Orchard & Vine Spring 2023

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New research results show that the right seedling propagation trays can have a big impact on root structures and therefore the lifelong health of trees.

10 Publisher’s View – Lisa Olson

12 Events Calendar

14 News & Events

30 Better Trees Start at the Root

31 Cold Snap May Lead to Widespread Bud Damage

35 Viticulture in the Land of the Midnight Sun

39 2023 Buyer’s Guide

56 UVC Rays Tackle Powdery Mildew in Strawberries

57 Safety – Agsafe

59 Marketing Mix – Leeann Froese

2023 BUYER’S GUIDE

61 Word on Wine – Kelly Josephson

62 Canadian Winemaker Series

Evan Saunders winemaker, Blasted Church Vineyards

Cover Photo courtesy Ästad Vingård in Sweden. Winemaker Claes Bartoldsson leads the work on the vineyard at Ästad Vingård. One of Sweden’s largest vineyards, located in the Åkulla beech forests nature reserve. Here they grow organic grapes and produce their own wines.

Blasted Church winemaker Evan Saunders, barrel heads.

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North Glenmore

Central and highly desirable location! 10.6 acres of irrigated premium orchard land featuring a well-kept rancher home with walkout basement. 3174 sq. ft. home 4 bedrooms/3 bathrooms. Bright and sunny walkout basement. Quiet location.

Summerland

17.59 acres with a 6 acre haskap berry farm and a beautifully renovated home and shop. You will enjoy the quiet location and scenic creek frontage great for camping. As an antioxidant, haskaps are superior to blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries!

Rutland

Get back to the land without leaving town! Excellent site for a variety of farm market sales. Incredibly central, fertile 4.25 acre fenced farm on the border between residential and farmland. Flat site, frontage on Rutland Road. Multiple sheds and outbuildings.

More Great Opportunities Coming Soon!

Secluded vineyard in idyllic Coldstream, BC. This south-facing, fully-irrigated (solar) 11-acre vineyard is producing and has local winery customers purchasing its sought-after crop. At sixteen acres, this rare property has more room for expansion into additional crops, an agri-tourism enterprise, or a country estate. Several building locations exist, taking advantage of the valley views and stunning vistas of the Monashee mountains to the East. This pristine property has been in the same family for four generations. The grape varieties were selected and planted by longtime Okanagan Valley vineyard operator and winemaker, Eric von Krosigk. With its gently sloping terrain the vineyard produces excellent fruit with terroir-driven characters. Grape varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, and Acolon. Book your showing today.

Master Planted Vineyard in Coldstream | MLS® $2,388,000 | 16 acres

Spring is in the Air

It feels good when you walk outside in the spring, you can feel the freshness in the air and the warmth of the sunshine.

I can only imagine how good it must feel to see your plants develop buds and flowers, depending where you are located.

Speaking of buds, we know many viticulturists are having an anxious time right now, as a study revealed a high level of bud damage in the Okanagan-Similkameen region. Hopefully the buds we write about in this issue will bounce back like last year.

This year as well, some of our readers are still recovering from the previous flooding, especially in the Fraser Valley. I know from personal experience it takes a long time to recover from a flood or fire in your home. I can only imagine what it’s like on a larger scale, such as a farm, when your livelihood is also affected.

Also inside this issue, our editor Gary Symons investigated growing grapes and making wine in Scandinavia. Since they are also growing grapes in a ‘cold climate’, similar to Canada, it made sense to look into it and see what lessons could be learned.

We had discussed it earlier this year, as our analytics showed visitors from Norway were one of the top users of our website! We were curious, so Gary ran with it and contacted some of the top viticulturists in Scandinavia!

I found this super interesting to read, especially coming from a Swedish heritage. It’s something a bit different, and I hope you enjoy it. Let us know if you do.

Remember, if you need help or advice this

year, turn to the advertisers inside the magazine who have researched the products to make available and provide specialized services that you need to have a successful year. They are dedicated to this industry and show their expertise and dedication by showcasing their businesses in the form of an advertisement or inside the Buyer’s Guide.

Summer will be here soon, will you be ready for sales and tourists visiting? The days go by so fast, it’s hard to believe it’s April already. Remember to save the Buyer’s Guide Directory for future reference.

Happy Spring

Enjoy the magazine!

Vol. 64, No 2 Spring 2023

Established in 1959

Publisher Lisa Olson

Editor Gary Symons

Graphic Design Stephanie Symons

Writers

Agsafe, Leeann Froese, Kelly Josephson, Ronda Payne, Gary Symons

Contact

lisa@orchardandvine.net

Orchard & Vine Magazine Ltd.

Mailing Address

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

V4T 2E9

www.orchardandvine.net

Phone: 778-754-7078

Orchard & Vine Magazine is published six times a year and distributed by addressed mail to growers, suppliers and wineries in the Okanagan, Kootenays, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Washington State and across Canada. Orchard & Vine is also available online.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40838008

Return undeliverable items to:

Orchard & Vine Magazine

22-2475 Dobbin Road Suite #578 West Kelowna, BC V4T 2E9

Photo by Kimberly Brooke Photography

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Ontario Craft Wine Conference & Trade Show

April 18

Niagara Falls Convention Centre

www.ontariocraftwineconference.ca

Make It Safe Okanagan

Health and Safety Conference

April 21

Best Western Plus Kelowna, BC https://makeitsafe.ca

Vancouver International Wine Festival

April 22-30

Vancouver, BC https://vanwinefest.ca/

Spring Wine Festival

June 2-11

Okanagan, BC

www.thewinefestivals.com

Canada’s Farm Show

June 20-21

Regina, SK

www.canadasfarmshowreginask.ca

IFTA Summer Study Tour

July 23-25, 2023

Nova Scotia www.ifruittree.org

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

September 12 - 14

Woodstock, ON www.outdoorfarmshow.com

SITEVI

The international exhibition for the vine, wine, fruit and olive growing sectors

November 28-30, 2023

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 SPRING | CALENDAR

Photo credit: Vancouver International Wine Festival

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Disaster Financial Assistance Payment for 2021 BC Flooding

By Gary Symons

The Canadian government has provided a second payment to help British Columbia recover from the devastating flooding in 2021.

Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair announced a payment of $5.57 billion through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program.

That brings the federal government’s contribution to more than $1 billion, with some of that funding dedicated to helping farmers rebuild.

“The Government of Canada has been working closely with the province, municipalities and First Nations to recover and rebuild following the devastating flooding that took place in November 2021,” Blair said. “This payment is another important step in building back from this event in a way that better protects British Columbians.”

The province experienced what the government called a “once-in-a-century” atmospheric river storm that caused severe flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

The flooding event in November led to the evacuation of approximately 18,000 people across the province, with extensive damage to homes, bridges, roads, including every major highway connecting the lower mainland to the rest of Canada, and widespread damage to the agricultural industry.

In particular, the area of Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford was very hard hit, as berry growers and dairy farms were inundated by water when a nearby levee was breached.

Stronger Together: Stories of Resilience from those Affected by the 2021 Sumas Prairie Floods

Stronger Together is a mini-documentary about British Columbia’s Sumas Prairie farmers affected by the flooding that devastated many of the region’s agricultural operations in November 2021.

The video is part of AgSafe’s larger Mental Wellness in Agriculture initiative that encourages producers to reach out for help and offers mental wellness resources for the agricultural community.

The stories in Stronger Together are real and touching first-hand accounts of the psychological toll the floods and recovery have taken on many farmers and their families.

The video as a whole is a powerful look at how the people in one community have come together to support each other through a laborious, financial and mentally taxing recovery process. The stories and sharing of emotion are powerful and honest.

Premiering at the Pacific Agricultural Show, Stronger Together was produced with the support of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Foods, Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and the Government of Canada.

With Stronger Together, we celebrate the resilience and support that is ever-present among BC’s agricultural producers and show the reality of how very challenging farming and farm life can be.”

AgSafe released Stronger Together on their YouTube channel.

Eligible expenses under the DFAA include, but are not limited to, evacuation operations, restoring public works and infrastructure to their pre-disaster condition, as well as replacing or repairing basic, essential personal property of individuals, small businesses, and farmsteads.

“The devastating impacts of the 2021 atmospheric river event continue to affect people and communities across British Columbia,” said Bowinn Ma, BC’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We’ve made strides in our efforts to recover and strengthen resilience, but we know there’s still more to do.”

In cases of disasters like the 2021 floods, the provincial government typically provides initial funding to those affected, and the federal government reimburses those costs as the recovery work continues.

Through the Canada-BC Flood Recovery Program for Food Security, to date, more than $61 million has been provided to more than 400 applicants to help with expenses for things like animal feed; shelter, fencing, the loss of perennial plants not raised for resale; and returning land to agricultural production.

Ross Siemens, the mayor of Abbotsford, said the funding is critical the community’s recovery.

“More than a year later, repair efforts remain part of our daily lives in Abbotsford, and there is still much work that needs to be done to ensure our families, farmers and businesses are safe and provincial food system is secure,” Siemens said.

