seminars, and two trade lunches: Welcome Back Lunch, presented by Hillebrand; and Celebrating Excellence: 18th Annual Awards Lunch, presented by ContainerWorld. Tickets now on sale. VanWineFest.ca.

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

The Hatching Post Brewery Brings Suds to the Westside Wine Trail Jason Parkes Customs has opened its new Hatching Post Brewery and Smokehouse along the West Kelowna wine trail. The brewery is JPC’s fifth venture in West Kelowna, joining wineries The Hatch, Black Swift and Crown and Thieves, along with the Truck 59 Cidery.

Photo by Gary Symons

The new building across Boucherie Road from the Volcanic Estate Winery has the look of a wild west saloon, and serves up southern style barbecue classics like smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, locally made sausage and smoked chicken. Chef Ryan Byrne said it’s an establishment that caters to dedicated carnivores with a taste for beer, wines, or ciders. “What we’re trying to achieve is kind of like traditional southern, Texas-style barbecue. So, a lot of big smoke, big primal cuts of meat,” explains Chef Ryan Byrne. “In addition to that, we’re using mainly locally-sourced Canadian ingredients. So, like a lot of B.C. meats and stuff like that.”

Spring 2022

Sponsored Article

Fabrics and Netting for a Growing Market Since its beginnings over 30 years ago as a means to literally “put food on the table”, the family owned and operated company of Ross and Dorian Bernard has grown into an international company proudly serving 6 countries with a full spectrum of innovative solutions for gardeners everywhere. American Nettings and Fabric is committed to excellence and we reaffirm our commitment to service and quality in our everyday relationships with our clients. We have proudly grown from our “backyard” to a company that today has expanded to incorporate 5 warehouses, including a custom sewing facility. With over 90% of our products made in the US, American Nettings is committed to pro-

viding the best, most cost-effective products on the market. Our passion is to help growers of all kinds reap the most fruit from their labors—literally. When vineyards first began to expand into British Columbia in the 1980’s, American Nettings teamed up with the Canadian government to design, produce and distribute vineyard nettings of all kinds. Since then, we have become one of the leading suppliers of vineyard nettings for North and South America. Today we provide a large selection of extruded nettings, knitted nettings, multi-row and drape nettings, fruit zone shade cloth, deer fencing, ground cover, hail netting and more. Whether it is protecting growing fruit from birds and bugs or shielding

them from the damaging effects of too much sun exposure, we are your source. With over 30 years of experience working with vineyards, we are confident we have the right product for your needs. We would love to pair with you and your growing efforts. Call American Nettings & Fabric today!

AMERICAN NETTINGS & FABRIC INC.

We Proudly Provide Netting Solutions For BUGS, BIRDS & DEER CONTROL

SHADE CLOTH & HAIL NETTING To protect against harmful weather conditions Call us today!1-800-811-7444 • Vineyard bird protection nettings available in oriented square mesh from 3.5’ to 20’ wide • Soft knitted nettings up to 65.5’ wide”

• Lightweight bug nettings up to 16’ wide • Installation Clips • Custom Sizes Available with Lead Time

sales@americannettings.com • www.americannettings.com 20 Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Ontario Winemaker Murdered

Over 37,000

SOLD

Worldwide!

The Canadian wine community was shocked to learn acclaimed winemaker Paul Pender had been murdered on February 3. Pender was the Director of Viticulture and Winemaking for Tawse Wine and Spirits and Redstone Winery, the company said in a statement. “Paul died unexpectedly under tragic circumstances,” the statement said. “We will all miss him more than words can express. He was not just our manager but our good friend as well.” The 54-year-old winemaker was pronounced dead at his cottage in Selkirk, Ontario, just west of Niagara Falls. Bradley House of Hamilton, 31, has been charged with second-degree murder. Pender leaves behind several children and grandchildren, and his wife Allison Findlay, who works as the winemaker at local winery Flat Rock Cellars. Pender joined the winery in 2005 and became the head winemaker soon after in 2006. In a tribute to his skill as a viticulturalist and winemaker, Tawse was named Canadian Winery of the Year four times between 2010 and 2016; a rare honor. As well, Pender himself was named as winemaker of the year in 2011 by the Ontario Wine Awards. Pender also led the winery to become a leader in sustainability, adhering to a ‘non-interventionist’ approach to winemaking, and introducing chickens and goats that graze in the Tawse vineyards. Other winemakers in the region recalled him as a mentor, who became an important early advocate for biodynamic and organic grape growing.

When one cold night can ruin an entire year’s hard work... It’s best to play it safe. Since 1967, we have hand-crafted our wind machines with precision technology. Growers from around the world trust Orchard-Rite® wind machines to protect their orchards from the dangers of frost. We are dedicated to serving you by providing the tools and service to stave off those frosty nights, protecting your harvest and your future. Find us at orchard-rite.com.

PrairieCoast is Orchard-Rite’s Only Authorized Sales, Parts & Service Dealer in BC, with Two Locations to Serve You! Kamloops

8025 Dallas Drive, Kamloops, BC 250-573-4412

Kelowna

675 Adams Court, Kelowna, BC 250-765-9765

prairiecoastequipment.com Spring 2022

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Government Invests In Precision Agriculture AgriInnovate has announced funding up to $875,000 to Ukko Agro Inc. for development of new technology aimed at better controlling diseases and insects in crops. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau says the new platform would provide decision makers up to seven days heads up on field-level spray recommendations to proactively manage risks to crops, improve food production sustainability, and increase yield. “Canadian farmers rely on cutting-edge science and research to ensure the sustainable development of their businesses,” said Bibeau. “Our commitment to funding the latest agricultural technologies helps them not only feed a growing population and protect the environment, but also grow.” The AgriInnovate program, part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, offers repayable funding to accelerate adoption of new technologies. Ukko Agro’s CEO Ketan Kaushish says this investment will help advance cutting-edge technology that modern farm operations need to enhance efficiency and yields.

Did you know that routine soil testing can reveal nutrient deficiencies fertilizer alone can’t replace? Whether it’s soil imbalance or low levels of nutrients, Nature’s Intent provides a full line of fertilizers and soil amendments to fit your conventional or organic farming needs.

We offer custom Grinding, Granulating and Mixing Calcium Carbonate • Dolomitic Lime • Granulated Feathermeal • Fish Bonemeal • 7-2-4 • Gypsum

Find a Pacific Calcium, Inc. distributor near you. web: www.naturesintent.com email: info@naturesintent.com Int’l Toll Free 877-571-3555 OMRI, WSDA Organics and ODA Certified 22 Spring 2022

“The team at Ukko Agro is very thankful to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for supporting us in commercializing our predictive analytics platform, ForeSite,” said Kaushish. “In addition to the government support, Ukko is actively working with other agri-businesses to integrate its predictive analytics capability with their farm management systems to help farmers make proactive agronomic and operational decisions. “We look forward to working with our partners and the government to advance data-based decision making in agriculture.” The funding is part of approximately $3 billion set aside by the federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada for agricultural investments, between 2018 and 2023. Bibeau says investing in agricultural technology companies such as Ukko Agro helps ensure Canada remains a leader in the precision agriculture market.

Spring 2022

24 Spring 2022

How Climate Change Could Affect the BC Wine Industry By Gary Symons In the past, farmers spent their time talking about the weather. Today, they talk about the climate. The difference is that, in what now seems like the distant past, the Earth’s climate was considered generally stable and unchanging, while the weather was changing all the time. The past 20 years has changed all that, starting in BC with the wildfires in 2003 that first raised wide concerns about smoke taint. Flash forward to 2022, in the wake of a terrible year of floods, wildfires, and the record setting heat dome that killed 595 people, and scientists now know the climate is changing rapidly, with unpredictable results. Elizabeth Wolkovich, associate professor of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC, is studying how global warming will affect wineries and grape growers, with a focus on the Okanagan Valley and regions of California. “The grapes used in wine are very sensitive to changes in the weather, which is part of what makes wine so interesting,” Wolkovich says. “But, that means grapes are also sensitive to long-term climate changes.” Work by Wolkovich and many other scientists has confirmed that grape growers face an uncertain future that will bring grave challenges and large opportunities. On the one hand, global warming could decrease the risk of frost events, and open up new areas in BC for the planting of vineyards. Those vineyards could be both higher in elevation, or further north. But on the other hand, climate change has

also been found to cause more extreme weather events, which can be catastrophic for farmers.

centuries, Bordeaux winemakers are now adding more climate-resistant varietals as acceptable for use in Bordeaux wines.

BC is grappling with exactly that this year, as blueberry farmers lost thousands of acres of crops due to flooding; grape growers and others have lost crops due to a record cold snap in December; and much of the province was affected by the heat dome and devastating wildfires.

Then, in 2021, most French wine regions were slammed by an unprecedented frost event, resulting in the smallest harvest since 1957 and resulting in $2 billion USD in losses.

“The overall average looks better for areas of northern wine growing regions like BC, because they’ve generally been limited by temperatures that were too cool, especially in the winter,” Wolkovich explains. “But the thing that impacts vine death in the winter is a single low in the winter, a single daily temperature that’s ultra low, and I think that is a really difficult thing to predict exactly.

Looking globally, several studies published in the National Academy of Sciences suggest the shift of warmer temperatures toward the north and south - or ‘poleward’ - will lead to a ““huge shake-up in the geographic distribution of wine production (Lallanilla, 2013)” in the next half century (Hannah et al., 2013).

“So, in the next 10 to 20 years it feels like the market forces are driving an expansion of the wine region, but certainly, these events that pop up, like that big frost event in Kelowna this year, that gives people pause.”

“The practical and economic impact would be monumental,” the report states, causing premium wine producing regions to shift poleward. “Many quality wine growing regions now on the margin for secure wine production will become safe and other regions will be able to expand their grape selection … (but) some areas would cease production all together.”

The Okanagan is hardly alone in this, and around the world data is accumulating that suggests wine regions are becoming generally warmer, but are facing much more extreme weather events.

In fact, one dire prediction states that by 2100, the United States could lose up to 81% of its premium wine grape acreage, among them vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Barbara counties.

In France, for example, grapes are now being harvested two weeks earlier than historical norms, and in 2020 the nation had its earliest harvest in history.

Many of those same studies indicate that in the west, including BC, Oregon and Washington, “the lift in temperatures could dictate that same shift to warmer grape varieties, as well. This could prove to be a boon to those regions and wine production.”

However, the increased warmth is also making certain varietals increasingly untenable, including the Merlot that is a mainstay of Bordeaux-style wines. For the first time in

Again, the research about global warming points to a good news vs. bad news scenario. Spring 2022

Scientists throughout the world point to the likelihood of more northerly and southerly wine regions expanding, and completely new regions opening up that historically would be unsuitable for quality wine grapes.

“Climate catastrophe is the greatest catalyst of this change with wine-making countries experiencing the threat of increased fires, extreme heat, and drought,” Yu says. “While this means that places like Napa Valley in the United States and Swartland in South Africa need to pivot their wine-growing strategies to mitigate heat damage, it also means that other cooler climates are seeing longer, hotter summers and therefore an increased capacity for wine production. These changes do not bode well for the imported wines Canadians regularly consume. However, it does present a new opportunity of growth for Canada’s wine industry, who will see vast temperature shifts in the coming years if climate change is not effectively mitigated.” For example, Yu notes that regions in Quebec could only grow cold-weather hybrids like Vidal and Seyval, “but with increased temperatures and longer summers, winemakers are expanding to include grapes which require a hotter and longer period of growth.” Similar things are happening in Europe, as well, where sweet German wines are being replaced by excellent dry vintages, and the area allowed for table wines has expanded northward. Even countries that were not traditional wine producers like England and Denmark are now seeing the establishment of successful wineries, but wine growers in Italy and Spain are struggling with scorched leaves, dessicated grapes, and devastating vine damage. So, what does this mean for wines in BC? Wolkovich says there’s no doubt BC wine regions will grow in size, but the question remains as to where those regions will be. She’s advocating for more localized research into the suitability of various regions for wine grapes, and also into which grapes are tolerant to both extreme heat and extreme cold. “I think that’s a place where growers and BC could be interested in trying to figure out

26 Spring 2022

Photo Credit: Wines of British Columbia

An economic report by Elizabeth Yu at McGill University examined that question, and saw opportunities across Canada.

I think there’s a lot of talk of getting some really early ripening varieties and getting some really late ripening varieties to try to reduce your risk in July and August. Elizabeth Wolkovich

that relationship a little bit better, or trying to just get some varieties that might be a little bit later ripening and heat tolerant, that are also cold tolerant,” Wolkovich says. “That’s not an area in the old world wineberry regions of Europe that has been studied well, because there aren’t a lot of places in Europe that have these cold extremes and the heat extremes. And I think that’s one of the pieces that’s really tricky for BC growers.” The biggest problem for researchers, Wolkovich says, is that global warming does not create straightforward changes. For example, if climate change in BC results in parts of Vancouver Island being both warmer and drier, the region would be very suitable for a major expansion in wine production. However, as we saw during the ‘atmospheric river’ that caused catastrophic flooding in BC, global warming also causes more moisture to enter the atmosphere, and therefore causes more rain in certain regions. “So depending on which way it goes, that

could be a much worse place to grow or a place to really start specializing deeply in sparkling,” Wolkovich said. “Or it could be a place that will be, you know, really lovely. And that’s the problem with the precipitation predictions. Right now, we just don’t know.” The key now, she adds, is research by the industry and government. “If I was the growers in the Okanagan, or in BC, who were looking to invest to help my region perfectly, I would be thinking about better climate networks and getting better climate data,” she said. “Also, we have over 1100 plant varieties, and we just don’t have a good sense of how cold hardy they are, or how they handle heat domes. “I think there’s a lot of talk of getting some really early ripening varieties and getting some really late ripening varieties to try to reduce your risk in July and August, but I think we don’t have the information to help growers with that very well right now. So that’s a big issue.” ■

Spring Wine Festival Returns After Two Very Long Years By Gary Symons In a sign the pandemic is drawing to a close, the Spring Wine Festival is coming back after a grinding, two-year hiatus. Okanagan Wine Festivals marketing manager Jennalyn Christopher said it’s an exciting time for the team, after a difficult two year period when pandemic restrictions shut down four wine festivals in the Valley.