Photo credit: Government of BC

Paynter’s Fruit Market Wins Westside Business of the Year

Paynter’s Fruit Market has been named the Business of the Year and ‘Platinum Service Provider’ at the Greater Westside Board Key Business Awards.

There are very few people in the Central Okanagan who don’t know Paynter’s Fruit Market.

The operation started in 1919 when orchardist Edwin Paynter put in his first plantings, and the fruit stand opened in 1951.

The market is now run by his great-granddaughter Jennay Oliver, who took over as

the fourth generation running the family farm and market in 2007.

Today the market is a 2,000 square foot operation located just off the main drag in West Kelowna, and offers hundreds of local products, all grown, made or produced in British Columbia.

While Paynters is a major support of local farmers, the family still produces a lot of the products sold at the market, producing a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables from their 35 acre farm.

One of the ways Oliver has made Paynters so successful is by planning her crops so her team can harvest fruits and vegetables daily for approximately 130 days a year. For that reason, Paynters can offer produce every day, that was literally picked the same day.

John E. Peller Appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada

A toast to John Peller, as the Canadian wine legend was named as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Peller is the grandson of Andrew Peller, who founded the hugely successful wine company Andrew Peller Ltd. in 1927. John Peller took over as president and CEO in 1989, and has since massively expanded the operation in BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia, while simultaneously creating some of the highest quality wines from Canada.

Peller was presented with the honour by Governor General Mary Simon at an investiture ceremony in Ottawa on Dec. 1, 2022. Officers are appointed “… for achievement and merit of a high degree, especially service to Canada or to humanity at large.”

Peller was named to the Order of Canada for continually upholding his family’s tradition of philanthropy, and also for for his work in helping Canada build a world-class wine industry.

“By producing premium-quality wines that are internationally renowned, he has transformed the way the Canadian wine industry is perceived by consumers around the world,” the award states.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.

Governor General Mary Simon and John Peller named an officer of the order of Canada.

Jennay Oliver, accepts the Business of the year award .

Photo contributed

Photo contributed

Photo

Kubota Adds Two New Compact Tractors

Kubota has added two new tractors to its L02 line, which is among the most popular tractors for Canadian fruit growers.

The L02 line is a series of compact tractors with a narrow wheelbase that brings a lot of power to a highly mobile package, that can easily manoeuvre in the narrow rows common to berry farms and vineyards.

Kubota has now added the new L2502 and L4802 models to the L02 series, which will replace the older L2501 and L4701 models.

Kubota says the L2502 is the top selling model in the lineup for the Canadian market, carrying over the same features and benefits as the L3302 and L3902 models as well as its value price point.

The L4802 replaces the L4701 to give operators a larger equipment option with higher performance than the three other models in the series.

Additionally, the L4802 now comes in a narrow configuration which is new to the model lineup. This specialty tractor serves customers operating in tight quarters, such as a vineyards, orchards, or Christmas tree farms.

As well, Kubota has redesigned the L02 series with new enhancements to increase the comfort level for operators, many of whom will spend several hours on the tractor. The new features include a more spacious operator station; an improved suspension seat and optional arm rests; and ergonomically designed lever grips and steering wheel.

Other changes were made to make the operation and maintenance of the L02 line easier. Some of the notable changes are an independent PTO switch; a new location for the dual brake pedal; a Heavy Duty 3-point hitch with available Land Pride Quick Hitch, making it easier to mount rear attachments; and a performance matched loader with top quality valving, allowing simultaneous boom and bucket functions.

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

Photo contributed

Acclaimed Chef Jacob Deacon-Evans Takes the Helm at Naramata Inn

Naramata Inn and Columbia Hospitality announced today that Chef Jacob Deacon-Evans has been appointed as the Inn Chef at the 115-year-old heritage property.

Deacon-Evans has an extensive culinary career which all began at the Robinson Road Bistro in Naramata at age 16. At the Naramata Inn, Jacob picks up the torch from Ned Bell, who launched the restaurant three years ago.

The new chef’s experience spans some of the best restaurants on both sides of the Atlantic. including Vancouver’s West, Bishops, Cioppinos, Wildebeest; Supermarine, and London’s Michelin starred L’autre pied. Most recently, Deacon-Evans has returned to his Okanagan roots, as one of the culinary lead-

ers at the highly recognized Row 14 at Klippers in Cawston.

Inn diners can anticipate dishes like Quail & Beets with confit “lollipop” and onion soubise; and “Ted’s Trout” & Dill – all a testament to Naramata’s Inn’s ongoing mission to bring the best of the Okanagan’s gastronomy, lifestyle and artisanship to the world.

“Naramata is a magical place and I’m just buzzing to be part of the Naramata Inn,” shares Deacon-Evans.

“I’m thrilled to help build upon its exceptional culinary reputation and to continue to share the best of the Okanagan with guests from all over Canada and the world.”

Harper’s Trail to Celebrate Final Season With Library Release

After 16 years in the wine business, Harper’s Trail Winery owners Ed and Vicki Collett announced their impending retirement. The Colletts will open the tasting room for a final month this May and are inviting the community to savour their final vintage. Harper’s Trail will also release an exclusive collection of library wines.

“To have realized our vision of opening a winery and growing premium grapes in the Thompson Valley is a dream come true,” said co-owner Ed Collett.

“Despite the hard work and challenges

POWER

along the way, we wouldn’t change a thing,” adds Collett. “It took a lot of courage to be the first to step up in a new wine region, but to see the Thompson Valley wine industry emerge and grow into what is now - an official wine appellation - has been, and continues to be, beyond gratifying.”

The Colletts purchased the property in 2007, planted the first vineyard block in 2008, and opened Harper’s Trail, Kamloops’ first winery, in 2012. Since that time, Harper’s Trail has grown to a 5000-case brand producing 100% estate wines.

Ed and Vicki Collett co-owners of Harper’s Trail winery in the vineyard.

Photo by Mary Putnam

Photo contributed

Ontario Craft Wineries Conference Returns

The fifth annual Ontario Craft Wine Conference and Trade Show returns on April 18. This will be the first time the conference has been held live since 2020, as two virtual conferences were held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s show will be held at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre, and starts at 8 a.m. The conference typically attracts 300+ attendees, including craft winery owners, operators, wine experts, professionals, industry suppliers, investors, and government-industry champions. It offers a wide range of educational sessions on sales and marketing, sustainability, winemaking, and technical and business operations.

The morning keynote features a presentation from Gaia Gaga, founder of Italy’s Gaga Winery, while in the afternoon David Francke of Chappellet Vineyard will talk about Intentional Design, and how to ‘Build the Wine Business of Your Dreams.” In total

the conference will feature a dozen presentations this year, followed by a closing reception and trade show.

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Opening keynote speaker is Gaia Gaja, from Gaja Family Wine Estates, with Ca’ Marcandain Bolgheri and Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino.

Osoyoos Larose Launches Unique Wine Club For Well-Aged Wines

By Gary Symons

The Osoyoos Larose winery in BC is launching a unique wine club, giving members access to fine wines that are already carefully aged and at their peak flavour profile.

The club, known as La Maison Osoyoos Larose, offers a limited number of memberships, but those lucky few will receive three shipments of Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin library wines, new releases, and large format bottles.

If you’re not familiar with Le Grand Vin, it’s the result of a history going back to 1998, when Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux, France, entered the Canadian market with a vision of creating a world-class, classic Bordeaux blend, but with grapes grown in the arid Osoyoos desert.

The result is the widely acclaimed Bordeaux blend Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin, with the first vintage coming out in 2001.

In the tradition of Bordeaux wines, La Grand Vin is a complex, layered and eminently

ageable wine that has been consistently rated among the best in Canada.

“This wine, hailed as a rose in the desert, exceeded all expectations and put both the South Okanagan and Osoyoos Larose firmly on the radar of wine lovers around the world, placing Osoyoos Larose on par with the world’s finest wine producers,” said Osoyoos Larose.

But until now, the wine was available only at retail or on wine menus across Canada. Wine lovers could not visit a winery or order directly from the source, and did not have access to the library of already aged wines.

That’s now changing with La Maison Osoyoos Larose, and in particular, it will give members the ability to purchase aged bottles of Le Grand Vin that have been cellared for more than a decade.

“We are excited to be able to offer our passionate Osoyoos Larose fans this unique opportunity to celebrate our wines, and, essentially, life from the desert, with our

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DID YOU KNOW? The BC Fruit Growers’ Association

Supporting Members through programs:

❶ EFP Incentive Program ($250).

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❹ BCFGA 2022 Food Safety Incentive ($455)

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inaugural list release,” says Osoyoos Larose CEO and winemaker Michael Kullmann. “Shipments have already been mapped out for the next few years and we cannot wait to share these special wines.”

A major difference at Osoyoos Larose is that the winery is very focused on just two exceptional Bordeaux blends, both suitable for the avid wine collector and made to be cellared. Those two are the aforementioned Le Grand Vin and Pétales d’Osoyoos Larose. Both are created from organically grown grapes on a single-block, 80-acre bench in the Osoyoos desert, and prove that Canadian grapes can indeed produce a Bordeaux-style wine that is competitive with the best from France itself.