The Spring Wine Festival tickets are now on sale, and selling briskly as fans of Okanagan wines seem equally excited to see the event return. The festival itself will run from May 5 to May 15, with the signature Valley First Spring Wine Tasting taking place at Kelowna’s Rotary Arts Centre on May 7. Thirty-seven wineries from the region will be serving up more than 150 top quality wines in what has been traditionally one of the most popular and important events of the year. Attendees will also get to enjoy delicious appetizers, live music, and art exhibits. Christopher says the participation from area

Photo Credit: Wines of British Columbia

“Yeah, unbelievably long and tedious is right,” said Christopher. “And just a roller coaster. I mean, in March 2020, we postponed our Spring Festival until June 2020 thinking full well that we’d be able to do our events then. And now it’s been a full two years, so we are so excited to be getting back to the regular programming of the Okanagan Wine Festival Society.” wineries has been enthusiastic, as the industry tries to put the past two years firmly in the rear view mirror. “It’s been really positive,” she said. “We’ve got lots of signups to pour at our signature events and I think, for the most part, people are excited to just get in front of the consumer again, in a different way than they’ve been able to do for the past two years. “People are excited to get back to these events and connect with the consumer in person, not over a screen.” One of those wineries is Hester Creek, which is pouring at the Spring Wine Tasting and also putting on special events at the winery

itself for the duration of the festival. “We’re certainly glad to have it back, and nice to see all these things coming back to the Valley,” said Hester Creek’s director of hospitality Roger Gillespie. “We’re reintroducing some of our onsite programs just in time for the Spring Festival, and really looking forward to it.” While BC wineries adapted very well to the demands of the pandemic, Gillespie says the return of the in-person wine festival events reestablishes an important connection between the industry and consumers. “It’s an opportunity to highlight some of our events and programming and the things we

YO U R P R E M I U M PAC K AG I N G S U P P L I E R ENOLOGY | EQUIPMENT | FILTRATION CAPSULES | CLEANING East. 1-855-857-1511

www.aowilson.ca

| CLOSURES

West. 1-833-269-4576 Pre Spring 2022

offer through their marketing initiatives,” Gillespie explained. “The timing of the wine festival is really nice too. That first feeling of spring when people are out in their gardens, and typically all wineries open their doors right around that time, so I think the wine festival certainly does bolster traffic for us.”

Photo Credit: Wines of British Columbia

Christopher says this year’s festival will see some new events and programs. Perhaps the most popular with wineries and ticket buyers so far is Blush & Bubbles, a “flirty and fabulous event” celebrating the best of the Okanagan’s Rosé and sparkling wines. The indoor/outdoor event right on the shoreline of Lake Okanagan will feature a welcome glass of bubbles, live entertainment, chef-attended stations and passed canapes. Wineries will showcase the best of their sparkling, rosés, and other favourites from their portfolio at the Waterfront Resort & Spa in Summerland. Another new event, From Cellars to Classics, is being staged as a signature event in partnership with Okanagan ChamberFest, and pairs music and wine with some of Canada’s best chamber musicians. The evening will begin with an hour-long wine and hors d’oeuvres reception where guests will have the opportunity to taste more than 40 wines from regional wineries. Guests will then enjoy two 45-minute performances, with timeless works from masters such as Bach, Mozart, and Schubert, blended with more modern, thought-provoking pieces by living composers such as John Luther Adams and the legendary Okanagan composer, Imant Raminsh.

Christopher also says Okanagan Wine Festivals has introduced a new program called the Winethusiast Club. “It’s kind of the brainchild of the pandemic,” Christopher says. “Our mandate is to connect wine lovers with the people who craft it, and in the absence of events, we haven’t been able to do that. “So, now we do monthly featured giveaways, we do pop up tastings as well, and VIP complimentary tastings,” she added. “It’s a program that goes on all year, and it’s just a great opportunity for people who are interested in wine in the BC wine industry, in particular, to get to know the people behind the labels a little bit more intimately.”

THE POWER OF CAN Get $100 towards your first order with Vessel, exclusive to Orchard & Vine readers. Claim your discount and find out more about how we can help you take your business to the next level at:

vesselpackaging.com/orchardandvine 28 Spring 2022

As well, the membership for Winethusiast is just $39, and the discounts for just four wine festival tickets alone more than pays back the price of an annual membership. Both those memberships and the Spring Wine Festival tickets are selling quickly, so fans of the region’s wines are urged to reserve their event tickets before they sell out. “People are excited to get back to it,” Christopher explained. “This will be the first major event that a lot of people have attended in the past couple years, so I think people are just kind of chomping at the bit, and ready to go.” ■ Tickets for wine festival events can be purchased at thewinefestivals.com.

Food Security and Supply Problems Lead to ALR Changes By Gary Symons The BC government is changing the ALR Use Regulations to allow farmers to build intensive greenhouses and vertical farms. It’s a major change to the legislation, and a controversial one, as critics say those greenhouses will be built on some of the province’s best arable land, when they could be built in industrial parks. But Lana Popham, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, says the move will increase BC’s food security and improve the overall farm economy. “Making B.C.’s food system more sustainable and resilient helps build a stronger economy and prosperous farming communities,” Popham says, describing the situation as urgent for the province.

Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/AeroFarms

“When the pandemic and recent climate change-related floods disrupted supply chains, British Columbians were reminded of the incredible bounty in our own back yard,” she said. “Opening opportunities for more vertical farms and innovative agritech practices in partnership with existing traditional farms helps solve our overall food security and food economy puzzle.” Opposition agriculture critic Ian Paton, the MLA for Delta South, does not agree with the idea of building greenhouses on ALR land that can be used for traditional farming. “God knows they’ve covered up enough prime farmland in Delta with greenhouses, which is almost the same as vertical farming,” Paton argues. “Instead of growing lettuce, they’re growing cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, but it’s all, basically, on a concrete floor.” As well, Paton points out that high intensity greenhouses and vertical farms are very expensive to build, and require a massive capital outlay. “It’s cost-prohibitive,” he says. “There’s only 12 vertical farms in all of Canada, and why is that? This is something that people with suits and ties get into from downtown Vancouver, not conventional farmers.” That said, there’s no question that intensive agritech operations can massively boost food production, particularly in colder regions where crops can’t be grown in the

Aerofarms has built the world’s largest vertical farm in Newark, New Jersey. A former steel factory was converted to house the 69,000 square foot farm.

winter. It’s also ideal for areas with very little arable land. A good example of that can be seen in The Netherlands. Despite its small size, The Netherlands is the second largest food exporter in the world, after the United States. And yet, the entire country is only twice the size of the Okanagan Valley, and slightly larger than Vancouver Island. At only 41,543 square kilometres, the densely populated nation still manages to far outstrip Canada in food exports, despite Canada being 240 times larger. In BC, however, the amount of farm land is

constrained by the extremely mountainous terrain and cold winters in most of the province. For areas like BC, The Netherlands does provide a model to increase food production and particularly export crops. In 2019 The Netherlands’ agriculture exports rose another 8% to 9.9 billion Euros, the equivalent as of this writing of $13.9 billion Cdn., and close to $130 billion in economic activity in the Dutch economy. The Netherlands has succeeded by investing massively in Research and Development projects, and converting many types of food production to high intensity greenhouses, Spring 2022

vertical farms, or livestock buildings. For example, one high-tech building holds 150,000 chickens at one time in a vertical indoor farm, and in ways that are kinder to the animals than most production farms. A rotary milking machine at the University of Wageningen - arguably the top agricultural institute in the world - enables a single operator to milk 150 cows an hour in a very small space; a critical component in a country with little free land.

The Netherlands also uses a lot less water, at 1.1 gallons per pound, as opposed to 25.6 gallons per pound as the global average, and 34 gallons for China. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Dutch are busy ripping up farmland to build up their intensive agricultural facilities. Greenhouses are built in industrial zones as well, and some are even built on top of factories, using space that would otherwise be wasted. That’s a trend we’re seeing around he world, and particularly in eastern Canada, where the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse opened in Montreal in 2020. In fact, eastern Canada in particular is one of the leaders in the move toward environmentally sustainable greenhouse growing. According to the latest Stats Canada re-

Photo Credit: Province of BC

The innovation in The Netherlands can be seen clearly when you compare tomato production per kilometre. A recent report by National Geographic showed that The Netherlands produces a staggering 144,352 tons of tomatoes per square mile. That compares to China, the largest producer of tomatoes in the world, producing only 3,868 tons per square mile.

By opening up new opportunities for agritech companies to operate in B.C., we are positioning our province to be a world leader in finding innovative solutions to food security problems. Ravi Kahlon port in 2019, Ontario had the vast majority of greenhouse vegetable facilities, with 10 million square meters of greenhouses out of the Canadian total of 14.6 million square meters, totaling 71 per cent of all vegetable greenhouses. As a result, Ontario is one of the largest exporters of food products of any jurisdiction in North America, despite

its cold temperatures and relatively small amount of arable land. Notably, BC places second in that list with 2.9 million square meters, or about 17% of the Canadian total. Those two provinces also lead the country when it comes to exports. In 2015 Ontario exported $654.2 million worth of greenhouse crops in 2015, growing to $920.2 million in 2019.

Photo Credit: www.nordicharvest.com

Unfortunately, BC’s exports have actually slightly declined in that same time span, from $167 million to $164.4 million, which brings us to the provincial announcement in February.

Nordic Harvest in Denmark has one of the world’s largest vertical farms in Taastrup, they provide locally and sustainably produced greens, freshly harvested all year round, without pesticides. 30 Spring 2022

The BC government has been trying to grow the agricultural sector, and it’s becoming clear that in a province with a constricted land base, that goal can only be met through radical change. Ravi Kahlon, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, says the key is to find ways to simultaneously improve food security, increase exports and revenues, and to do so while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

“A key pillar of our StrongerBC Economic Plan is centred around fostering innovation to grow the economy, while tackling climate change,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “By opening up new opportunities for agritech companies to operate in B.C., we are positioning our province to be a world leader in finding innovative solutions to food security problems.” The reason that’s so difficult, but also so important, is that agriculture and forestry is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Energy Generation tops the chart with 35% of greenhouse gas emissions, but Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses comes close behind with 24%, ahead of industry at 21%.

Those GHGs are a particularly big problem because increases in food productivity required farmers to increase their use of fertilizers like nitrogen, which unfortunately releases nitrous oxide, a gas that is 300 times worse for global warming than CO2. Finding ways to grow more food with fewer damaging inputs isn’t just about economics; it’s a key part of preventing global warming from devastating our entire civilization and our planet. Right now, the major criticism of the BC government’s new policy is that it will involve greenhouses being built on Agricultural

Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/AeroFarms

To put that into even starker perspective, if you banned all of the cars, trucks, trains, boats and aircraft in the world together, that would only cut greenhouse gas emissions by 14%.

Vertical farm factories can increase productivity while decreasing GHG emissions.

Land Reserve, which represents the best of the province’s arable land. As the policy rolls out, some details to look for will be whether greenhouses might be restricted to lands that are considered ‘marginal’, or better

yet, incentives for BC farmers and Agritech companies to build them on industrial lands instead, including on the roofs of factories and warehouses. ■

Cruiser Contracting Ltd.

QUALITY CONSTRUCTION • LAND CONTOURING SERVICES • Land Contouring For Orchards & Vineyards • Surface Modelling and GPS Machine Controlled Excavation • Retaining Wall Construction • Excavators, Rock Trucks and Dozers • Services by the Hour or Contract

Cruiser Contracting Ltd. Call 778-753-6499 info@cruisercontracting.com cruisercontracting.com

Spring 2022

AGRICULTURAL NETTING & FABRICS

• Strong HDPE knit, open-mesh nets • 10 year UV warranty • Easy to apply and remove • Hail, shade, rain & other fabrics • Nets for grapes, cherries & berry crops • Custom nets and structures

UNBEATABLE BIRD PROTECTION

the best

PLASTIC CONTAINERS for SMALL FRUITS and BERRIES

• Strong HDPE knitted fabric • 10 year UV warranty • Easy to apply and remove • Adjustable reflectivity • Good porosity to prevent water buildup • Custom widths available

HIGH QUALITY REFLECTIVE COVERS 250-488-2374 Farmsolutions.net

32 Spring 2022

Neal Carter & Assoc. info@farmsolutions.net

Reusable

Recyclable

1.888.778.2473

www.ThunderbirdPlastics.com

Durable

Delivered

2022 Buyers Guide ■ Accounting

■ Farm Equipment

■ Soil & Compost

■ Aerial, Surveying & Mapping

■ Farm Management

■ Soil & Soil Testing

■ Agencies Media

■ Farm Market Products

■ Animal, Bird & Pest Control

■ Fertilizer

■ Appraisals

■ Financial

■ Associations

■ Fuel & Lubricants

■ Biostimulants

■ Insurance

■ Tax & Consulting

■ Bottles

■ Irrigation

■ Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

■ Canning Services

■ Labels & Labelling Equipment

■ Vineyard Equipment

■ Cider Supplies

■ Nurseries

■ Viticulture

■ Concrete Resurfacing

■ Orchard Supplies

■ Consultants

■ Packaging, Containers & Boxes

■ Corks, Capsules & Closures

■ Payroll Systems

■ Crop Protection

■ Pesticides

■ Drainage Management

■ Real Estate

■ Winery Equipment

■ Dust Control

■ Safety

■ Winery Supplies

■ Spreaders ■ Steel Buildings ■ Storage

■ Warehousing & Distribution ■ Wine Brokers ■ Winery Consultants

Spring 2022

Accounting

Aerial, Surveying & Mapping

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Phone: 250-575-5953 info@swiftaerialsurveys.ca www.swiftaerialsurveys.ca

American Nettings & Fabric Inc

RHN Chartered Professional Accountants Osoyoos Office 8319 Main Street (2nd Floor) Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0 Phone: 250-495-3383 Kelowna Office 620-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 9Y2 Phone: 250-860-1177 Lower Mainland Office 105 – 13900 Maycrest Way Richmond, BC V6V 3E2 Phone: 604-273-9338 info@rhncpa.com www.rhncpa.com RHN understands the unique challenges faced by growers and producers of vine and orchard products and services. Business owners deserve to have experienced and knowledgeable accountants and business advisors who provide extraordinary service and go beyond standard expectations. At RHN, we are REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS who business owners trust and rely upon.