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

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

Photo by Jon Adrian

Four BC businesses that are developing solutions to help ensure the province’s food systems remain secure, resilient and sustainable are the first to receive funding through the recently launched BC Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI).

“We need to be continuously innovating and working together to improve local food production and access to food for people here in BC,” said Pam Alexis, BC’s Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Agritech is the future and the work these four companies

are doing in partnership with the BC Centre for Agritech Innovation is helping ensure BC’s food systems are secure, resilient and sustainable.” The four companies receiving a total investment of $540,000, including $122,500 from BCCAI, are:

• Aeroroot Systems (Surrey);

• Agrotek Industries (Burnaby);

• Bakerview EcoDairy (Abbotsford); and

• Lucent BioSciences (West Vancouver). Each project is contributing to long-term

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priorities of agriculture in BC, such as Indigenous food security and vertical farming, as well as increased and sustainable crop production.

“The BC Centre for Agritech Innovation brings together academia, industry and government to create new opportunities in food production,” said Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau.

Time Winery Opens New Restaurant and Location in the Wine Village

By Gary Symons

The TIME Family of Wines is making some major moves this year, opening a restaurant and tasting room in Penticton, and a new winery location at the District Wine Village in Oliver.

The company says its staff have been working non-stop over the winter on this expansion, with all three new facilities due to open in 2023.

“While the winter months are often the time for BC wineries to take a moment to breathe, there has been little time for rest for the team at TIME Family of Wines,” the company said in a statement. “This snowy season has been one of their busiest yet, with the team’s Penticton location temporarily closed for a massive reformation. On the other side of this construction, visitors can expect a wine tasting and culinary experience that will set a new standard for excellence in BC and beyond.”

In Penticton, TIME will be opening the new OROLO Restaurant + Cocktail Bar, with new addition Kirk Morrison joining the team as culinary director. Morrison will not only be overseeing the offerings at Orolo, but also at the soon-to-be-opened Chronos tasting room next door, and the small winery at the District Wine Village.

The restaurant will be located in an historic theatre in downtown Penticton, and “will offer elevated, elegant cuisine in a relaxed environment,” TIME says. The restaurant is also committed to supporting local farmers, producers and purveyors with a strong buy local campaign.

The company says one of its goals is to provide the best possible steaks for discerning diners, and for that reason, it is installing several ‘dry agers’, which are specialty aging cabinets from Germany that the makers say will produce the “best meat in the world.”

One thing that will stay is the locally revered, award-winning TIME burger, which has developed a legion of rabid fans.

The Chronos Tasting Room

The other major initiative in Penticton this year is the opening of the Chronos tasting room, which will offer TIME’s Chronos label wines as well as the McWatters collection. The tasting room will be situated right next to OROLO.

“In keeping with the OROLO experience,

visitors can expect an elevated tasting experience at the Chronos Tasting Room,” TIME says. “Here they will get to taste and purchase the very best wines BC has to offer from the TIME Family of Wines portfolio, but in a casual, comfortable environment designed to invite tasters to linger and enjoy every moment.”

TIME Family of Wines at the District Wine Village

In addition to the new openings in Penticton, TIME recently opened a new winery and tasting room at the highly successful District Wine Village in Oliver. This year the company says it’s expanding on its food offerings with a new and broader menu, offering an elevated food and wine pairing program.

Photo contributed

Summerland Food Hub Receives $800,000 from BC Government

The BC government is investing $800,000 to open a new food innovation hub in Summerland.

The new Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub (OFIH) will be part of the growing BC Food Hub Network, which currently has 13 facilities throughout the province.

Food hubs provide a commercial shared food-processing and innovation space that are helping increase the volume of food grown and processed locally, creating more

demand for ingredients from local farmers, and increasing the number of people employed locally by the food industry, while addressing food safety and security issues.

“Like many other producers in the area, I believe this food hub facility will help increase the possibility of primary production and create opportunities for new added-value revenue streams for farmers in Summerland,” said Thomas Tumbach, owner, LocalMotive Organic Delivery and Low Waste Market.

THINK FAST. AND HOT.

“At LocalMotive, we would be interested in the use of a value-added processing line for various products like preserved fruits, jams, syrups, salsas and pickled vegetables, which would primarily be made from ingredients from our farm and neighbouring farmers in the area.”

Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis says the new food hub will create more opportunities for farmers and food processors once it opens in mid-2024.

New Washington Facility Coming for Okanagan Specialty Fruits

By Ronda Payne

Arctic apples will have a new home for all of their processes, from start to finish, come spring. A new 100,000 sq ft. processing facility is underway in Moses Lake, Washington, close to Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ (OSF) orchards. It creates more end-to-end efficiency, according to Rebecca Catlett, director of marketing and communications with the organization.

“Okanagan Specialty Fruits is a vertically integrated apple company and manages all aspects of Arctic apples, from the orchard to the customer,” she says. “We knew we would build a facility in Washington state, close to our Arctic apple orchards.”

Third Security LLC is OSF’s parent company and acquired 42.5 acres of land for development in Moses Lake which will include the facility. It’s expected to increase OSF’s production capacity by three times when completed in late spring, well ahead of the 2023 harvest season. The centralized facility will initially include receiving, shipping, slicing, processing and packing, while the next phase (summer 2023) will add in pre-grading and sorting lines.

“We are also in the planning phase of building a controlled-atmosphere facility on the campus,” she says.

With more than 1,250 acres of Arctic apples planted in Washington state, it’s an important step for the company to develop the ro-

bust facility as many of the trees are hitting peak production maturity levels and yields will rise. There are other apple warehouses in the state, but they don’t include the fresh-slicing capacity required for Artic apple consumer-prepared products. Ready-toeat food safety certification will be included at the facility.

“The equipment being installed in this facility is very highly automated and will rely heavily on skilled operators,” Catlett says.

“This was another reason we chose Moses Lake, as the community has a long history of value-added food processing and has the people needed to operate such a facility successfully.”

It is expected that the new processing building will create up to 60 local jobs and OSF will employ a total of about 90 people this year. These numbers will likely increase over time as production grows and evolves.

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BCTF Cooperative and Sandhu Fruit Farm Form Strategic Partnership

The BC Tree Fruit Cooperative has signed a deal for the packing of export cherries grown in the Okanagan, Creston and Similkameen Valleys.

The agreement with Mangal Capital will give coop members access to the Sandhu Fruit Farm’s advanced Unitec Cherry Vision 3.0 sorting and packing technology.

“The strategic partnership with Sandhu Fruit Farm is an opportunity for the Cooperative’s export cherry growers to have their product packed on one of the best lines in the world,” says Warren Sarafinchan, President and Chief Executive Officer of BCTFC.

“Our BCTFC brand is extremely strong in Asia and this opportunity will maximize returns for our export growers. We look forward to a strong season as we pool our collective knowledge and resources to bring high quality BC cherries to the world.”

The BC Tree Fruit Cooperative represents 250 growers in the province. The majority of them grow apples and cherries, but there are also several who grow pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, prunes, plums and table grapes.

The organization has recently gone through a controversial reorganization in which its packing house in the Central Okanagan was closed, and operations consolidated at the existing Oliver site, which will undergo significant upgrades.

In the meantime, the agreement with Sandhu Fruit Farm provides more capacity and access to the leading technology for cherry packing.

The cooperative says growers who grow export quality cherries will have even more opportunity to maximize their returns through shared volume and technology, which will enable greater access to markets by air and ocean.

“Sandhu Fruit Farm is excited about the strategic partnership with BCTFC,” says Chanpreet Sandhu, Chief Executive Officer of Sandhu Fruit Farm. “The opportunity for both organizations to utilize their collective strengths to maximize returns for cherry growers is exciting.

“The Unitec technology is second to none,” he added. “Customers around the world

are keenly aware of the quality cartons this technology generates, which has resulted in strong prices for fruit packed on this line”. Sandhu Fruit Farm is an independent grower and packer of cherries based in Summerland, BC, and has been exporting cherries to customers located in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia for 14 years.

The deal is seen as key for the cooperative, as cherry exports have soared due to new trade agreements with China and other nations. Cherry production has increased 28% since 2015, not hitting 16,000 tons of fruit annually from 5,000 planted acres.

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Vineyards Burn In Chile

Wildfires in south-central Chile have destroyed wineries and scorched vineyards in a disaster that has left more than 20 people dead.

The runaway wildfire event is similar to some that occurred in British Columbia in 2021, as an extreme weather event drove temperatures to a record 40-degrees Celsius.

The wine regions of Araucanía, Biobío and Ñuble have declared a state of emergency as hundreds of homes were destroyed, affecting more than 1,500 people.

As in BC, climate change has been causing more extreme wildfire behaviour in Chile. In 2017, the nation suffered a similar disaster that left more than 100 vineyards in ruins. The current wildfire has already burned up 40,000 hectares of land. Historic wineries like Leoncio Wines and Altos de Valle were destroyed.