Accounting

Swift Aerial Surveys delivers agriculture intelligence by providing aerial imaging, remote sensing and precision agriculture mapping & surveying services using highly specialized drone enabled technologies. * Vineyard Design & Layout * Construction Surveying * Crop Vigour Mapping * Digital Terrain Modelling * Thermal Imaging * GIS & CAD Services

Agencies Media

ENDERBY Box 705, 201-900 Belvedere Street Enderby, BC V0E 1V0 Phone: 250-838-7337 ARMSTRONG Box 405, 2535 Patterson Avenue Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 Phone: 250-546-8665 LUMBY Box 610, 2041 Vernon Street Lumby, BC V0E 2G0 Phone: 250-547-2118 www.farmtax.com TOLL FREE:1-888-818-3276

2022 Buyer's Guide

Expert farm taxation advice: • Purchase and sale of farms • Transfer of farms to children • Preparation of farm tax returns • Government subsidy programs • Use of $1,000,000 Capital Gains Exemptions Approved consultants for Government funding through BC Farm Business Advisory Services Program

34 Spring 2022

2684 Delta Ring Road Ferndale, WA 98248 USA Toll Free: 1.800.811.7444 sales@americannettings.com www.americannettings.com American Nettings & Fabric Inc. is one of the leading suppliers of nettings and fabrics in North America. The company has been family owned and operated for over 35 years. We are a forerunner in the manufacturing of fabrics and nettings for the entire gardening/growing industry, enabling sustainable produce and flowering plants with low maintenance and high yields.

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Bird Control Group

Town Hall Brands 317-237 East 4th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5T 4R4 Phone: 604 321 3295 info@townhallbrands.com www.townhallbrands.com With more than 25 years working with consumer goods, Town Hall Brands is your partner for branding, graphic design, marketing, PR, and social media. This team knows how to build brands and get them talked about.

27350 SW 95th Ave, Suite 3022 Wilsonville, OR 97070 Phone: 844-406-9280 hello@birdcontrolgroup.com birdcontrolgroup.com Automated laser bird deterrent systems. Effective - Affordable - Neighbor Friendly

12033 Loomer Road Summerland, BC V0H 1Z8 Phone: 250-488-2374 info@farmsolutions.net www.farmsolutions.net FarmSolutions is a supplier of high quality agricultural fabric, including drape-over bird netting, side-netting, wind-break fabrics, hail fabrics, a range of reflective ground covers, and shade cloth. The company also builds structures for shade, hail and rain protection.

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Princeton Wood Preservers www.pwppost.com PARKSVILLE Fenceline Products 250-248-3122 fence@telus.net ONTARIO Ardiel Acres 705-443-7613 greg@ardielacres.ca ALL OTHER AREAS Bill Everitt 877-797-7678 beveritt@xplornet.ca PWP is an industry leader in CCA pressure treated wood post and rail products for farm, orchard, vineyard and berry trellising meeting CSA080 standards. Guaranteed life expectancy of 25 years if not damaged or altered before or after installation.

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Hawk Kite Sales 9800 Giants Head Road Summerland, BC V0H 1Z7 Phone: 250-404-0318 sales@hawkkite.ca www.hawkkite.ca Silent effective Hawk Kites scare starlings, seagulls, pigeons, cowbirds, sparrows and most small birds from orchards, vineyards, berry and vegetable gardens, cereal crops, parks, beaches, landfills, feed lots and buildings. Can cover up to 5 acres depending on crop and bird type.

Redden Net & Rope Ltd. #27-12491 #2 Rd. Richmond, BC V7E 2G3 Phone: 604-274-1422 Toll Free: 866-233-1422 Cell: 604-506-5043 mark@redden-net.com www.redden-rope.com/vineyard-netting Distributor of Most Economical Vineyard netting

Appraisals

Kent-Macpherson Appraisals Inc. (Kelowna, BC) Phone: 250-763-2236 Unit 304-1708 Dolphin Ave. Kelowna, BC V1Y 9S4 csmirl@kent-macpherson.com https://kent-macpherson.com Kent-Macpherson Appraisals Inc has built a reputation for professionalism and high standards, growing into one of Western Canada’s leading authorities in independent real estate valuation, consulting, and advisory services for both the private and public sectors. As agricultural properties throughout our valley are truly unique, detailed knowledge of the characteristics of any given property and all comparable market evidence is required in the valuation and consultation process. We pride ourselves in working with our clients to continue to serve the agricultural sector as a specialty service area for our company.

Appraisals

306 – 1824 Gordon Drive Kelowna, BC V1Y 0E2 Phone: 250-868-9244 Toll Free: 1-844-644-7815 info@ncacommercial.com www.ncacommercial.com Kelowna’s NCA Commercial Inc. offers experienced, reliable and professional valuation and consulting services to those owning and operating agricultural land and businesses in BC’s interior. Our team of accredited commercial real estate appraisers specializes in market valuations for financing, property settlement, estate planning, insurance, risk management and owner compensation in expropriation and partial takings.We also provide subdivision and ALR application services. Call us today if you require an accurate opinion of value for your vineyard, orchard or farm.

Spring 2022

2022 Buyer's Guide

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Associations

BCFGA

Serving members since 1889 880 Vaughan Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4 Phone: 250-762-5226 Toll Free: 1-800-619-9022 Fax: 250-861-9089 info@bcfga.com www.bcfga.com BCFGA - representing and serving tree fruit growers. Promoting and developing industry strategies that improve growing practices, packing, marketing, and the consumption of fresh and processed tree fruits and reputation of tree fruits grown in British Columbia. BCFGA provides benefits to its tree fruit producer members including discounted prices on services and the EFP Incentive Program.

Biostimulants

Bottles

Ardagh Glass Packaging - North America

Interior Beverages & Food Services

10194 Crosspoint Blvd. Suite 410, Indianapolis, IN 46256, USA Phone: 317-558-1585 Marketing.Glass.NA@ardaghgroup.com ardaghgroup.com/wine2022

1989 Harvey Avenue Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6G5 Phone: 1-250-491-9266 Toll Free: 1-888-703-6505 info@interiorbeverages.com www.interiorbeverages.com

As the largest producer of glass wine bottles made 100% in North America, Ardagh Glass Packaging has the resources to meet your unique needs with flexibility, responsiveness and ease. We’re ready to collaborate with you — right from the heart of the major North American wine regions, helping things run efficiently every step of the way. Call us to learn more about our extensive bottle portfolio and the exceptional quality and support you can expect from your local glass partner.

Providing packaging, bottling, corks, screwcaps, capsules & closures for wineries and u-vins. • Wine Bottles • Rigid Packaging • Amorim Neutrocork Corks • Aluminum Screwcaps • PolyLam Capsules • Closures Interior Beverages Ltd. Proudly announces that Mark Gonczy is our new sales rep for the Okanagan Valley, Saxco Products Manager markg@ibev.ca | 250-300-6733 Proudly locally owned & operated.

Bottles

TricorBraun WinePak

Acadian Plant Health™

2022 Buyer's Guide

30 Brown Avenue Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Toll free: 1-800-575-9100 communications@acadian.ca acadianplanthealth-na.com

Acadian Plant Health™ is a division of Acadian Seaplants Limited. Acadian Plant Health™ is the world leader in biostimulant solutions, sustainably sourced, and scientifically proven to increase crop survivability, yield and quality. Acadian’s products are used in soil and foliar inputs on over 70 crops in more than 80 countries world-wide. Acadian Plant Health™ offers innovative biostimulant crop care solutions that improve plant health, growth and development.

36 Spring 2022

6908 Palm Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4M3 Phone: 604-473-9463 Toll Free: 1-866-55GRAPE Fax: 604-433-2810 info@bosagrape.com www.bosagrape.com Bosagrape distributes ingredients, supplies and equipment for the beverage industry for both the professionals and the hobbyist. Shop online or give us a call for any products from yeasts, to lab supplies, to tanks all orders can be processed for pickup or shipping. Since 1989.

Unit # 500 1650 Brigantine Drive Coquitlam, BC V3K 7B5 Phone: 604-649-5623 Toll free: 877-495-7924 Fax number: 604-529-7977 www.tricorbraunwinepak.com TricorBraun WinePak is a premier packaging distributor in North America supplying a broad variety of packaging components. We provide access to the highest quality glass, as well as Amcor Stelvin® capsules and closures. We also offer private and stock molds, full decorating services, repacking capabilities, enhanced design and engineering services and the strongest sales and customer service support in the industry.

Cider Supplies

Universal Packaging 1810 Kosmina Road Vernon, BC V1T 8T2 Toll free: 1-866-549-1323 Phone: 250-549-1323 info@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com At Universal Packaging we specialize in screen-printing, glass bottle decoration and supply and have mastered our craft over the last 37 years to become a leading packaging provider.

Marvelous Ideas Contracting Ltd. 6908 Palm Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4M3 Phone: 604-473-9463 Toll Free: 1-866-55GRAPE Fax: 604-433-2810 info@bosagrape.com www.bosagrape.com

Our family owned company provides start to finish packaging out of our decorating facility in the Okanagan Valley. We offer screen printing, label design, glass bottles, bottle coatings, cartons and Vinoseal closures.

Bosagrape distributes ingredients, supplies and equipment for the beverage industry for both the professionals and the hobbyist. Shop online or give us a call for any products from yeasts, to lab supplies, to tanks all orders can be processed for pickup or shipping. Since 1989.

Canning Services

Cider Supplies

cellar•tek west

Vessel Packaging Co 8250 Borden St Vancouver, BC V5P 3E7 Toll Free: 1-877-959-2267 info@vesselpackaging.com www.vesselpackaging.com Here at Vessel, we work with beverage companies of all sizes, from all different sectors. From wine to ciders, RTD’s, coffees, water, and soft drinks as well as craft breweries, we’re experienced in providing aluminum beverage packaging services across the spectrum. Contact us to find out more about our integrated suite of product offerings that will support your beverage business.

Concrete Resurfacing

1043 Richter St. Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K4 Phone: 250-868-3186 Toll Free: 1-877-460-9463

cellar•tek east

#530 – 380 Vansickle Road St. Catharines, ON, L2S 0B5 Phone: 905-246-8316 info@cellartek.com www.cellartek.com CellarTek is at the forefront of the Commercial Food & Beverage Industry, based in Canada and serving all of North America. CellarTek offers quality equipment, supplies and ingredients ranging from fruit reception and stainless tanks, to packaging and all points of processing and service needs between. We are continually searching our global network for the finest quality equipment, products and supplies for the beverage production industry and we encourage you to browse our website for your winery, brewery, cider making or distilling needs.

Unit #6 – 2543 Juliann Road West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2M3 BC Interior: 250-258-8728 Lower Mainland: 250-454-6969 Toll Free: 1-866-227-5165 don@marvelousideas.com www.marvelousideas.com An innovative, specialty trades wall and flooring system applicator (since 1991) engaged primarily in concrete preparation, restoration, resurfacing and protective finishes. We use only hybrid, provenperformance products (urethanes, epoxies, mortars, lithium sealers and joint sealants), technologies and equipment that can enhance chemical, corrosion, thermal and slip resistance. Many of these products are also LEED certified, VOC Compliant, antimicrobial and CFIA approved.

Consultants

Rising Tide Consultants 1620 – 1130 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4 Phone: 604-669-2928 info@risingtideconsultants.ca risingtideconsultants.ca Experience Counts! With over 30 years of liquor license consulting experience, we understand local and provincial regulations and policies. We address complex issues and give you expert guidance tailored to your winery business – including license applications, lounges, restaurant applications, picnic areas, tasting areas, retail stores and ALR issues. Contact us for a free consultation.

2022 Buyer's Guide

Bottles

Spring 2022

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Amcor Capsules California 5425 Broadway Street American Canyon CA 94503 Phone: 877-STELVIN (877-783-5846) Quebec 2301 Route 112 St-Cesaire, Quebec, J0L 1T0 Phone: 450-469-0777 info.capsules@amcor.com www.amcor.com/stelvin Amcor Capsules is a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of aluminum closures and capsules for the wine, sparkling wine & spirits industry. This year, Amcor introduces ShapeArt, an innovative way for brands to set themselves apart with a system for developing closures with unique shapes and textures.

Corks, Capsules & Closures

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Interior Beverages & Food Services

9597 Sideroad 17 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca Western Canada 1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) bccustomerservice@aowilson.ca Eastern Canada 1.855.857.1511 customerservice@aowilson.ca

2022 Buyer's Guide

6908 Palm Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4M3 Phone: 604-473-9463 Toll Free: 1-866-55GRAPE Fax: 604-433-2810 info@bosagrape.com www.bosagrape.com

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from the vineyard to the bottling line. We offer reliable products, advice and technical sales support for all your processing and packaging needs at honest prices. AOW is the largest stocking distributor in Canada of premium corks, capsules and closures. We also offer enology products, equipment, filter media and cleaning supplies for your winery. We have expanded our operations in Western Canada to service our customers even more efficiently.