In an interview with Decanter, the UK director at Wines of Chile said, “It’s an incredibly sad and concerning situation and our thoughts are with everyone in the regions that are affected by the fires.

“These regions are the home of Chile’s traditional viticulture and where the oldest vines are located that produce very distinctive wines, made mainly by boutique wineries and growers. We are monitoring the situation closely as reports of those impacted in the region are increasing.”

The Chilean government says the fires were made worse by the impact of global warming, and called the disaster a “wake-up call.”

“Chile is one of the countries with the highest vulnerability to climate change, and this isn’t theory but rather practical experience,’ said Interior Minister Carolina Tohá.

When one cold night can ruin an entire year’s hard work...

It’s best to play it safe.

Photo credit: @ronaldverallanos

Flooding Causes Widespread Destruction in New Zealand’s Wine Region

Winegrowers in New Zealand have set up two funds to help those in need after a devastating cyclone devastated the region in February.

Cyclone Gabrielle hit the North Island on February 12, killing at least 11 people. The storm brought unprecedented flooding, causing widespread destruction in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, New Zealand’s second and third largest wine regions.

Damage is estimated at more than $8 billion

USD, with thick sludge swallowing vehicles whole, and filling up cellars and winery buildings. Vineyards have seen extensive damage, and it is expected to take years before the wine industry fully recovers. The wine growing organizations for the region has now responded with a fund to help those affected by the disaster.

The Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Charitable Trust has set up a fund in which 100 per cent of donations “will go to those most in

need in our Hawke’s Bay Wine community.” The Trust will also match donations up to $30,000. The Gisborne Winegrowers has set up a similar fund via the local Sunrise Foundation, and is also dedicating 100 per cent of the donations to those most in need in their wine community.

To learn more or to donate to the funds, go to https://www.nzwine.com/en/adverse-events/ cyclone-gabrielle/cyclone-gabrielle-relieffunds/

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Ontario Icewine Production Down

Production of ice wine has plunged dramatically in Ontario over the past five years, according to VQA Ontario.

The provincial regulatory body for the Ontario wine industry says ice wine production has dropped steadily, but with dramatic decreases occurring in 2019 and 2022.

To put that in perspective, ice wine made up about three per cent of the wine produced in Ontario in 2018, but decreased to less half a per cent in 2022.

The decline has been particularly severe since 2021, as production dropped from 502,082 litres to just 111,614 in 2022, a drop of almost 80 per cent.

As well, VQA Ontario said the number of approved producers of ice wine dropped from 41 producers in 2019 to 10 producers for both 2020 and 2021.

VQA Ontario’s director of communications Katherina Radcliffe said fewer wineries chose to produce icewine during those years and there were few applications to become an approved producer.

Dustin Gill, owner of Cool Vineyards, told CBC News that he stopped harvesting ice wine grapes this year, after more than a decade of production, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a high risk, high reward kind of proposition,” he said. “Usually the risk is just weather-based and timing, but it seems like the last couple of years the risk has been what governments are open during the pandemic.”

Gill said the issue really comes down to a massive decline in sales to Asian nations. The majority of ice wine revenue comes from international sales, where Canadian ice wine is a popular luxury item often given as gifts.

When lockdowns hit various Asian countries like China and Vietnam, Gill said ice wine revenues fell through the floor.

Better Trees Start at the Root

By Ronda Payne

Growers spend a lifetime in agriculture finding ways to make their trees grow stronger, healthier, more productive, but perhaps it’s time to go back to the beginning; to the seedling and how its roots formed. New research results show that the right seedling propagation trays can make a big impact on root structures and therefore the lifelong health of trees.

In 2013, Darby McGrath, vice-president, research and development with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre started looking at root development. She wanted to know what stage of tree life the barriers and deformities that impact growth, health and strength began.

Her curiosity meshes with Craig Willet’s. As the manager of Ellepot from A.M.A. Horticulture (and a previous nursery operator) he knew growers could benefit from better propagation trays.

“If the roots go everywhere, it makes that tree much more stable in the ground,” says Willet. “It takes up more nutrients and water than if it just had that one tap root.”

Tap roots form (instead of a rounded, radial ball of roots) when they meet a lot of obstructions at the seedling growth stage. Air pruning without obstructions promote healthy roots. The theory of some is to trim the roots back in order to correct deformed growing and encourage the radial structure, but he says this approach is ineffective.

“As a grower, I would have to say that air pruning is the best. The trees are programmed at birth,” he explains. “Even if you cut [the root] it will continue to grow the way it did as a seedling. It’s in its DNA.”

The first prototypes of RootSmart open-wall propagation trays were created in 2015 by A.M.A Horticulture. The trays are able to incorporate the organization’s air pruning Ellepots. In 2017, five years of in-field testing began at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to see if the trays had the desired impact. Each year, the Vineland team dug up a row of trees to examine root systems. The propagation trays began selling in 2017.

“It is the only one in the market with the least amount of touch points,” Willet says of the trays. “The only touch points are three cones underneath where a root could possibly deflect. The Ellepot is suspended in the air.”

The researchers for the Vineland trial found

the RootSmart tray led to higher-quality, better distributed root systems than trees planted with one of the three other types of propagation trays tested.

The need for root development is even more important now as growers face increased weather impacts. Without proper root structure, trees and even blueberry bushes could take longer to get to peak yields, face increased stress, or may even be wiped out as was the case for a California pistachio grower.

“It takes 25 years before you really start to get a decent harvest out of your pistachio trees,” he says. “A strong wind came through and blew them all over. They had poor root structures.”

While fruit trees are seldom in the ground as long as a pistachio tree, having proper radial root systems lead to more production faster and better fruit in the long run. Stronger roots give trees the ability to source nutrients and water from a greater area giving them more of a fighting chance in high heat and dry periods and more stability in flash flooding or high winds.

“We want to educate the growers that there’s something available that will produce a really good tree that will last in the environment,” Willet says.

He adds that at the time they started the trials, there were other options available as people have been studying the problem for decades. Some types of propagation tray systems still have numerous contact points, high prices or awkward shapes that make management difficult.

“There’s a wire racking system that could be purchased to enable the grower to move large numbers of trays with a fork lift,” he notes. 

COLD SNAP Brings Widespread Bud Damage

By Gary Symons

Wine grape growers in the Okanagan Valley could face a disastrous harvest this year, due to a brutal cold snap over Christmas.

Miles Prodan, CEO of the Winegrowers of BC, says the decline in crop yield is potentially disastrous.

“It looks dire,” Prodan said. “It looks like it could be anywhere between 30 to 40 per cent, maybe even higher, but more importantly, compared to previous years, it looks as though it’s not necessarily as isolated as it has been, it looks like it’s all up and down the valley.”

Research Finds Up To 100% Of Buds Damaged In Some Areas

The Summerland Research and Development Centre unveiled results from a recent bud dissection showing widespread bud damage across the Okanagan Valley. In some areas, the research centre said 100% of the buds they checked showed primary and secondary bud damage, including the Central Okanagan and the Oliver region.

Even worse, many areas are also seeing damage to the trunk as well, which will often negatively impact the yield for wine grapes over a period of multiple years, not just a single harvest.

Research scientist Ben-Min Chang says he first saw the bud damage in a planting of wine grapes operated as a research plot by the Summerland research centre.

“We had a pretty bad cold snap starting December 22nd,” explained Chang. “Before that cold event there was approximately 10 per cent of the buds that were damaged, but after the event I saw 70 per cent at least in our experimental vineyard.”

Wine Growers BC photo of vines in a previous year.

The numbers were alarming enough that Chang decided to start checking buds in other areas of the Okanagan Valley, and in some of those growing regions the results were even worse.

“Overall the Kelowna area looks pretty bad,” said Chang. “Most of the wine grape damage was around 100 per cent, except for the hybrid varieties, which were around 50 per cent.

“Down south it looks slightly better,” Chang added. “Some places like Naramata Bench are doing okay, as their damage rates are very low, like around 10 per cent, but in other places, like Oliver, I was actually very surprised … I also saw severe damage there, sometimes 100 per cent damage.”

Chang also noted that the damage was very patchy, as one vineyard might show only 70 per cent damage, and another vineyard next to it might see 100 per cent damage. That variation in damage rates is not surprising, as frost damage can be worse in flat fields where one encounters frost pockets, and there are also various ways that growers can mitigate frost damage.

However, based on what he’s seen so far, Chang says, “The overall yields in 2023 are not going to be very good.”

Still, there are factors that could improve the result over time, and Chang notes that just because there is 100 per cent bud damage in a specific vineyard, does not mean scientists can predict accurately how bad the decline in yield will be.

For example, Chang noted that some varietals like Riesling have an ability to recover from frost-related bud damage, and growers in the Okanagan with their experience in cold weather growing are skilled in minimizing damage from weather extremes.

A more serious issue, he said, is the potential for long-term declines in grape yields due to trunk damage.