38 Spring 2022

1989 Harvey Avenue Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6G5 Phone: 1-250-491-9266 Toll Free: 1-888-703-6505 info@interiorbeverages.com www.interiorbeverages.com Providing packaging, bottling, corks, screwcaps, capsules & closures for wineries and u-vins. • Wine Bottles • Rigid Packaging • Amorim Neutrocork Corks • Aluminum Screwcaps • PolyLam Capsules • Closures Interior Beverages Ltd. Proudly announces that Mark Gonczy is our new sales rep for the Okanagan Valley, Saxco Products Manager markg@ibev.ca | 250-300-6733 Proudly locally owned & operated.

Crop Protection

104 Cooper Dr. Unit 3 Guelph, ON. N1C 0A4 Phone: 519-826-7878 Toll free: 866-613-3336 Fax: 519-826-7675 info@belchim.com www.belchimcanada.com Belchim Crop Protection Canada develops, registers and markets protection, nutritional and management products for field, orchard, vineyard, and greenhouse crops across Canada. Belchim Crop Protection Canada works closely with end users and suppliers to evaluate market needs, conduct research, and provide cost effective products that offer superior performance.

Crop Protection

Dust Control

Farm Equipment

Syngenta Canada Inc 140 Reseach Lane Guelph , ON N1G 4Z3 Phone: 250-469-0483 Toll Free: 1-877-964-3682 Hank.Markgraf@syngenta.com www.syngenta.ca We pride ourselves in offering innovative products, expert agronomic advice, and supporting best management practices designed to help Canadian growers produce their best crops. The Canadian team is over 300 people strong, supporting products and services that span the country’s major horticultural crops. Contact your local Syngenta Rep, Hank Markgraf for your horticultural needs.

Drainage Management

Custom Tank Services Head Office: Abbotsford Serving all of BC Phone: 604-302-4280 Toll Free: 1-866-674-1314 customtankservices@live.ca dustcontrolbc.com Custom Tank Services Ltd. offers long-lasting and extremely effective dust suppressant solutions for unpaved roads. We help our customers protect crops, the environment and human health and safety. Dust Suppressants are applied to road surfaces by experienced operators utilizing high quality spray trucks. We respond quickly to the needs of our customers.

Farm Equipment

Matsqui Ag Repair Ltd. 34856 Harris Rd. Abbotsford, BC V3G 1R7 Phone: 604-826-3281 Fax: 604-826-0705 admin@matsquiagrepair.com www.matsquiagrepair.com Authorized Sales, Service and Parts for JCB, Deutz-Fahr, Kuhn, KIOTI, McHale, and McCormick equipment. New and used equipment sales. Servicing the Okanagan and Fraser Valley since 1989.

Farm Equipment

Rollins Machinery (formerly Farmco Sales Ltd.)

Gerard’s Equipment

#311 – 3602 Gilmore Way Burnaby, BC V5G 4W8 Phone: 604-554-0688 Jasmina.Dedovic@aco.com www.acoca.ca / www.acoswm.com / buildingdrainage.aco

5592 Hwy 97 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-2524 Fax: 250-498-3288 www.gerardsequipment.com

ACO Hygienic Drainage: Drainage systems are a particularly important niche for the persistence of listeria and can be a source of food contamination. Poorly specified drainage leads to costly ongoing cleaning and maintenance and at worst it can result in food contamination. HygieneFirst stands for ACO’s commitment to ultimate hygienic performance. ACO addresses the hygienic requirements of floor drains and applies the design principles reserved for food contact equipment on them to deliver fully hygienic solutions.

Proudly serving the Okanagan since 1973. We provide high quality farm equipment; vineyard and trellising supplies; and outdoor yard and garden products. We also provide repair service and replacement parts to most makes and models. In addition to our mainlines of KUBOTA Tractors and STIHL garden implements we carry a large variety of tractor attachments; short line implements; pruning tools; bird scaring, trellising, and harvesting supplies.

201 - 150 Campion Street Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7S8 Phone: 250-765-8266 info@rollinsmachinery.com www.rollinsmachinery.com Kelowna 250-765-8266 Chilliwack 1-800-242-9737, 604-792-1301 Chemainus 604-246-1203 The New Holland ag and construction dealer for over 30 years. Serving the Okanagan, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. Also Dealers for Perfect Van Wamel, Cub Cadet and now S.A.E supplying Porter Bin Lifts and Turbmatic Sprayers from Italy.

Spring 2022

2022 Buyer's Guide

ACO Systems, Ltd.

Farm Management

Fertilizer

Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) Inc.

Pacific Calcium, Inc.

CAFA is the nationally recognized organization for professional farm advisors. CAFA advisors maintain high standards while continually increasing farm advisory skills and knowledge intended to provide measurable value to their farm clients.

32117 Highway 97 Tonasket, WA 98855 Phone: 1-509-486-1201 Fax: 1-509-486-1701 info@naturesintent.com www.naturesintent.com

Advisors for your business needs from BC through to PEI. www.cafanet.ca info@cafanet.ca Elizabeth Robertson Box 270 Seven Sisters Falls, Manitoba R0E 1Y0 Phone: 1-204-348-3578 Toll free: 1-877-474-2871

Farm Market Products

Whether it’s soil imbalance or low levels of nutrients, Pacific Calcium provides a full line of fertilizers and soil amendments to fit your conventional or organic farming needs. We offer custom grinding, granulating and mixing of calcium carbonate, dolomitic lime, fish bonemeal, granulated feathermeal, 7-24, and gypsum. We have dealers across the west coast, so look for Pacific Calcium.

Fertilizer

464 Riverside Road 464 Riverside Road Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford, BC Toll Free: 1-800-661-4559 Toll Free: 1-800-661-4559 Fax: 604-864-8418 Fax: 604-864-8418 sales@tlhort.com sales@tlhort.com www.tlhort.com www.tlhort.com / www.biofert.ca TerraLink Western Canada’s TerraLink is isWestern Canada’sleading leading manufacturer conventional fertilizer manufacturer of of conventional fertilizer and BioFert organic fertilizer. BioFert and organic fertilizer.

Now also in Kelowna! Now also in Kelowna!

Our teamisis Ourfriendly friendlyand and knowledgeable team here tohere supply you with the bestthe products to supply you with best for your professional growing needs:growing Organic & products for your professional conventional fertilizers, soil supplements, needs: Organic & conventional fertilizers, forage soil turf & reclamation supplements, forage seed, turf & crop protection products, biological controls, reclamation seed, crop protection produce packaging, pruners, sprayers, products, biological controls, produceetc. Find out more at pruners, www.tlhort.com. packaging, sprayers, etc. Find out more at www.tlhort.com Rooted in our Community

Fertilizer

Financial

Superior Peat Inc.

Partner with the only lender 100% invested in Canadian agriculture and food.

Mobile Juice Factory

2022 Buyer's Guide

3361 Glencoe Road West Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-307-4122 info@mobilejuicefactory.com www.mobilejuicefactory.com The Mobile Juice Factory travels directly to the organic and non-organic orchards to press fruit into delicious juice. Any blemished, off-colour or tiny fruit can be turned into fresh juice. The Mobile Juice Factory was also set up to allow for the juicing of apples and pears but also pitted fruit such as cherries and peaches. In less than an hour, the Mobile Juice Factory can turn 1,760 pounds of apples into 500 litres of fresh, flavourful juice into different size packages. It’s good for you, good for the earth and good for the community.

40 Spring 2022

1700 Carmi Avenue Penticton, BC V2A 8V5 Phone: 250-493-5410 superiorpeat@telus.net www.superiorpeat.com OMRI Listed supplier of organic soil amendments and composts used when planting orchards, vineyards and berry farms. We also carry a large selection of bark mulches and composts for ground cover. Visit us online at www.superiorpeat.com for more information.

fcc.ca | 1-888-332-3301

Financial

Fuel & Lubricants

RBC Royal Bank RBC has 4 agricultural and agri-business specialists in the Okanagan Tyler Chick South Okanagan / Similkameen 250-490-4404 tyler.chick@rbc.com Jason Michiel South Okanagan / Similkameen 250-490-4420 jason.michiel@rbc.com Scott Simpson Kelowna / Central Okanagan 1-236-970-2984 scott.simpson@rbc.com Ian Jones Kelowna / Central Okanagan 250-868-4181 ian.jones@rbc.com

TD Pacific Agriculture Services Jeremy Siddall, District Vice President Pacific Agriculture Services 1633 Ellis Street, Unit 310 Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A8 Phone: 250-681-4656 Fax: 250-712-5470 Jeremy.Siddall@td.com www.tdcanadatrust.com/agriculture Serving British Columbia. We are dedicated to helping you achieve your business goals and create a flexible and customized banking solution that is right for your farming operation.

350 Carion Road Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-869-8487 Toll free: 1-866-337-7180 info@afdpetroleum.com sales@afdpetroleum.com www.afdpetroleum.com

Fuel! Lubricants! Storage! Solutions! Get high performance fuel at a great price, plus a wide range of quality lubricants and storage tanks delivered right to your farm, orchard, or vineyard. We engineer our products to the highest standard so you can operate at top capacity and optimize your yield all year long at a competitive price.

www.rbcroyalbank.com/agriculture

Financial

AFD Petroleum Ltd.

Financial

Insurance

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Daniel Tassoni, Winery Risk Specialist

Scotiabank Agriculture

For 185 years, Scotiabank has been helping farmers and agri-businesses grow and prosper. Our integrated banking solutions can assist in the day-to-day management of your business for now and in the future. For a complete suite of services, contact one of our specialists or visit scotiabank.com/ agriculturalservices Lee Gogal, BBA Director & Group Lead, BC Agriculture Phone: 604.308.1657 lee.gogal@scotiabank.com Amanda McCardell, Agriculture Specialist, Okanagan Phone: 250-808-5647 amanda.mccardell@scotiabank.com

Toby Frisk Director, Agribusiness Serving the Thompson, Okanagan, Enderby and Similkameen regions Phone: 778-212-3415 tfrisk@firstwestcu.ca valleyfirst.com/agribusiness Our credit union was founded by the farming community. It’s why we remain committed to supporting farmers and agriculture businesses today, helping to find the right solutions for their unique needs. We can’t wait to learn more about your business. Contact your local Agribusiness Advisor today.

dtassoni@capricmw.ca • 250-808-6318

Dave Ledinski, Winery Risk Specialist dledinski@capricmw.ca • 250-212-6233 Toll Free 1-800-670-1877 Ext. 6082 CapriCMW provides the highest quality insurance products and innovative riskrelated solutions to Vintners and Wine Distributors. With offices throughout the heart of BC’s wine region, our expert advisors truly understand the unique insurance needs of the wine industry. Our competitively priced programs include coverage for: • Direct losses to property, stock & equipment • Lost income • Food-borne illness • Product recall • Liability protection from customer incidents We also support non-insurable areas such as contract review, risk control for safety of premises and reviews of employee safety.

Spring 2022

2022 Buyer's Guide

488 Bernard Ave Kelowna, BC

Insurance

Solve Insurance and Investments 201 – 1502 Sutherland Ave Kelowna BC V1Y 5Y6 Phone: 250. 861.3777 Toll Free: 866.582.3777 solve_ins_kelowna@cooperators.ca www.cooperators.ca/en/solve-insurance We offer all lines of insurance and our specialists can customize your insurance portfolio to meet your specific needs. We have three convenient locations to help serve you in the Okanagan Valley: two in Kelowna and one in the West Kelowna. We look forward to seeing you in our offices, talking to you on the phone or corresponding through email. If you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss your personal insurance needs or if you would like a quote, please feel free to contact us.

Insurance

Westland Insurance Group Ltd. #109‑4800 Anderson Way Vernon, BC Phone: 778‑943‑0024 mpetreny@westlandinsurance.ca www.westlandinsurance.ca Westland Insurance Group is one of the larg‑ est and fastest‑growing independent prop‑ erty and casualty insurance brokers in Can‑ ada. With a national presence of more than 175 locations and nearly 2,100 employees, the company continues to expand coast to coast. Westland’s brokers provide expert ad‑ vice to home, business, farm, life and auto insurance clients.

2022 Buyer's Guide

Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained a family‑owned company that is committed to supporting its local commu‑ nities. For more information, please visit westlandinsurance.ca.

42 Spring 2022

Irrigation

Delta Water Products 444 Chilcotin Road Kamloops, BC V2H 1G3 Phone: 1-250-372-9424 Info@deltairrigation.ca 1524 Byland Road, West Kelowna, BC V1Z 1A8 Phone: 1-250-769-1300 kelownasales@deltairrigation.ca www.deltairrigation.ca Delta Water Products is BC’s largest Rivulis and Rondo dealer, a full line Toro Ag dealer, and we carry a complete line of vineyard, orchard, ranch and turf irrigation. We are BC’s largest supplier of Franklin Pumps and Motors and HDPE pipe. Our locations carry comprehensive inventories of water works products and water treatment for wineries, communities and agriculture. Give us a call, we provide a complimentary site visit and will work with you to get the best possible design and solutions for your projects.

Irrigation

Southern Irrigation 44160 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 3Z9 Phone: 604-792-0041 5830 Sawmill Road Oliver, BC V0H 1T9 Phone: 250-485-0246 sales@southernirrigation.com southernirrigation.com Southern Irrigation is a family owned and operated business that has been supplying quality irrigation products and solutions for the last 30 years. We are committed to provide outstanding customer service while adhering to the highest ethical conduct. Our head office is located in Chilliwack, BC, and we have locations in Oliver, Kamloops and Williams Lake, BC and Lethbridge and Red Deer, AB and Saskatoon, SK.

Labels & Labelling Equipment

Nelson Irrigation Corporation 848 Airport Road Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA Phone: +1 509.525.7660 Toll free: +1 800.456.3141 Fax: +1 509.525.7907 info@nelsonirrigation.com www.nelsonirrigation.com Nelson Irrigation Corporation plans, designs, develops, manufactures and sells proprietary products for the irrigation equipment market. It is focused on products and services that improve the state-of-the-art of irrigation by saving water, saving energy and doing a better job of irrigating.

International Bar Coding Systems & Consulting 250-493-3201 ibcworld.net sales@ibcworld.net International Bar Coding is a one-vendor solution for barcoding, labeling, automatic identification and data capture, automation and traceability. Whether you’re tracking raw material, work in progress, or finished product, IBC has the tools to help you collect your data in real time and utilize it fully. With traceability solutions used by fruit & vegetable producers, beverage and wine producers, cannabis producers, and consumer packaged goods manufacturers across North America, IBC is the technology leader for businesses looking to keep score.

Nurseries

Orchard Supplies

Packaging, Containers & Boxes

Every Vine Tested Since 2014

ON GUARD AGAINST VIRUSES

Knights Grapevine Nursery 3792 Feather River Blvd. Suite C Olivehurst, CA. 95961 Phone: 707-350-1148 eckhard@knightsgrapevinenursery.com knightsgrapevinenursery.com In Canada: Christian Mitzel 604-209-5178 christian@okvineclusive.ca

Gerard’s Equipment 5592 Hwy 97 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-2524 Fax: 250-498-3288 www.gerardsequipment.com

Thunderbird Plastics Ltd. 6969 Shirley Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4R4 Phone: 604-433-5624 Toll free:1-888-778-2473 Fax: 604-433-6231 info@thunderbirdplastics.com www.thunderbirdplastics.com

Knights Grapevine Nursery is a nursery focused on guarding against viruses and diseases that threaten our industry. Since 2014 they have implemented an ‘every vine tested’ protocol, working with only tested and approved material. With Eckhard and Benjamin Kaesekamp’s reputation for high quality vines, strong commitment to customer service and years of experience, as well as its isolated Northern California location, Knights Grapevine Nursery is your best choice for the strongest, cleanest plants!

Canadian manufacturers of PREMIUM PLASTIC HANDHELD CONTAINERS since 1970. Harvest, process, store and transport all small fruits and berries. Affordable, durable, reusable, recyclable, food-grade, freezer-safe, UV-resistant. Strong focus on sharp pricing, delivery times, customer service. Custom products available for high volumes.

Nurseries

Packaging, Containers & Boxes

Payroll Systems

Great Little Box Company / Ideon Packaging 27920 McCombs Road Wasco, CA 93280 Phone: 661-758-4777 matt.mcmillan@wonderful.com wonderfulnurseries.com Wonderful Nurseries is one of North America’s largest producers of dormant field-grown benchgrafts. They also produce greenhouse-grown benchgrafts, rootstock rootings, own-rooted vines, and cuttings, and currently offer a wide selection of popular varieties, new table grape releases, other table and raisin grape varieties, almonds and pistachios.

11300 Twigg Place, Richmond, BC Phone: 604-301-3700 Toll free: 1-800-661-3377 Fax: 604-301-3745 Info@glbc.com • www.glbc.com Other Locations: 3502 Spectrum Court, Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-765-6988 748 Market St. Victoria, BC Phone: 250-384-3382 100-1500 Industry St. Everett, WA Phone: 425-349-4522 Your local source for label and packaging solutions, specializing in corrugated boxes, custom displays, digital print and packaging, labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, protective packaging, and the distribution of shipping supplies. With over 40 years of packaging experience serving Western Canada and recognized for its excellence in customer service, GLBC provides businesses with an efficient, one source packaging solution.

Labora

236-868-5465 rene@labora.ca https://labora.ca Labora provides a simple and digital payroll service to farmers enabling their farmworkers to transfer remittances back home. A better solution for farm owners and workers. Farm Owners ✓ Save time and money by doing your payroll transfer with just one click at no cost ✓ Reduce your administrative work by accessing workers’ information in one place ✓ Increase productivity through a variety of online reporting formats Workers ✓ Safe and convenient! No need to travel to a physical bank. ✓ Online access to T4, tax returns, remittances, CPP contributions and Record of Employment ✓ Streamline tax return submissions

Spring 2022

2022 Buyer's Guide

Wonderful Nurseries

Pesticides

N.M. Bartlett Inc. 4509 Bartlett Rd. Beamsville, ON L0R1B1 Phone: 905-563-8261 Toll free: 1-800-263-1287 info@bartlett.ca www.bartlett.ca Bartlett’s are a crop protection distributor in Canada specializing in specialty horticulture products. Family owned and operated now in its fourth generation with over 100 years of experience in the Canadian hort segment.

Pesticides

Provide Agro Corporation 4825 Union Rd. Beamsville, ON L0R 1B4 Phone: 905-563-8261 Toll free: 1-800-263-1287 info@provideag.ca www.provideag.ca

2022 Buyer's Guide

Provide Agro is an N.M. Bartlett Inc. company that was formed to focus our horticulture equipment and technological innovation lines. Lines offered to Western growers include; FA.MA. Hedgers and HSS sprayers, Orsi Platforms, Darwin blossom thinners, Bartlett custom packhouse equipment.

44 Spring 2022

Real Estate

OKANAGANFARMS.COM Secure-Rite Mobile Storage 123 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6S1 Phone: 250.861.3955 Toll Free: 1.888.861.3955 Fax: 250.861.3165 Storage@Secure-Rite.com www.Secure-Rite.com

RE/MAX Kelowna 250-878-6545 100 – 1553 Harvey Ave Kelowna, BC V1Y 6G1 Jerry Geen, PREC* & Elya Byrne, PREC* Listing Specialists Shaun Everest, MBA, Purchasing Specialist Sales@GeenByrne.com

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage is changing the way the world views and uses shipping containers. We bring people and portable space together in meaningful and creative ways. We offer mobile storage, office containers, accommodation units (The Micro Suite™), pesticide and refrigerated containers, and a variety of smart accessories that are available for purchase, lease or rental at competitive prices, with exceptional service!

Looking to sell or buy a farm in the Okanagan Valley? You need substantial experience working on your side!

Real Estate

Safety

BC Farm & Ranch Realty Corp. 2014 Whatcom Road Abbotsford, BC Phone: 604-852-1180 Toll Free: 1-888-852-AGRI (2474) Fax: 604-852-1191 info@bcfarmandranch.com www.bcfarmandranch.com BC Farm & Ranch Realty Corp. is BC’s first and only Real Estate office 100% dedicated to Agriculture & Acreage properties. Visit our website to browse through our vast selection of properties from house and acreage to dairy, poultry, equestrian, winery/vineyards, nursery operations, berry farms, bare land developments and much more.

Geen + Byrne offers over 36 years of combined expertise selling farms throughout the Okanagan. Call the team who understands the local farm market and works diligently to get you to your goals.

Suite 311, 9440 202 Street, Langley, BC V1M 4A6 Toll Free: 1-877-533-1789 contact@agsafebc.ca www.agsafebc.ca AgSafe is the non-profit health and safety association for agricultural producers in British Columbia. AgSafe provides sitespecific safety education, consultation and materials, as well as online workplace safety resources. AgSafe is also the COR Certifying Partner for BC’s agriculturalassociated industries and offers a Certificate of Recognition (COR) program for large and small employers.

Soil & Compost

Superior Peat Inc. 1700 Carmi Avenue Penticton, BC V2A 8V5 Phone: 250-493-5410 superiorpeat@telus.net www.superiorpeat.com

Spreaders

Whatcom Manufacturing Inc. 405 Birch Bay Lynden Rd. Lynden, WA USA 98264 Phone: 360-354-3094 Fax: 360-354-5434 info@whatcommfg.com www.whatcommfg.com

Storage

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage 123 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6S1 Phone: 250.861.3955 Toll Free: 1.888.861.3955 Fax: 250.861.3165 Storage@Secure-Rite.com www.Secure-Rite.com

OMRI Listed supplier of organic soil amendments and composts used when planting orchards, vineyards and berry farms. We also carry a large selection of bark mulches and composts for ground cover. Visit us online at www.superiorpeat.com for more information.

Custom Built Row Mulch Spreaders for Vineyards and Orchards. Extra narrow models, QuickChange discharges, available in multiple sizes with numerous options and features built to accommodate all applications. For use with compost, sawdust, shavings, manure or wood chips.

Soil & Soil Testing

Steel Buildings

Tax & Consulting

Norsteel Building Systems Ltd.

3156 Industriel Laval, QC H7L 4P7 Phone: 450-629-1444 Toll free: 800-842-6629 Fax number: 450-629-3335 sales@hannacan.com www.hannacan.com We supply instrumentation for all the growers and winemakers’ needs whether pocket type, portable or bench type. We offer meters for the analysis of pH, conductivity, sulfur dioxide, total titratable acidity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, residual sugar and many other parameters.

We custom design pre-engineered Steel Buildings for: • Production Buildings • Tasting Rooms • Storage Buildings • And Beyond! All or part of your building can be designed in steel, taking advantage of its low maintenance, energy efficiencies and long-term durability. We build across B.C. and have been building for wineries, fruit producers, cideries and more since 1992.

MNP.ca Okanagan Office 6th Floor Landmark 4 Kelowna, B.C. 250.979.2574 geoff.mcintyre@mnp.ca Whether you operate a winery, a cidery, or are a grape grower, fruit grower, fruit producer, or a supplier in B.C.’s dynamic and growing food & beverage industry, you have great opportunity. Based in Kelowna and with 23 offices across B.C., our agriculture industry specialists provide client-focused advice and scalable solutions for all your accounting, consulting, taxation, risk management, and succession planning needs. Moving Summer 2022 15th Floor, Landmark 7, Kelowna, B.C.

Spring 2022

2022 Buyer's Guide

Hanna Instruments Canada Inc.

1295 Stevens Road West Kelowna, B.C. Phone: 250-769-3846 Toll free: 1-800-932-9131 brandon@norsteel.build www.norsteelbuildingsystems.com

Tax & Consulting

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Avenue Machinery Corp. 1521 Sumas Way Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Phone: 604-864-2665 Fax: 604-864-9568 Toll Free: 1-888-283-3276 Kelowna Phone: 250-769-8700 Fax: 250-769-8755 Vernon Phone: 250-545-3355 Fax: 250-545-4255 Rock Creek Phone: 250-446-2311 Toll Free: 1-888-283-3276 reception@avenuemachinery.ca www.avenuemachinery.ca Agricultural and light construction supply and service equipment. Featuring Kubota, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Landpride, Florida, Rankin, Maschio.

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

PrairieCoast equipment Toll Free: 1-877-553-3373 www.prairiecoastequipment.com

Antonio Carraro Canada 179 St Laurent West Maskinonge, PQ Phone: 819-626-0166 info@antoniocarraro.ca www.antoniocarraro.ca

2022 Buyer's Guide

Distribution Importation Jean Gagnon Inc / Antonio Carraro Canada Antonio Carraro is a Specialty tractor for Orchard, vineyard application from 38 to 99 Hp. 4x4, wheels or Tracks models, articulated frame or steering direction drive, with or without the cabin. Also the RGS (Reversible Guide System) option is std on many models, with Standard gear or Hydrostatic transmission. Service & Parts Osoyoos BC. Bowtie Tech Corp. 15210 Hwy 97N, Osoyoos. BC Phone 250-495-6459

46 Spring 2022

Gerard’s Equipment 5592 Hwy 97 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-2524 Fax: 250-498-3288 www.gerardsequipment.com Proudly serving the Okanagan since 1973. We provide high quality farm equipment; vineyard and trellising supplies; and outdoor yard and garden products. We also provide repair service and replacement parts to most makes and models. In addition to our mainlines of KUBOTA Tractors and STIHL garden implements we carry a large variety of tractor attachments; short line implements; pruning tools; bird scaring, trellising, and harvesting supplies.

8025 Dallas Drive Kamloops, BC 675 Adams Court Kelowna, BC 4228 Cowart Rd Prince George, BC 44158 Progress Way Chilliwack, BC 22661 Fraser Highway Langley, BC 1531 Harold Road Nanaimo, BC PrairieCoast equipment is your local John Deere dealer selling specialty sprayers, tractors, and mowers for orchard, berry, and vineyard growers across BC!

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Slimline Manufacturing 559 Okanagan Avenue East Penticton, BC V2A 3K4 Phone: 250-493-6145 Toll Free: 1-800-495-6145 agsales@slimlinemfg.com www.Turbomist.com Slimline Manufacturing is North America’s premier manufacturer of Agricultural Sprayer Technology. Turbo-Mist Sprayers are engineered to increase yield, eliminate drift, reduce operating costs and decrease ecological footprint.

Viticulture

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions

BRITISH COLUMBIA Phone 250.809.6040 bcsales@vinetech.ca ONTARIO Phone 905.984.4324 sales@vinetech.ca Producers of Canadian grafted and own rooted Grapevines. Importers of Certified Grapevines from Europe and the United States for sale across Canada. We also offer custom grafting, potted grapevines, trellising material and planting.

Turbo-Mist Sprayers: patented airblast technology, portable, durable, and customizable! Our dealer network representing the best in class sprayers and towers also provides maintenance services and Turbo-Mist OEM factory parts to the industry.

Vineyard Equipment

Warehousing & Distribution

Wine Broker

WINE ASPECT

B.C. Bulk Wine Brokers Ltd. 4199 Valleyview Road Penticton, BC V2A 8V8 Phone: 250.462.0620 wineaspect@gmail.com www.WineAspect.com We work with British Columbia Wineries and Cideries. WineAspect acts as an independent confidential Broker providing ethical personalized services to help protect the interests of all parties involved. We help alleviate the workload and actively find new options for all our client’s inventory and marketing needs. Our goal is to help promote the success of all British Columbia Liquor Manufacturer Companies by offering a confidential internal exchange platform for their products.