Researchers Also Discovered Trunk Damage To Vines

“We talked about bud damage but I am also seeing some trunk damage,” Chang explained. “That’s another big concern. Trunk damage means the cold penetrates through the trunk and kills off those vascular tissues, and once the vascular tissues are dead the vine cannot receive water or nutrition, so at a certain level the grower has to decide to renew that vineyard. That would guarantee at least two years of really, really low crop yields.”

Unfortunately, the Summerland research station is not in a position to say how widespread the trunk damage is. Chang says checking for trunk damage is extremely invasive and involves cutting into the trunk, which of course will severely damage the vine.

For that reason, it is typically not possible to get an accurate reading on trunk damage until growers start seeing their vines starting to wither away.

“It’s hard to say how bad it’s going to be, but I would not be surprised at all to see a lot more replanting in the next couple of years,” Chang said.

Prodan also stressed that growers will not really know just how bad the situation is until the flowering period in late May or early June.

Wineries Looking At Severe Grape Shortage In 2023

However, the early indicators have growers concerned they won’t have enough grapes this year to break even.

“Our concern is if there’s not enough grapes, what do wineries do?,” Prodan said. “There’s the growers that need to know what are they going to do, because they can’t get paid for grapes they can’t grow.

“In addition to that is the question, what is a winery going to do if they don’t have grapes to process? We’re already starting to hear from some wineries that are concerned and starting to look at what can they do to be cutting costs.

“In an environment where costs are ever increasing, we’re seeing a perfect storm, setting up against wineries between costs increasing, and then the real possibility of having half as many grapes to work with as in previous years.”

Current Crop Crisis Part Of A Decade Long Decline

Another concern for growers is that the Okanagan has seen a general and long-term decline over the past decade, which most experts have blamed on extreme weather caused by global warming.

According to the BC Vineyard Resiliency Report issued in July 2022, crop yields have

declined in BC by roughly 33 per cent between 2018 and 2022, with the tonnage decreasing from 30,000 tons to 20,000 tons over that period.

Most winemakers and viticulturists said that decline is due to a combination of climate change in general causing extreme weather events, and also the ‘knock-on effects’ of damage from recent weather anomalies like the heat dome, the flooding in 2021, and a damaging cold snap in the Thompson-Okanagan.

“Generally, we’re seeing some of the worst crops over a nine-year period,” said Prodan. “We’re very concerned about how climate change is affecting our grapes.”

The organization and researchers say steps are being taken to adapt to the changing climate and hopefully protect the wine industry.

“We may need to take a look at what we planted and where and then maybe take a look at replanting some of those grapes because they just aren’t able to survive where we are now,” said Prodan.

“I think there’s an opportunity to change

over some of those grapevines. That’s going to take a huge investment by the industry and hopefully we can look and ask for some government support to help us with that as well.”

As reported in Orchard & Vine in November last year, grape yields did bounce back somewhat in 2022, after a truly horrendous year in 2021. That, of course, was when the harvest was impacted by the heat dome in June 2021 when temperatures soared to 44.6C, and 45C in Osoyoos.

However, if this year’s yield falls by anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent, that’s on top of the ongoing decline over the past decade, and would be an economic disaster for many wineries.

“Of course, we won’t know for sure what’s happening until flowering and fruit set, but it’s your planning, and you’ve got to be thinking of these things,” Prodan said. “They (wineries) know what they’re doing, and when they talk to the independent growers that they contract with, you know, they’re finding out everyone’s the same, so yeah, it doesn’t look good.”

Michael Kullman, winemaker at Osoyoos Larose, said the primary problem over the past decade has been the increase in unpredictable extreme weather events, including rain, heat and frost.

Kullman now has a theory that severe frost events at unseasonal times of the year is the single greatest culprit in the four-year decline.

“My theory is that with climate change we’ve been getting more and more frost each year … and that will cause lower yields,” Kullman said. “My gut feeling is that it’s the cumulative years of warmer winters and then more severe frost events in the spring, or like in early 2019 when we had the early autumn frost, is causing long-term damage to the vines.”

Chang and the team at the Summerland research station will continue their research this spring, and by late May or early June will be in a better position to predict how the December 22 cold event will affect the grape harvest.

Chang says bud damage alone is not enough to make accurate predictions. Rather, it’s when the vines flower in late May or early June that scientists can see more accurately how the bud damage will impact the coming grape harvest.

Winegrowers Advocating For Large Scale Replant Program

In the meantime, Winegrowers of BC is working with the BC government to create a widespread replanting program in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and not just because of this latest frost event. The Vineyard Resiliency Report in 2022 was created because growers could see the long-term impact of climate change, which led to the long-term decline in crop yields since 2013.

Prodan says one thing that became clear is that the grapes planted in the region 30 to 40 years ago are not going to perform well in the more extreme weather events brought on by climate change.

“With this (Vineyard Resiliency) report, we were able to quantify what the problem was,” Prodan said. “And so we’ve been talking to government about a replant program for the grape wine industry, because what we need to do is replace some of our vines that were initially planted 30 to 40 years ago, when the first free trade agreement went into place and made California wines more accessible, more inexpensive.

“And so the industry did the big replant program back when they took out all the hybrid grapes and planted the vinifera for grapes, but we didn’t really know what we were doing back then,” Prodan explained. “I think we’re seeing part of the decline in the crop is due to, for sure, climate change, but it’s also just that we need to update as we may have planted the wrong grape in the wrong place, and I think with climate change that’s really starting to be exacerbated.”

WGBC has since asked the BC government to include funding for a replant program in the 2023 budget, which was announced on Feb. 28.

A government official told Orchard & Vine that, while no funds are specifically earmarked for a wine grape replanting program, “The details around specific programs to be funded out of supplementary funding will be announced in the coming weeks and months.”

As well, a source of potential funding for an emergency replant program could come from the $160 million set aside in the 2023 budget for BC’s Food Security Initiative.

BC Wine Industry Will Need Short Term And Long Term Aid

Prodan says there are two major issues facing the industry this year.

The first is that the Vineyard Resiliency report showed the grapes currently planted in the Okanagan and Similkameen regions are not resistant to extreme weather events brought on by climate change.

That is why WGBC is already pushing the BC government to fund a large scale replanting program.

However, thanks to the extreme cold snap starting on Dec. 22 last year, growers and winemakers will face an immediate crisis if the crop yields fall by another 30 to 50 per cent. Even worse, if trunk damage is also widespread, the reduction in crop yields will continue far beyond the current season.

Prodan says growers are just starting to talk about what they can do should the worst occur.

The obvious answer for trunk damage would be a massive replant program, ideally with grapes capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

The tougher question is what to do if there is a major crop failure in 2023.

One answer, which would be extremely controversial, would be a short-term exemption to the BC VQA regulations, which state that only wines made solely with BC grapes can qualify.

Will BC Need To Suspend The VQA Program?

Non-VQA wines are treated differently in terms of taxation and how they can be sold, which helps support estate wineries by increasing their profit per bottle.

However, if there are not enough grapes to produce VQA wine at the needed levels, one solution would be to import grapes from other wine regions; a plan that would only work if the BC government waived the rules and gave wineries the same tax and price breaks as they currently get for VQA wines.

The Ontario government, which has its own VQA program, did something very similar when growers there suffered a catastrophic drop in yield for similar reasons in 2005. In that case, the public was informed through changes in labelling, and the strict regulations of the VQA program were brought back in 2006.

That move saved an estimated $150 million in losses to the Ontario wine industry. Prodan admitted the topic has come up, but said it’s not something anyone wants to do unless the yields really are catastrophic. Yeah, sure, we’re looking at that Ontario model,” Prodan said. “I mean, this is premature, and we haven’t been in formal discussions, but what about taking a look at maybe allowing wineries to access some sort of grapes from other regions, right?

“If we have wine to process and there aren’t grapes here in BC, what else can we do? Can we bring some limited amounts in from Ontario? Can they bring some limited amounts in from Washington State and what does that mean to the BC VQA, which is a brand that we’ve been working so hard to maintain and champion?

“So these are some of the high level discussions we’re having right now, but until we can substantiate the potential extent of the damage in terms of economic impact and the rest of it, it’s a bit of an academic discussion, but it needs to happen and it is happening right now.” 

When the vines flower in late May or early June growers can beter see how the bud damage will impact the coming grape harvest.

Healthy bud vine with a young green leaf in the spring.

VITICULTURE in the Land of the Midnight Sun

By Gary Symons

Canadian winemakers are famous for turning out superb wines in some of the toughest conditions in the world, but there’s now a new and rising wine region that takes the cake for cold climate wines. While it seems unlikely, even impossible, intrepid winemakers in Scandinavia are building out their own wine region in a landscape known for its long winter nights and bone-chilling cold.

It would be hard to find a more unique terroir in the world. Wineries in Sweden, Norway and Finland experience 23 hours of sunlight in the summer, and the same amount of darkness in winter. Some of the wineries are above the 60th parallel, making them the most northerly in the world.

Also, some wineries are turning their frigid temperatures into a bonus, as they create ice wine styled products that can compete with Canada’s famous and extremely profitable ice wine. The Blaxsta winery near Stockholm, for example, grows their grapes in the 23 hours of sunlight in summer, and then harvests them in the dark, frigid days of December, after which they are sold to Michelin restaurants across Europe.