Winery Consultants

ECOVIN Gerard’s Equipment 5592 Hwy 97 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-2524 Fax: 250-498-3288 www.gerardsequipment.com Proudly serving the Okanagan since 1973. We provide high quality farm equipment; vineyard and trellising supplies; and outdoor yard and garden products. We also provide repair service and replacement parts to most makes and models. In addition to our mainlines of KUBOTA Tractors and STIHL garden implements we carry a large variety of tractor attachments; short line implements; pruning tools; bird scaring, trellising, and harvesting supplies.

333 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 7W5 Phone: 250-491-9316 Fax: 250-491-9317 cli_kelowna@containerworld.com www.commercial-logistics.com Through our Kelowna, 93,000 square foot safe, secure and temperature-controlled facility we offer a logistics gateway to your customers and suppliers both in the Okanagan and around the world. From direct to store delivery of one case, to forwarding pallets and full truckloads our competitive pricing, technology and industry & product knowledge, will exceed your logistics expectations.

CONSULTING ECOVIN CONSULTING Phone: 250 510-1558 3897 Cobble Hill Rd Cobble Hill, BC johnkelly@ecovin.ca www.ecovin.ca

• Winery licensing & establishment. • Site evaluation, equipment selection. • Natural & conventional grape & fruit wine production. • Organic/Sustainable & conventional vineyard establishment & management.

2022 Buyer's Guide

Commercial Logistics Inc.

Spring 2022

Winery Equipment

A.O. Wilson Ltd 9597 Sideroad 17 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca Western Canada 1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) bccustomerservice@aowilson.ca

Winery Equipment

cellar•tek west

1043 Richter St. Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K4 Phone: 250-868-3186 Toll Free: 1-877-460-9463

cellar•tek east

Eastern Canada 1.855.857.1511 customerservice@aowilson.ca

#530 – 380 Vansickle Road St. Catharines, ON, L2S 0B5 Phone: 905-246-8316 info@cellartek.com www.cellartek.com

CellarTek is at the forefront of the Commercial Food & Beverage Industry, based in Canada and serving all of North America. CellarTek offers quality equipment, supplies and ingredients ranging from fruit reception and stainless tanks, to packaging and all points of processing and service needs between. We are continually searching our global network for the finest quality equipment, products and supplies for the beverage production industry and we encourage you to browse our website for your winery, brewery, cider making or distilling needs.

Winery Equipment

Manufactured by Technologie Inovaweld Inc. 139 Rue du Parc de Innovation La Pocatiere, QC G0R 1Z0

2022 Buyer's Guide

48 Spring 2022

Michel Levesque Phone: 418-860-7987 m.levesque@inovaweld.com www.inovawine.com Technologie Inovaweld is a Canadian manufacturer of stainless steel drums & barrels for the wine, cider & spirit industries. All of our containers are seamless and laser welded with top quality stainless steel Sizes : 100, 125, 208, 227, 300 litres

Winery Equipment

1446 Industrial Avenue Sebastopol, CA 95472 Winemakers: If your wine needs a little less of this or a little more of that, Winesecrets can help you. What’s new? Winesecrets’ Differential Filtration eliminates detectable smoke taint compounds, free and bound! We are the wine industry experts in specialized liquid separation processes to include reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, ion exchange, distillation, waste water management, and more. Our Test Track service enables you to find the flavor profile you intended with just 1-2 cases of wine. When no one else has an answer, Winesecrets has probably solved it. Give us a call: Toll Free: 1-888-656-5553 info@winesecrets.com www.winesecrets.com

Winery Supplies

A.O. Wilson Ltd 9597 Sideroad 17 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca Western Canada 1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) bccustomerservice@aowilson.ca Eastern Canada 1.855.857.1511 customerservice@aowilson.ca Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from the vineyard to the bottling line. We offer reliable products, advice and technical sales support for all your processing and packaging needs at honest prices. AOW is the largest stocking distributor in Canada of premium corks, capsules and closures. We also offer enology products, equipment, filter media and cleaning supplies for your winery. We have expanded our operations in Western Canada to service our customers even more efficiently.

Winery Supplies

Gusmer Enterprises

Winery Supplies

81 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: 559-485-2692 Toll Free: 866-213-1131 sales@gusmerenterprises.com www.gusmerenterprises.com For over 95 years Gusmer has offered a full line of products and solutions for the wine and cider industries including yeast, bacteria, fermentation nutrients, processing aids, filtration media and equipment, analytical instrumentation and analytical laboratory services – all backed by strong technical support. For more information, contact Gusmer Enterprises today.

cellar•tek east

Winery Supplies

cellar•tek west

1043 Richter St. Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K4 Phone: 250-868-3186 Toll Free: 1-877-460-9463

Winery Supplies

Hanna Instruments Canada Inc. 3156 Industriel Laval, QC H7L 4P7 Phone: 450-629-1444 Toll free: 800-842-6629 Fax number: 450-629-3335 sales@hannacan.com www.hannacan.com

Contact the Quality Suppliers and Service Providers inside the magazine. If you missed being listed here you can list your company online. Contact lisa@orchardandvine.net www.orchardandvine.net 778-754-7078

We supply instrumentation for all the growers and winemakers’ needs whether pocket type, portable or bench type. We offer meters for the analysis of pH, conductivity, sulfur dioxide, total titratable acidity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, residual sugar and many other parameters.

2022 Buyer's Guide

Winery Supplies

Spring 2022

BOOT CAMP FOR ] GRAPE SUCCESS! To achieve greatness, you’ve got to put in the work. Add Stella Maris® to enhance crop quality and productivity. • Enhanced abiotic stress tolerance • Improved root growth & plant establishment

• Increased photosynthesis & antioxidant levels • Boosted crop quality & yield

• Better nutrient uptake Applications of Stella Maris® are the critical step that strengthens and conditions your plants to defend themselves against environmental stress and other factors limiting yield and quality.

Ensure your application program completes boot camp with Stella Maris®! Get your product today!

50 Spring 2022

acadianplanthealth-na.com 1-800-575-9100

Does Identity Matter for the BC Wine-Producing Territory? By UBC Okanagan Media

UBCO researchers say identity, while important, is often misunderstood It’s wine season in the Okanagan and wineries are busy harvesting crops and producing vintages to be enjoyed in the years to come. While many people may have an image of what the Okanagan wine region looks like, researchers at UBC’s Wine Research Centre (WRC) say there is a lot more to the identity of a wine region and the wider territory than what many might think.

ic and political factors all play a part in what and how identity is formed, by whom and for which purposes. Why does identity matter for a wine-producing territory, and what are your observations with regard to BC? Consciously reflecting on, shaping and communicating its identity are fundamental steps for any wine territory to differenti-

ate itself, and operate in the highly competitive world of wine. An industry-commissioned report estimates the overall economic impact of the BC wine industry in 2015 at more than $2.5 billion, with direct and indirect employment exceeding 10,000. Despite its recent growth, BC is still not a globally recognized wine territory.

Working across both campuses, the WRC, which is part of the Social Economic Change Laboratory and headquartered in the Okanagan, conducts research in enology, viticulture, management and social sciences. It engages with industry and communities on the challenges of wine territory development. Researchers at UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Management Jacques-Olivier Pesme, Roger Sugden, Malida Mooken, Marcela Valania and Kim Buschert recently published a paper presenting a four-step process to engage a wine territory in reflecting on its identity. Mooken explains why a wine territory’s identity is important. Your research talks about a specific identity for a wine-producing region. Does this include all of BC? Our work emphasizes the value of a shared identity for a wine-producing territory. In this case, we consider BC as a wine-producing territory, comprising several wine regions including the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, Gulf Islands, Similkameen Valley, Kootenays, Lillooet, Shuswap and Thompson Valley. Can you explain the concept of identity? One can start exploring the concept of identity through three simple questions: Who are we? What do we aspire to do and become? How do others perceive us? However, a reflective process is necessary to get to meaningful answers. When applied at a territorial level, the concept of identity is collective, shaped by natural and human attributes. Relationships between people and the environment, history, culture and associated social, econom-

AG CENTRE: Chilliwack

HEAD OFFICE: Langley

44725 Yale Road West, Chilliwack, BC 604-792-1301

21869-56th Avenue, Langley, BC 1-800-665-9060

KELOWNA:

CHEMAINUS:

202-150 Campion Street, Kelowna, BC 250-765-8266

3306 Smiley Road, Chemainus, BC 250-246-1203

Toll Free 1-800-242-9737 www.rollinsmachinery.com

Spring 2022

IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S A WAY OF LIFE. IF IT’S WORTH IT TO YOU, IT’S WORTH IT TO US. Contact our agribusiness specialists at agribusiness@firstwestcu.ca

With growing competition on the Canadian wine market, a collective approach with an authentic identity would limit the effect of dispersed action across the territory and strengthen BC’s position vis- à-vis other wine territories at provincial, national and international levels. Some studies have reported a lack of territorial cohesion across BC wine regions. A shared identity contributes to that cohesion. For example, it has been argued that the process of developing a shared identity can support initiatives such as collective quality enhancement, which is crucial for relatively young wine regions. Such developments provide a strong foundation for communication strategies that enhance territorial reputation, recognition by audiences and government support. What challenges are faced when an emerging wine-producing territory like BC tries pinning down its own identity? Identity is not static and it would defeat the purpose to try and pin it down. It evolves continuously, shaped by the choice, behaviour and action of individuals or groups. For an emerging wine-producing territory like BC, with significant geographical distance between wine regions and diverse industry actors—each with its own values, ambitions and strategies— shared attributes may be hard to define. The lack of proximity might impede the development of strong relations and collective efforts. There is also a potential gap between the image built around an idyllic development that some people may aspire to and the need for a consistent story that reflects the true nature of the territory, with its own local ecological and economic realities. What sort of work have you been doing with the wine industry, specifically on the topic of identity? Our group at UBC has been engaging with the wine industry since 2012 in the context of territorial development. Creating independent, safe learning environments to facilitate collective knowledge on a number of issues is a prominent feature of our work. Most recently, we developed a four-step iterative process to explore BC’s identity as a wine-producing territory. Those are understanding identity, identifying commonalities and differences, developing a shared narrative and sharing best practices. More than 50 wineries across BC participated through workshops, interviews and other conversations. Discussions included themes such as terroir, authenticity, expression and narrative. Participants realized that there were commonalities to build on and differences to value. For example, a commonality stressed was the presence and importance of small family wineries and farms within as well as beyond the wine industry. The interaction with industry has shown that there is significant interest in exploring identity, but more time and understanding are required for it to develop a shared narrative. We are also aware that more voices need to be included in the process; for example, grape growers and other communities.

Bank. Borrow. Insure. Invest.

Divisions of First West Credit Union

52 Spring 2022

In 2015, UBC received funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada for a three-year period, for work on the international positioning of the BC wine industry. This research, published earlier this summer in the International Journal of Wine Business Research is associated with that project. ■

Sponsored Article

Amcor's Eye-Catching ShapeArt Capsules Stand Out on the Shelf Amcor Capsules is a market leader specializing in design and manufacture of capsules and closures for spirits, wine and sparkling wine markets. With six plants located in France, Canada, USA and Chile, Amcor Capsules offers the most comprehensive range of aluminium, tin, polylaminate and PVC capsules and aluminium closures in the market. Amcor’s STELVIN®, the original wine aluminium closure, was developed more than 50 years ago, and continues to be the market leader and preferred choice for many winemakers. Amcor’s capsules and closures offer endless eye-catching options for colors, textures and finishes that can help your bottle stand out. Amcor’s capsules, closures and sparkling wine hoods can be decorated with hot foil stamping, laser engraving or embossing for a tactile experience. Special inks and varnishes can make your capsule or closure glow in the dark, change color at specified temperatures, or give them a velvety texture. Amcor Capsules’ graphic designers are ready to help your most audacious ideas become reality. STELVIN® was first marketed in 1964. It offered wine producers a cure for cork taint, but soon the STELVIN® adopters found the closures also produced greater consistency from bottle to bottle, and better preserved their wines’ aromas, flavors and freshness. STELVIN® also makes a bottle easily transported and stored in any position with a safe repeatable open-

The closures’ distinctive customized shapes and textures make a powerful impression on consumers.

ing and closing. Today’s STELVIN®Inside liners feature an exclusive technology that enables producers to control the rate of oxygen ingress (OTR) into their wines. Another liner, STELVIN®P, enables producers to perfectly preserve lightly sparkling wines. The STELVIN® range nowadays also includes STELVIN®LUX, the premium version of STELVIN® closure, with a completely smooth exterior and sleeker appearance. Recently, Amcor Capsules has introduced

SHAPEART, a proprietary system for developing bespoke, dimensional and recyclable closures that elevate the world’s most exclusive wine and spirits brands. Amcor’s ShapeArt offers an innovative way for brands to set themselves apart – both in bars and on retail shelves. The closures’ distinctive customized shapes and textures make a powerful impression on consumers. While introducing ShapeArt to its product range, Amcor is also offering a comprehensive ShapeArt service. The Amcor team helps brand owners navigate ShapeArt’s extensive printing and finishing options and engineer the architectural features of their custom closure. This collaboration includes testing the final product on their bottling lines. Where bottling line modifications are required to accommodate the new closures, Amcor’s technical service team advises on equipment and reconfiguring processes. Amcor Capsules Saint-Césaire 2301 route 112 Saint-Césaire, QC J0L 1T0 450-469-0777 | info.capsules@amcor.com

EASYPEEL is an innovative system that makes opening premium wine capsules easy and safe. Spring 2022

 THE WORD ON WINE | KELLY JOSEPHSON

WGBC Release Video Showing Life of a BC Wine Farmer

The sun shines brighter, for longer, the winter coats get tucked to the back of the closet, and there is that special smell in the air that means spring is here. These signs of the season changing can’t help but spark a shift in you, a reflection of the transformation taking place outside your windows. The vineyards of BC wine country emulate that shift, with the warmer days awakening the vine and ushering the start of a new growing season. With a hopeful eye on (and likely daily walks through) their vines, winegrowers still have unfinished business in the cellar, with many 2021 or prior vintages now crafted to perfection and ready to bottle. Spring not only signifies the beginning of the growing season in the vineyard, but also the celebration of spring wine releases. Throughout the month of April, Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) will celebrate the passionate, hardworking winemakers and grapegrowers that craft stunning wines vintage after vintage. Through marketing, communications, and advocacy efforts, WGBC will seek to encourage the thriving Buy Local tendencies of Canadians. As part of that effort, WGBC is thrilled to launch ‘A Year in the Life of a BC Wine Farmer’, a high-value production video series,

bringing viewers into BC wine country to accompany real-life BC winemakers on the journey through a growing season, all captured beautifully on film. To kick off the festivities of BC Wine Month, pour a glass of BC wine and explore the A Year in the Life of a BC Wine Farmer video series on winebc. com. BC wine lovers can also enjoy complimentary access to the Wines of BC Ambassador Program Course Level One in honour of BC wine month. The online certification course is designed for those making, growing, serving, or simply enjoying BC wine, so level up your BC wine knowledge in time for wine touring season! To access the Ambassador Program Course Level One Online , use the promo code BCWINEMONTH “After a year of dynamic challenges, we begin this BC wine month with renewed optimism,” says Miles Prodan, President and CEO, Wine Growers British Columbia, “We look forward to welcoming back wine tourism, and BC wine country is ready and wait-

ing, with many wineries offering elevated tastings and tours as well as unique events, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The resiliency and hard work of those growing, making, and serving BC wine deserves wide and heartfelt recognition which Wine Growers British Columbia will continue to spotlight, attracting consumers to buy and visit BC.” Everyone can revel in and celebrate BC Wine Month! This April, reference the Wines of BC Events Calendar, the award-winning Wines of BC Explorer App, the new Wines of BC Ambassador Program Course Level One online certification and Wines of BC social media @WineBCdotcom to support, learn and experience local BC wine country as we collectively raise a glass to the creativity, pride and passion that goes into every bottle of BC wine. Happy BC Wine Month! ■ Kelly Josephson, Communications Manager, Wine Growers British Columbia, #BCWineMonth @WineBCdotcom

Wineries, Distilleries and Cideries Ingredients, Laboratory Products,Supplies and Equipment Shop online at: ecom.bosagrape.com orders@bosagrape.com

6908 Palm Ave Burnaby BC - Phone 604-473-9463 - Toll Free 1-866-554-7273 - Web ecom.bosagrape.com 54 Spring 2022

 MARKETING MIX | LEEANN FROESE

How to Deal With Negative Reviews and Online Trolls that maybe the negative review was unwarranted. Personally, when I read negative reviews, I look to see how a company has responded.

If you follow the #bcwine hash tags and do some online listening, you will know that those who disagree with her have learned that Dr. Bonnie Henry owns shares in a BC winery, and the winery was absolutely bombarded with negative Trip Advisor and Google reviews. In response, there are a lot of people advocating for this winery and encouraging others to post positively, but it’s tough. These negative reviews can potentially hurt their reputation. However, whether it is negative or not, a review of any kind presents an opportunity. Here’s what I recommend: Schedule a Regular Time to Check Reviews First, you need to be paying attention regularly to see what is being said about you. Google alerts do not necessarily pick up mentions on other platforms, so you need to work this into your schedule. Think about Google, Yelp, Trip Advisor, Facebook, Cellar Tracker etc. Acknowledge Five star and positive reviews are wonderful and should be acknowledged, and so should anything negative, no matter how bad. Negative reviews with a response from you explaining can at least help to show

Gabrielle Brisbois, who we collaborate with at Town Hall Brands on social media for our shared clients, notes, “our era of distrust is driving demand for greater transparency from brands, and setting new communication standards.” Being transparent and authentic across social media platforms is essential, especially when crafting an answer to negative comments. “If you ignore negative comments or delay your response, you may inadvertently back up adverse claims, and provide fuel to any fire these comments may have caused,” Brisbois explains. Criticism Is a Gift It seems counterintuitive but getting feedback of a mistake your business made or what you can do to be better should be considered a gift, as you can learn and grow from it. Real feedback can help you refine your offerings. Also, negative reviews counterbalance the positive ones. A business may want some negative reviews because it demonstrates that they’re a real business, especially when reviews can be purchased. Today’s consumers are savvy enough to figure out reviews for themselves. For example, if you go on Amazon and read a review before purchasing a product, how did the one or two negative reviews make you react when put against the five-star reviews? Did this impact the way you purchased your product?

Don’t Be Defensive It can be hard to hear that someone had a bad experience or that your team messed up, and it can be uncomfortable when you need to address these situations internally. But don’t take this out on the person who left the review. Instead, reply and thank the person for their feedback. Note that their complaint is unfortunate and not your intent. Reiterate that a positive experience is always your goal and that this feedback can help you improve their future customer experience. Take It Offline Publicly respond and ask the person who posted the review to call or email you (and publicly provide these numbers) so you can have a private conversation to see how you can address their review/complaint. And then STOP. Going back and forth publicly online makes you look defensive. For customers that keep commenting, don’t take the bait. You have stated publicly what you will do, and provided the ways to get in touch. Many people, only brave at their keyboard, will not take it further. Giulia Sa Barreto, who does social media for our clients at Town Hall Brands, says, “For people that actually follow through, a 10-minute phone call can be much more effective in solving the problem than a huge back and forth on Facebook or in Messenger.” Outline What You Will Do to Correct Again, connecting offline about this is ideal. Since our clients are in hospitality and any bad reviews are mainly about service, we first acknowledge a complaint.

Providing Packaging, Bottling, Corks, Screwcaps, Capsules & Closures for Wineries and U-Vins • Wine Bottles • Rigid Packaging • Amorim Neutrocork Corks • Aluminum Screwcaps • PolyLam Capsules • Closures

Proudly Locally Owned & Operated 1989 Harvey Avenue Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6G5 info@interiorbeverages.com

Toll Free: 1 (888) 703-6505 Local: 1 (250) 491-9266 www.interiorbeverages.com Spring 2022

Tired of Dust? ‐ Orchards ‐ Vineyards ‐ Wineries ‐ Berry Farms ‐ Nurseries

‐ Farms ‐ Ranches ‐ Driveways ‐ Gravel Roads ‐ Parking Lots

‐ Individual Houses ‐ Commercial Sites ‐ Construction Sites ‐ All Jobs - Big or Small

604-302-4280 · dustcontrolbc.com

5GV SERIES 5075GV | 5090GV

You can comment something like “Thank you Michelle for taking the time to share your experience. We always strive to offer an excellent experience and see this was not the case for you. Please call Sarah at 555-1234 or email XXXX@winery.com and we can see how we can make things right, so your next experience is a Five Star one.” Once they call you, this is where you ask for the feedback (and again, remember this is a gift). Ask what could have been done better/differently? Apologize and ask if you can offer anything on return. Perhaps invite them back for a complimentary visit or send them a gift. A person who complained can edit Google reviews, so follow-up gives a better chance of this happening. Sometimes people will change their review if responses happen. When to Apologize Publicly If the same complaint is repeated by many people and is a legitimate and large issue that needs to be publicly acknowledged, then a statement of responsibility and the steps being taken to rectify matters should be posted and can help. This turns into crisis management, but it’s happening on a platform that can take on a life of its own and is difficult to control. Getting help from a communications professional in cases like this is recommended. What About Fake Reviews and Trolls? If posters are “trolls” who are are just looking to cause trouble and cause a broad net of “noise” it’s a much more difficult situation.

@PRAIRIECOASTEQP PRAIRIECOASTEQUIPMENT.COM

Unfortunately, there are several negative reviews for that BC winery associated with Dr. Bonnie Henry. The reviews all look like they were all posted around the same date by accounts only created for this purpose.

Kamloops Kelowna Prince George Chilliwack Langley Nanaimo 250-573-4412 250-765-9765 250-561-4260 604-792-1516 604-530-4644 778-441-3210

This winery should release

· Heavy Duty Weight · Industry Leading Hydraulic Flow · Premium Cab · 24 Speed with Creeper · Lots of Options to Meet Your Particular Needs Get Social

56 Spring 2022

/PCEQUIP/

@PCEQUIP

a statement to their varying channels addressing this, so people are aware of the “mob mentality” and not just negative reviews. Ruby Gillett, who does social media for clients here at Town Hall Brands says, “Transparency is key here, and Google reviews (good and bad) never go away, so taking a proactive approach is, in my opinion, crucial. “I would actually encourage this winery to speak out on the negative commentary influx they have been receiving lately on video if possible,” Gillett adds. Counter Hate with Love I have always said to my team, that the best way to fight hate is with love. So, ask everyone who you know has had a good experience to post a positive review. If a landslide of positive reviews is posted then the negative one will be the outlier. Take the Positive One Step Further Some companies, without outlining what they are doing, will start a campaign of positive experiences, reviews, and so on, to counterbalance the negative. Any positive reviews give you testimonials. Use positive reviews as testimonials on other channels to demonstrate that most people think positively about your business, without engaging in a public we said/ they said scenario. And to go even further, a business could also consider investing in PR, such as inviting influencers to visit, or to send promo packages. Good coverage and goodwill can send any negative to the background. ■ Leeann Froese owns Town Hall Brands – a marketing and graphic design agency with 25 years experience branding and promoting beverage alcohol, food, and hospitality. See more at townhallbrands.com or on social @townhallbrands

 MONEY MATTERS | AJ GILL

Changes to the AgriStability Program in British Columbia year-end record low temperatures. These effects were compounded with the ongoing risks experienced by agricultural producers every day.

2021 saw unique challenges for agricultural producers in British Columbia.

AgriStability is part of a suite of business risk management programs offered in British Columbia to support agricultural producers.

As the effects of COVID-19 continued to impact the lives and livelihoods of British Columbians, the province’s farms, orchards, vineyards, and greenhouses faced yet further challenges with the summer’s heat and wildfires, November’s devastating floods for berry growers and cold damage for grape growers and orchardists from

While crop insurance might cover some losses; AgriStability protects against declines in net farming income due to market prices, production losses, and/ or increased costs of production, like rising labour costs. Payments are made if a producer’s current year margin falls more than 30 percent below their reference margin.

The B.C. government, in collaboration with the government of Canada, has taken steps to provide producers with additional and immediate support: • The province has implemented Late Participation for the 2021 AgriStability program year. Late Participation means B.C. farmers that were not currently enrolled for the 2021 program year can still apply to enrol up until December 31, 2022. Late registrants in the 2021 program will receive a 20 percent lower payment rate than those who proactively enrolled. • Farmers who were either previously enrolled or will be enrolled as late participants in the 2021 AgriStability program year, are eligible to receive an enhanced interim payment.

The interim payment rate has increased from its previous maximum of 50 percent, to a maximum of 75 percent, of the estimated final payment. The enhanced interim payment, which is potentially available within a few weeks of completing an interim application form, could improve cash flow for farmers and help them continue operations after this very challenging year. • Producers with early fiscal year-ends might not realize losses due to flooding until the 2022 fiscal year, meaning those losses would be captured in the 2022 AgriStability program year. Producers can enrol up until April 30, 2022 for the 2022 program year and participate without incurring any late

Mother nature shows no mercy Determining the best farm business risk management strategies can feel overwhelming. Backed by 20 years of experience working for the federal and B.C. governments and as an advisor, AJ Gill brings extensive expertise about the various agriculture programs — so you find the right tools to maximize support and reduce your risks. AJ Gill, Senior Manager, Agricultural Risk Management Resources 250.469.6488 | aj.gill@mnp.ca MNP.ca

Spring 2022

participation penalties. • If you’re an agriculture producer in the southwest, southeast, central, or northwest areas of British Columbia and Vancouver Island who was affected by flooding and landslides from November 14-16, 2021, you are eligible to apply for flood recovery assistance. The 2021 Canada-British Columbia Flood Recovery Program for Food Security responds to impacts on livestock and crops by providing financial aid to help offset costs of returning to production. Eligibility for 2021 AgriStability Eligible applicants must: • H ave income from the primary production of agricultural commodities • H ave carried on the business of farming in Canada and reported farming income (or loss) for income tax purposes • H ave completed a minimum of six consecutive months farming activity (if your farm was flooded this condition may be waived by the Administration) • H ave completed a production cycle that includes one or more of the following: • T he growing and harvesting of a crop (including the production of milk and eggs) • The process of rearing livestock • T he purchase and sale of livestock within a program year in the case of feeding or finishing enterprises How to enrol for 2021 and 2022 AgriStability If you are already participating in AgriStability for 2021 and have suffered an income loss, you will automatically receive the protection that this program provides. There are no additional enrolment requirements. If you have never participated in AgriStability or have previously opted out, you will need to complete New Participant forms as follows: • T he New Participant forms are available by calling 1 877 343 2767 or by emailing AgriStability@gov.bc.ca. • T he New Participant forms must be submitted to the AgriStability Administration before the deadline. The enrolment deadline for 2021 has been extended from April 30, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Producers can enrol for the 2022 program until April 30, 2022. Final Application Process for 2021 AgriStability

Fuel – Lubes – Bulk DEF – On-Site Refueling • Southern BC Interior • Ask us about our environmentally friendly line of hydraulic oils ENVIRON!