Growers and winemakers in Scandinavia are working hard to turn their small wine production region into a multi-billion dollar industry. In Sweden, for example, there were only 150 hectares in production in 2022, but that’s 50 per cent more than just two years ago. Sweden’s winemakers predict their growing region will more than double in size within five years, and eventually could grow to more than 10,000 hectares.

The same thing is happening in Denmark, Norway and even frosty Finland. A good example is the Slinde Vineyard in Norway, located at the 61st parallel, well north of the 30 to 50 degrees latitude that is typical of wine production. Married winemakers Bjorn and Halldis Bergum have been working on their vineyard and winery since 2014. “When we found the most suitable land for our vineyard, we immediately started working and now we have won several gold medals in blind wine tasting competitions with acclaimed wine critics on the panel,” said Bjorn Bergum. “Our white wines based on the Solaris grape has won several times and our very special Solarissa (Solaris) has gotten the highest score so far. Our red wine has fared very well too, giving us a gold medal for our wine based on Leon Milot.”

And while producing wine near the North Pole may seem unlikely, Bergum says the location has some advantages.

“It is cold at night and hot during the day in our summers and it is light outside almost 24 hours,” Bergum says. “We therefore have the perfect climate to make unique wines ... as long as we ripen the grapes.”

And speaking of grapes, the experience of winemakers in Scandinavia may hold lessons for viticulturists in Canada.

The vineyards at Arilds Vingård gleam in the northern sun in Sweden.

Photo credit: Ästad Vingård

Photo credit: Arilds Vingård

One aspect of wine production is that the climate is changing, as global warming makes it viable to grow wine grapes in northerly regions, but the other factors come down to technique and the selection of cold hardy varietals. The most common grape throughout Scandinavia is the Solaris, a white varietal first released in 1975 by the Feiburg Wine Institute in Germany. Winemakers say Solaris has a taste profile similar to Sauvignon blanc, and that it’s well suited to high-end sparkling wines.

There’s also the Rondo varietal used for red wine, although much of the production in Scandinavia is steered toward rosé wines.

Other unique grapes include Pinot Noir Précoce, a Pinot Noir mutation that matures three weeks earlier; Cabernet Cortis, a crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Solaris; Souvignier Gris, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner; and Muscaris, a green grape with a muscat flavour that can achieve very high levels of sugar.

Lotta Nordmark, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, says grapes that are both cold and disease resistant have been critical to the success of Scandinavian wines. “Wine connoisseurs are interested in Swedish wines because the grapes have a long development period, high acidity that builds an interesting sensory palette and already now Swedish wines are gaining ground in international wine-tasting competitions,” she says.

With critical acclaim has come increased sales, and a growing reputation for a unique and high quality assortment of wines. In Sweden, domestic sales have almost doubled in the last five years, from 19,388 litres in 2017 to 34,495 litres in 2022.

As well, the region’s reputation is now attracting winemakers from all over the world, including Californian Joe Roman, who now heads the team at Arilde Vineyard, the largest winery in Sweden.

“The greatest challenge in a cold climate is not actually the cold climate per se,” says Roman, who studied oenology in Oregon

and Switzerland. “Yes, cold weather will have a different effect on maturity, ripeness, acids concentration, different phenolics, etcetera, but once you get accustomed to the microclimate, then you understand your wine profiles.

“This is the challenging part,” he adds. “The realization and understanding that the same variety grown in a different part of the world will have an absolute different profile here, so even if a professional winemaker had worked with a specific grape variety outside of

Top: Barrel testing at Astad Vingard. Below, Arilds Vingård is the largest winery in Sweden, and includes accommodation and a fine restaurant.

Photo credit: Ästad Vingård

Photo credit: Arilds Vingård

THE HARDWORK ONLY OTHER FARMERS UNDERSTAND

Sweden, then works with the same variety here, the learning curve will start again from zero.”

Just as Canadians turn out a lighter Cabernet Sauvignon than their competitors in California, Roman says educating the consumer about terroir is key.

“The second challenge in a cold climate is actually the market,” he explains. “Swedish consumers are more accustomed to trying wines from abroad, meaning they always compare the wines to southern Europe, and this is a big challenge to educate the market in understanding what our terroir is.

“Swedish wines are very different to other countries, especially red wines. So the Swedish consumer asks often, ‘but can you make this wine more German style or French style’, and my answer is always, ‘yes we could, however these wines represent our microclimate and I don’t want to change their expression.

“We must understand what we can produce and enjoy them for what they are.”

Another way the Scandinavian wineries are similar to their Canadian cousins is that many also offer a full travel experience, including restaurants, upscale accommodation, and spa resorts.

Arilde offers 23 cabin-like rooms, a ‘glamping’ area with luxuriously equipped tents, conference and wedding facilities and a fine restaurant serving up fine Swedish cuisine.

Another good example is the new Ästad Vingård winery, home to the acclaimed Restaurant ÄNG and where construction has begun on a 28-room resort, where each cabin has its own natural pool, sauna, and bathing dock in the room. The new rooms are at the center of the vineyard with proximity to Sinnenas Spa, the Michelin-starred Restaurant ÄNG and the vineyard.

Winemaker Claes Bartoldsson says Astad is not as cold as one might expect, as it’s located near Varburg, a beach destination known for surfing. “The greatest challenge for us is the temperature in May and June, the fact that some years the temperature in May and June just won’t get high enough for the vines to develop in a good way, thus having problems getting the flowering going,” Bartoldsson says. “In the worst years for us, the season is almost over before the flowering. If we get through that part of the year, we don’t have more challenges than any other marginal wine region in the world.”

Despite the naysayers, Bartoldsson fully believes the Scandinavian wine scene will flourish. “Everyone is very optimistic right now,” he says. “There have been a lot of new wineries popping up in the last few years. When people see that it’s actually possible to make great wine in Sweden with decent consistency of yields, I can really see it taking off. I wouldn’t be shocked if there were 10 times as many vineyards planted in 10 years.

Roman agrees, saying this is just the beginning of a long ramp toward success, similar to the Canadian industry in the 1980s. “The Swedish wine industry has been alive for around 20 years,” Roman says. “At the beginning the wine producers used to get many complaints about the wines, but this is because of the learning curve.

“These days the overall quality has risen tremendously and it is very impressive that for the first generation of producers they have taken on such a big challenge and have succeeded.

“This shows to me the potential for the future is really limitless.”

Buyers Guide

 Aerial, Surveying & Mapping

 Animal, Bird & Pest Control

 Appraisals

 Associations

 Biostimulants

 Bottles

 Brew Supplies & Equipment

 Canning Services

 Cider Making Supplies

 Concrete Resurfacing

 Consultants

 Cooperages, Tanks & Containers

 Corks, Capsules & Closures

 Crop Protection

 Crush Pad

 Distilling Supplies & Equipment

 Drainage Management

 Farm Equipment

 Farm Management

 Fertilizer

 Financial

 Fuel & Lubricants

 Insurance

 Integrated Pest Management

 Irrigation

 Juicing Services

 Labels & Labelling Equipment

 Nurseries

 Orchard Supplies

 Packaging, Containers & Boxes

 Pesticides

 Real Estate

 Safety

 Soil & Compost

 Spreaders

 Steel Buildings

 Surveying, Mapping & Precision Farming

 Tax & Consulting

 Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

 Vineyard Equipment

 Viticulture

 Warehousing & Distribution

 Water Treatment

 Winery Equipment

 Winery Supplies

 Winery Water Recovery

Phone: 250-575-5953

info@swiftaerialsurveys.ca

www.swiftaerialsurveys.ca

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

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.

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.

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

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 bill@pwppost.com

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.

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.

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Animal, Bird & Pest Control Appraisals

Aerial, Surveying & Mapping

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

Animal, Bird & Pest Control

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.

Associations

Acadian

Plant Health™

30 Brown Avenue

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Toll free: 1-800-575-9100 communications@acadian.ca acadianplanthealth-na.com

We’re Acadian Plant Health™.

And we’re changing the biostimulant game. Acadian Plant Health is an international leader in sustainable, science-based biological solutions for speciality and broad acre crops. Acadian Plant Health is the largest independent marine plant harvesting, cultivation, and extraction company in the world. We are committed to launching patented innovative products, with a focus on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Acadian Plant Health products are used in over 100 crops in more than 80 countries worldwide.

E.Z. Cap

Phone: 403-945-5959

sales@ezcap.net

https://ezcap.ca

The original E.Z. Cap bottles in Cobalt Blue, Clear, and Amber bottles in 1 L and 500ml size. Contain more glass than the average bottle, last longer and can hold more pressure than invitations. Reusable, ecofriendly over recyclable glass bottles. Tested and guaranteed to 100 psi - perfect for high carbonation beverages. Keep carbonation better with a Swing-top cap closure.

North American, family-owned business for over 30 years. Wholesale or retail.

Contact us today!