Each month or part thereof that the application is filed after September 30, 2022 is subject to a $500 penalty for AgriStability up to the maximum penalty of $1,500.

• Inherently/readily biodegradable, free of heavy metals, non-toxic and recyclable, a great solution for any environmentally sensitive area.

• Producers that file on a cash basis to CRA should submit pages 1-7 of their T1273 to Winnipeg Tax Center. ■

Email: info@castlefuels.ca | Toll free: 1-877-372-5035 58 Spring 2022

• T he final deadline, without penalty, to apply for the 2021 program year is September 30, 2022. The final deadline, with penalty, is December 31, 2022.

Recovering after a natural disaster is never easy. To discuss the best option for you, please contact AJ Gill, BC Leader, Agriculture Risk Management Services at 250-469-6488 or aj.gill@mnp.ca or visit MNP.ca/ARMR.

 SAFETY | RON MACC

The Route to Workplace Safety Certification The COR program is part of a proactive injury prevention maintenance strategy that is good for business. Implementing a Health and Safety Program and attaining COR certification as a safety certified workplace has many benefits. “ The COR management program through AgSafe is a way to have a best practices. It goes above and beyond the status quo.” - Tia Wagner, Vernon Seed Orchard Company Whether your agricultural business has an ongoing Health and Safety Plan or is in the process of developing a full workplace Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Program, Certificate of Recognition (COR) safety certification can be achieved.

Employers who achieve and maintain COR may be eligible to receive a percentage of their premiums as an annual incentive payment from WorkSafeBC. Reduced injuries and lower claim costs over time reflect on a COR company’s experience-rated WorkSafeBC premiums. Incentive payments can be calculated in advance using the ROI Calculator Tool on the AgSafe website. Workplace health and safety programs make business operations safe and more efficient.

Safe workplaces generally experience a decrease in work-related injury incidents and lost time, resulting in higher productivity. Employers who demonstrate care and value of their employees also see a higher retention of loyal, skilled and experienced workers.

Effective safety programs are a useful tool for preventing workplace injury: • B y identifying, assessing and controlling workplace hazards • B y communicating known hazards to all employees

Injury Management Contact AgSafe for online and on-site injury management resources to build a program that works for your workplace. AgSafeBC.ca

FELCO the world leader in professional pruning shears, has designed a new generation made to last, cut after cut. Gerard's Equipment Authorized sales and warranty service center for FELCO POWER BLADE SERIES®

5592 Hwy 97, Oliver BC 250-498-2524 250-498-6231 www.gerardsequipment.com Spring 2022

• B y training and educating workers on how to protect themselves

Specializing in High Value Agriculture

• Independent real estate valuation. • Specializing in Agricultural properties such as Vineyards, Wineries, Orchards, Packing Plants and Ranches. • Consulting and Advisory services such as rezoning, ALR inclusion/exclusions, temporary farm worker accommodation approvals.

Kent-Macpherson Appraisals Inc. (Kelowna, BC) 250-763-2236 csmirl@kent-macpherson.com https://kent-macpherson.com

• Professionalism and high standards. • Local knowledge and expertise.

Meet our Agriculture Services Team We are committed to building a long-term relationship with you, your business, and the next generation of proud Canadian farmers.

• B y understanding and complying with WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Safety program assessments help identify risks and program gaps. AgSafe can help you assess or develop your OHS program, and create an action plan for COR certification specific to your operation. There is no cost for AgSafe services for employers with a WorkSafeBC Agricultural Classification Unit (CU) number. About COR • T he COR program recognizes and rewards employers for implementing an effective OHS Program. • A gSafe is a Certifying Partner with WorkSafeBC, assisting employers through the workplace safety certification process. • P articipation in the COR program is voluntary. As a first step, take the time to register for the COR program. Review the process and the benefits then determine when to commit to the program. Being safety certified reflects your level of professionalism as a business operator and employer. AgSafe is your partner in safety and here to assist you in meeting your safety goals to achieve the highest level of safety management. RESOURCES: AgSafe Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program – Learn more about the program and resources for participation. Calculate your ROI using the COR Audit Tool.

Jeremy Siddall District Vice President - Pacific Agriculture Services British Columbia 250-681-4656 jeremy.siddall@td.com

Ted Hallman Account Manager BC Interior 250-470-7557 ted.hallman@td.com

Alyssa Barr Account Manager BC Interior 250-575-5047 alyssa.barr@td.com

Care for the People Who Grow Your Business – Information brochures for Large Employers and Small Employers. ■ Ron Macc, NCSO, AgSafe Regional Safety Consultant, Okanagan South / Kootenay.

Ready for you

® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. M05336 (1118)

60 Spring 2022

Safety Ready COR Self-Assessment Tool – Use this interactive online tool to provide feedback on your organization’s readiness for a COR review, or to assess your current Safety Management System as measured by WorkSafe BC COR Standards and Guidelines.

 SEEDS OF GROWTH | GLEN LUCAS

The Grower’s Parliament Reveals Top Farmer Concerns aging seasonal farm work by reducing the clawback of farm wages from Employment Insurance. Investing in centralized farm campsites was also supported. • Establishing a pilot program for SAWP, styled on the new US program, to allow participation for small farms. The 133rd BCFGA Annual Convention was held on-line Feb. 22 and 23, and the growers’ parliament once again provided the heartbeat of the tree fruit industry. Outgoing President Pinder Dhaliwal noted the challenges of COVID-19 and the “heat dome” of 2021, while also noting the progress made by the BCFGA on a range of issues. In particular, the President noted the need for progress on the government’s Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Report, issued November 12, 2021. About 55 people attended the meeting and 186 voted in the election of the BCFGA President, with Peter Simonsen elected President for the two year term. Delegates approved all but one resolution. Most resolutions passed as-is with a few amended prior to passing. Considering the challenges of COVID-19 and the switch to on-line meetings, grower engagement is not an issue! Several horticulture topics were top-ofmind, including: • Establishing a soil health program. • Enhancing water security and establishing an agricultural water reserve. • Providing Oversight of Irrigation Rates, independent of irrigation water providers. • Helping the viability of the Sterile Insect Release Program by making provincial and federal investments.

Growers were interested in seeing Production Insurance adjust to climate change, by allowing all weather perils to be covered and to allow for coverage at blossom time rather than later at fruit set. Marketing was high on growers priority list this year, judging by the number of market-related resolutions and the amount of debate. Growers want to see the food safety programs simplified and ensure that retailers do not make the program more complicated than needed and follow ethical rules (a “Food Retailer Code of Practice”). BCFGA delegates directed the BCFGA to facilitate discussion and communication on an Apple Marketing Commission proposal. Finally, delegates want the BCFGA to help access new markets for apples. The BCFGA Board of directors will meet in early March to prioritize and direct resources for the new resolutions approved at the BCFGA Annual Convention, as well as the Standing Resolutions approved at previous Conventions and on which work remains to be completed. Information on the Annual Convention reports and resolution is available at the BCFGA website (www.bcfga. com). The new Board will also be anxious to see progress on the new BCFGA Business Model, which has already seen significant implementation. The BCFGA is hiring a Proj-

ect Manager and adding new resources to staffing to help with committees, governance, and communications. If you know of someone who is interested in starting a great career in the tree fruit sector and working for the growers’ parliament, have them contact me directly. Resolution 19 - Prohibit Retailer Manipulation of Food Safety Programs Therefore Be It Resolved That the federal government include in a Food Retailer Code of Practice initiative, a prohibition in the addition of requirements to food safety programs though the unilateral decision of a food retailer, primarily through the use of addendums or changes to commonly accepted food safety programs, and Further Be It Resolved That the food retailers submit for consideration any requested changes to the food safety program to the national standard program, CanadaGAP, thus avoiding unilateral decisions of the food retailers on food safety addendums. Resolution 20 - Government Action on Input Cost Inflation Therefore Be It Resolved That there be federal and provincial programs to offset the increased costs of regulations and general inflationary pressures on agricultural producers. Resolution 21 - Government Funding when Introducing New Regulations and Rules Therefore Be It resolved That the Government share the costs associated with introducing new rules. ■ Glen Lucas, General Manager, BCFGA www.bcfga.com

• Investigating the supply of fruit trees from nurseries to deal with shortages. The resolutions on labour generated a lot of interest: • Making permanent resident status easier for agricultural workers who wish to resettle to Canada, and allowing for post-arrival work visas for ‘international backpackers’. • Helping with wage costs by providing a government subsidy for those entering into seasonal agricultural work, encour-

• 120 Wh Lithium Battery • Weight 1.7 lbs

Designed for pruning professionals Grape Vines | Tree Fruits | Blueberries | Landscaping

PRUNING KITS IN STOCK NOW!

Infaco Sales and Service | Western Canada | 6015 Fir Ave, Summerland, BC | V0H 1Z4 P: 604.378.4826 E: Neil@corsicaequipment.com W: www.corsicaequipment.com

Spring 2022

 CANADIAN WINEMAKER SERIES | ROBERT FIUME

Roberto Fiume of Ciao Bella Winery Tucked away in the hills above West Kelowna is an inviting, old world winery, whose owners are as charming as the winery itself. Ciao Bella is owned and run by the Fiume family, who originally came to Canada from Sicily. The Fiumes grow their own grapes and produce lovely, Italian-style wines that pair magnificently with Italian cuisine. Big fans of the winery, we spoke to founder and winemaker Roberto Fiume. O & V: How did you get started in the wine industry?

O & V: How did you learn the craft of making wine? Roberto Fiume: I learnt winemaking from my father Luigi and have been working with other winemakers to hone my skills to contemporary methods. Our son Antonio is now involved in the winemaking and has had several vintages under his belt! O & V: What was your greatest challenge in opening your own winery? Roberto Fiume: When I planted the original vineyard we were told you can’t grow vinifera on that site! Well, twenty-some years later not only have we been successfully growing vinifera but one of the most

Photo contributed

Roberto Fiume: In 1986 our family moved from Yellowknife NWT to our present location and we purchased the property that the wineshop and Cantina are located at. It was a vineyard and as was the case with many vineyards it was pulled out in 1989 when the first free trade agreement went through. The property sat empty until 1998 when I started to build the new/current vineyard. Father and son winemakers Antonio and Robert Fiume work together in the cellar at Ciao Bella in West Kelowna.

dificult, Pinot Nero (Noir). Our grapes have been in many award winning bottles including our first vintage that won Best Pinot Noir in BC and several national gold medals! O&V: What’s the best thing about your job/ Roberto Fiume: There are so many great things about being a viticulturist, winemaker and making great connections with our customers in the wineshop! Hard to pick one but definitely this is all an expression of my entrepreneurial spirit. Antonio and I spent the day filtering wines just yesterday and while it was a long day, seeing our

wine develop from beautiful grapes into an amazing vino that looks, smells and tastes great and working together to do; this is what is my favourite thing about Ciao Bella Winery! O & V: Is there a particular wine or vintage you’ve made that you are most proud of? Roberto Fiume: Hmm, that’s a hard one, they all are so unique and each one brings it’s own challenges and rewards, it’s like picking a favourite child, I can’t do it! ■ ciaobellawinery.com

SIGNATURE LTD.

An Okanagan vineyard and winery consulting company with more than 30 years experience in Bordeaux and Okanagan estates • Terroir • Vineyard • Winemaking • Expertise • Confidentiality www.pascalmadevon.ca

62 Spring 2022

Phone: 250.488.8497 Email: p.madevon@shaw.ca

Collaboration from manufacturing line to bottling line BOTTLES 100% AMERICAN MADE & SUPPORTED As the largest producer of glass wine bottles made 100% in North America, Ardagh Glass Packaging has the resources to meet your unique needs with flexibility, responsiveness and ease. We’re ready to collaborate with you — right from the heart of the major North American wine regions, helping things run efficiently every step of the way. Call us to learn more about our extensive bottle portfolio and the exceptional quality and support you can expect from your local glass partner.

317-558-1585 ardaghgroup.com/wine2022 2022: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF GLASS Spring 2022

MANY JOBS. ONE SOLUTION.

more off your landscaping with the Kubota SVL Compact Track Cross more offCross your landscaping to-do list with the to-do Kubotalist SVL Compact Track Loader. Compact and compatible with attachments such as graders, stump grinders, Loader. Compact and compatible with attachments suchbox as graders, stump scrapers, powered rakes box and post hole diggers, it digs deep gets thediggers, job done.itIt's grinders, scrapers, powered rakes andand post hole digs deep and all in a day's work, from a comfortable cabin.

gets the job done. It’s all in a day’s work, from a comfortable cabin.

ABBOTSFORD COURTENAY CRESTON DUNCAN KELOWNA OLIVER VERNON

Avenue Machinery Corp. North Island Tractor Kemlee Equipment Ltd. Island Tractor & Supply Avenue Machinery Corp. Gerard’s Equipment Ltd. Avenue Machinery Corp.

kubota.ca |

1521 Sumas Way

avenuemachinery.ca 3663Sumas S. Island 1521 Way,Hwy Box 369 Abbotsford, BC V2T N.W. Boulevard 6Z6 (604) 864-9568 4650 Trans Canada Hwy AVE010

1090 Stevens Road Hwy 97 South 7155 Meadowlark Road

604-864-2665 250-334-0801 250-428-2254 250-746-1755 250-769-8700 250-498-2524 250-545-3355

Orchard & Vine Spring 2022

Articles inside

Canadian Winemaker Series – Robert Fiume

Safety Tips – Rob Macc

Seeds of Growth – Glen Lucas

Money Matters – AJ Gill

Events Calendar

How Climate Change Could Affect the BC Wine Industry

Vertical Growing Comes to the ALR

2022 Buyer’s Guide

Word on Wine – Kelly Josephson

Marketing Mix – Leeann Froese

The Spring Wine Festival Returns After Two Long Years