Bottles

BCFGA

Helping to foster a healthy food system for the long-term prosperity of the tree fruit industry

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 since 1889. Exclusive benefits for grower-members including

• 4 magazine/newspaper subscriptions

• BCFGA EFP incentive

• BCFGA Certificate of Recognition (on-farm safety) incentive

• BCFGA TFW Application Assistance

• Pesticide Applicators reCertification Program (no charge)

Join now online: members.bcfga.com

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 to the craft beverage industry from the hobbyist to the professionals. We keep adding products to our online catalog so call us if you don’t see what you are looking for. Pickup or let us ship. We are good at what we do since 1989.

TricorBraun WinePak

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.

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 38 years to become a leading packaging provider.

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.

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 wines and spritzers; to ciders and sodas; plus coffees, craft beers, and everything in between. We’re a one-stopshop for aluminium beverage packaging services and supplies. You provide the product, we’ll provide the labels, cans, application and filling.

Get in touch today at  vesselpackaging.com/contact-us  to open the door to new markets!

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 to the craft beverage industry from the hobbyist to the professionals. We keep adding products to our online catalog so call us if you don’t see what you are looking for. Pickup or let us ship. We are good at what we do since 1989.

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17

Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511 orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service.

AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17

Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511 orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service.

AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

cellar•tek west

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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

Brew Supplies & Equipment

Cider Making Supplies

Cider Making Supplies

Marvelous Ideas Contracting Ltd.

Unit #6 – 2543 Juliann Road

West Kelowna, BC

V1Z 2M3

BC Interior: 250-258-8728

Lower Mainland: 250-454-6969

don@marvelousideas.com

www.marvelousideas.com

We are an innovative specialty trade engaged primarily in concrete surface preparation, restoration, resurfacing and protective finishes for floors and walls. Founded in 1991, we use proven performance-based urethanes, epoxies, mortars, lithium sealers and joint sealant products. Along with current technologies and equipment that can enhance traction, chemical & corrosion, and thermal resistance needs. Many of these products are also LEED certified, VOC Compliant, anti-microbial and CFIA & HACCP approved.

cellar•tek west 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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

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 to the craft beverage industry from the hobbyist to the professionals. We keep adding products to our online catalog so call us if you don’t see what you are looking for. Pickup or let us ship. We are good at what we do since 1989.

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511

Rising Tide Consultants

1620 – 1130 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC

V6E 4A4

Phone: 604-669-2928

info@risingtideconsultants.ca

www.risingtideconsultants.ca

For 35 years, Rising Tide has been the leader in liquor licensing consulting. We offer strategic, operational and licensing guidance for the wine industry. We solve complex issues like site-wide licensing, license applications, restaurant & lounge applications, patio/picnic areas, tasting rooms, retail stores and ALR challenges. If you want less stress and more results, your initial consultation is free!

orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON)

orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service.

AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

Capsules & Closures

cellar•tek west 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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

Consultants

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Corks,

Concrete Resurfacing Cooperages, Tanks & Containers

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Crop Protection

Crop Protection

Vines to Vintages Inc.

445 Warren Ave E, Penticton, BC

V2A 3M3

Phone: 778-476-7755

shop@vinestovintages.ca

www.vinestovintages.ca

Vines to Vintages offers a one-ofa-kind retail experience for all your commercial winemaking needs. With our knowledgeable team and competitive pricing, we are happy to help provide you with a selection of industry leading crush pad and cellar equipment, French and American oak barrels, bottle closures, labware and much more. Our shop is open Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm.

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.

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.

Crop Protection

Crop Protection

Crop Protection

Guelph,

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.

Steam‘N’ Weeds

2502 10th Ave.

Wainwright, AB

Phone: 587-437-8326

info@steamnweeds.com

www.steamnweeds.com

Satusteam™ weed control achieves organic accreditation, soil sustainability, and lowers operational and labour costs. Satusteam™ is a low pressure mixture of saturated steam and boiling water. It destroys soft leaves and stems on contact to the band of weeds in vineyards and through orchards. This is a fully customizable system for varying row widths and individual weed control needs.

TerraLink has been serving growers and producers for half a century. We produce liquid and granular fertilizers (conventional, organicbased and certified organic), and we distribute crop protection products, grass and forage seed, and supplies.

At TerraLink, we don’t just sell you products - we provide helpful advice and the service you need to get the best out of your crops.

Abbotsford · Chilliwack · Delta Kelowna · Airdrie

www.tlhort.com | 1-800-661-4559

Rooted in your communityTM since 1973

104 Cooper Dr. Unit 3

ON.

cellar•tek west

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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

ACO Systems, Ltd.

#311 – 3602 Gilmore Way Burnaby, BC V5G 4W8

Phone: 604-554-0688

Jasmina.Dedovic@aco.com

www.acoca.ca / www.acoswm.com / buildingdrainage.aco

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.

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.

Distilling Supplies & Equipment

Farm Equipment Farm Equipment

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17

Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511

orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON)

orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service. AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

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.

Munckhof Manufacturing

5943 Hemlock St. Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

Phone: 250-498-4426

Fax: 250-498-4460

office@munckhof.com

www.munckhof.com

Munckhof Mfg are specialists in viticultural / tree fruit equipment and systems that work for small and large operations alike. They design and manufacture a full line in house at their facility in Oliver B.C. and have been one of the only producers of their kind in Canada since 1979.

• Specialty viticultural and orchard implements.

• Fruit and vegetable sorting and hydro cooling equipment.

• Custom work – repairs or custom designed machinery for Orchard, Vineyard & Packing Houses.

Rollins Machinery

(formerly Farmco Sales Ltd.)

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.

Nutrien Solutions Evergro Division

260D Campion Street

Kelowna, BC

V1X 7S8

Phone: 250-765-0290

Toll Free: 866-765-0290

Evergro@Nutrien.com

www.NutrienAgSolutions.ca/specialty

Supplier of nutrients & fertilizers in granular, liquid, organic and water-soluble forms. Controls for insects, weeds and diseases as well as pruning supplies and grass seed ground covers.

Superior Peat Inc.

1700 Carmi Avenue

Penticton, BC

V2A 8V5

Phone: 250-493-5410

superiorpeat@telus.net

www.superiorpeat.com

Enrich your soil to improve your harvest. Superior Peat is a trusted supplier of organic peat, soils, composts and mulches. We have a tested and proven line of quality products and can also custom blend to meet your specific growing needs. OMRI listed products available.

Farm Management Fertilizer Fertilizer

Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) 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.

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

Pacific Calcium, Inc.

32117 Highway 97 Tonasket, WA 98855

Phone: 1-509-486-1201

Fax: 1-509-486-1701

info@naturesintent.com

www.naturesintent.com

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, 7-2-4, and gypsum. We have dealers across the west coast, so look for Pacific Calcium.

TerraLink has been serving growers and producers for half a century. We produce liquid and granular fertilizers (conventional, organicbased and certified organic), and we distribute crop protection products, grass and forage seed, and supplies.

At TerraLink, we don’t just sell you products - we provide helpful advice and the service you need to get the best out of your crops.

Abbotsford · Chilliwack · Delta Kelowna · Airdrie

www.tlhort.com | 1-800-661-4559

Rooted in your communityTM since 1973

BMO Private Investment Counsel Inc.

Benjamin Neitsch, CFA

Senior Investment Counsellor & Portfolio Manager

294 Bernard Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N4 778-594-3359

Benjamin.neitsch@bmo.com bmoprivatebanking.com

Raised in an orcharding family in the Okanagan, Ben is familiar with the joys and struggles shared across the agriculture industry. At BMO Private Wealth, we work with farming families to help manage wealth, structure investments, and plan for retirement. From expansion to passing the business on to the next generation, we can guide you every step of the way.

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.

AFD Petroleum Ltd. 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.

RBC Royal Bank

RBC has 4 agricultural and agri-business specialists in the Okanagan

Tyler Chick

Senior Relationship Manager

South Okanagan / Similkameen

250-490-4404

tyler.chick@rbc.com

Rohan Katyal

Relationship Manager

South Okanagan / Similkameen

250-490-4420

rohan.katyal@rbc.com

Scott Simpson

Relationship Manager

Kelowna / Central Okanagan

1-236-970-2984

scott.simpson@rbc.com

Ian Jones

Director, Senior Commercial Markets

Kelowna / Central Okanagan

250-868-4181

ian.jones@rbc.com

www.rbcroyalbank.com/agriculture

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Greg Borduzak

Agri-Commercial Banking Advisor

Serving the Thompson, Okanagan, Enderby and Similkameen regions

agribusiness@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.

Daniel Tassoni, Winery Risk Specialist

dtassoni@capricmw.ca • 250-808-6318

Dave Ledinski, Winery Risk Specialist dledinski@capricmw.ca • 250-212-6233

Toll Free 1-800-670-1877

Acera Insurance provides the highest quality insurance products and innovative risk-related 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.

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 largest and fastest growing independent property and casualty insurance brokers in Canada. With a national presence of more than 200 locations and more than 2,200 em ployees, the company continues to expand coast to coast. Westland’s brokers provide expert advice to home, business, farm, life and auto insurance clients.

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.

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 has been providing irrigation solutions to BC growers in the Okanagan and Thompson region for 45 years. From design to supply, the friendly Delta team is your one stop shop for Vineyard and Orchard. We carry a full line of Drip and Sprinkler products from Rivulis, Nelson, and Toro, including Rondo sprinklers and Toro’s Tempus Wireless Controls.

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.

Distributions Solida Inc.

490 Rang Saint-Antoine

Saint-Ferréol-Les-Neiges

Quebec

Phone: 418-826-0900

info@solida.ca

www.solida.ca

Founded in 1989, Distributions Solida Inc. specializes in the sale of integrated pest management supplies to growers, scouts, researchers, and other stakeholders in agriculture, commercial pest control, forestry, green spaces and horticulture, and invasive exotic species monitoring. Our product offerings include insect pheromone lures, traps, and other monitoring tools.

Hortau

966 chemin Olivier, Suite #450 Lévis, Quebec

Contact info: Caroline Letendre

Phone: (418) 836-7927 #229

Toll free: 1-888-5-HORTAU

cletendre@hortau.com

www.hortau.com

Choose your service:

- Weather station

- Soil moisture sensors

- Irrigation Automation

Follow in real-time your field data on the Hortau APP to improve your daily irrigation decisions.

Wireless stations easy to install with reliable communication system.

The Hortau system is a polyvalent, simple and precise.

We work with growers all-around Canada. Contact us today!

Southern Irrigation

782d Tagish St. Kamloops, BC

Phone: 250-372-2383

44160 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC

Phone: 604-792-0041

5830 Sawmill Road

Oliver, BC

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.

10030 Ricardo Rd, Coldstream, BC

V1B 3C1

Phone: 250-550-8885

info@okbevco.com

www.okbevco.com

Okanagan Beverage Co. is a local business providing high quality juice products and services. We do juicing, mobile juicing, bulk juice, cider, purees, packaging, logistics, fruit sourcing, and more. Our goal is to provide a one-stop service for all things juice and our mission is to support growers in increasing their bottom line by up-cycling fruit into a value-added product.

Great Little Box Company / Ideon Packaging

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

100-607- Riverside Road, 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.

Wonderful Nurseries

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Labels & Labelling Equipment

Nurseries

Orchard Supplies

Packaging Containers & Boxes Pesticides Safety

Great Little Box Company / Ideon Packaging

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

100-607- Riverside Road, 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.

Provide Agro Corporation

4825 Union Rd. Beamsville, ON L3J 0V6

Phone: 905-563-8261

Toll free: 1-800-263-1287

info@provideag.ca

www.provideag.ca

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.

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 agricultural and aligned industries and offers a Certificate of Recognition (COR) program for large and small employers.

Pesticides Real Estate Safety

N.M. Bartlett Inc.

4509 Bartlett Rd. Beamsville, ON

L3J 0Z1

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.

OKANAGANFARMS.COM

RE/MAX Kelowna

250-878-6545

100 – 1553 Harvey Ave Kelowna, BC

V1Y 6G1

Jerry Geen, PREC* & Elya Byrne, PREC* Shaun Everest, MBA, Sales@GeenByrne.com

Looking to sell or buy a farm in the Okanagan Valley? You need substantial experience, significant industry knowledge and specific proven marketing working on your side!

Geen + Byrne has been turning real estate goals and dreams into reality for over 37 years combined, selling hundreds of farms throughout the Okanagan.

Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC

101 – 44981 Commercial Ct, Chilliwack, BC

V2R 0A7

Phone: 1-604-795-9595

manufacturing@safetyalliancebc.ca

https://safetyalliancebc.ca

You are already a member of the not-forprofit health and safety association for British Columbia’s vibrant winery and cidery industries and manufacturing sector. Call us for training and advice to stay compliant and build a thriving safety culture. Get help building your safety program or expert advice on confined spaces, ergonomics, noise and air quality, or workplace mental health.

Superior

Peat Inc.

1700 Carmi Avenue

Penticton, BC V2A 8V5

Phone: 250-493-5410

superiorpeat@telus.net

www.superiorpeat.com

Enrich your soil to improve your harvest. Superior Peat is a trusted supplier of organic peat, soils, composts and mulches. We have a tested and proven line of quality products and can also custom blend to meet your specific growing needs. OMRI listed products available.

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

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.

Geosurv Solutions Inc

350 50 St NW Salmon Arm, BC V1E 3B1

1-250-833-8663 geosurv1@gmail.com www.geosurv.ca

• Vineyard Mapping - C.A.D. Design

- Construction Layout

• Precision Farming - Spectral - Thermal Imaging

• Ortho Photos - Aerial Photography

- Videography

Soil & Soil Testing Steel Buildings Tax & Consulting

Emerald Bay Ag Services Ltd.

5240 Highway 97A

Vernon, B.C.

Phone: 250 550 0545

doug@emeraldbayag.com www.emeraldbayag.com

Emerald Bay Agricultural Services Ltd. is a family operated agronomy and precision agriculture company with over 25 years of experience in the industry. You can farm in confidence with accurate data and solutions possible to minimize costs and maximize profitability.

• XAG Drones

• Agronomy – Soil work, In crop monitoring,

• Precision agriculture

• Water management – drainage, Weather and sell monitoring systems, soil type calculator.

Norsteel Building Systems Ltd.

2711 Auburn Road

West Kelowna, BC V1Z 3H7

Phone: 250-769-3846

Toll Free: 1-800-932-9131

brandon@norsteel.build

www.norsteelbuildingsystems.com

We custom design pre-engineered steel buildings for

• Production Facilities

• Boat Storage Facilites

• Aviation

• Wineries

• And more!

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 BC and beyond, and have been a family run business for over 30 years, successfully completing over 650 builds to date. With our head office in West Kelowna and a staff strength of over 25+, we are the Okanagan’s leader in steel buildings.

MNP.ca

Geoff McIntyre, Regional Leader, Agriculture Services 1500 – 1700 Dickson Avenue, Landmark 7 Kelowna, BC 250-979-2574

geoff.mcintyre@mnp.ca

As part of the thriving food and beverage industry, you have immense potential for success.

Whether you run a winery, cidery, or are involved in grape growing, fruit production, or supply, our specialists are here to help. With offices spread throughout B.C., we offer personalized and effective advice to meet your accounting, consulting, taxation, risk management and succession planning requirements.

Let us help you grow and achieve your goals.

Antonio Carraro Canada

179 St Laurent West Maskinonge, PQ

Phone: 819-626-0166

info@antoniocarraro.ca

www.antoniocarraro.ca

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

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.

Emerald Bay Ag Services Ltd.

5240 Highway 97A Vernon, B.C. Phone: 250 550 0545

doug@emeraldbayag.com

www.emeraldbayag.com

Emerald Bay Agricultural Services Ltd. is a family operated agronomy and precision agriculture company with over 25 years of experience in the industry. You can farm in confidence with accurate data and solutions possible to minimize costs and maximize profitability.

• XAG Drones

• Agronomy – Soil work, In crop monitoring,

• Precision agriculture

• Water management – drainage, Weather and sell monitoring systems, soil type calculator.

Sprayers & Machinery

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.

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.

Sprayers

Machinery

PrairieCoast equipment

Toll Free: 1-877-553-3373

www.prairiecoastequipment.com

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!

ATAGO U.S.A., Inc.

14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 450 Bellevue WA 98007

Phone: 1-425-637-2107

Toll free: 1-877-282-4687 (877-ATAGOUS)

Fax: 1-425-637-2110

customerservice@atago-usa.com

www.atago-usa.com

“You ask, we create.” With 83 years of experience, ATAGO® brings together the grape and wine industry trust in arguably the world’s best refractometers since 1940. ATAGO offers precise quality control instruments, whether it is measuring Brix, acidity, or CO2. Learn how our instruments can benefit your company at www.atagousa.com.

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.

Container World Group of Companies

Phone 604-276-1300

sales@containerworld.com

www.containerworld.com

Our Kelowna, Victoria and Richmond warehouses offer safe, secure and temperature-controlled facilities. We offer a logistics gateway to your customers and suppliers in B.C., Canada 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.

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.

English: 289-990-4770 sales@vitis-import.ca

Français: (438) 884-5477 info@vitis-import.ca

Vines to Wine Sales & Services

• Grapevines imported from France

• GPS planting for grapevines & posts

• Trellising material sales & installation

• Mechanized vineyard equipment

• Wine making supplies

• Geo Textiles & mechanical installation

• Consultation & field surveying

Proud to support Canada’s wine producers. vitis-import.ca

EDS Pumps & Water Treatment Ltd.

23184 Fraser Hwy, Langley, BC

V2Z 2V1

Phone: 604-534-1115

Toll free: 1-800-900-2220

info@edspumps.com

www.edspumps.com

Water quality is a key component when making great wine. EDS Pumps & Water Treatment has the expertise to improve any water issue. Whether it’s chlorine, hardness, bacteria or PFAS we have a solution. EDS Pumps & Water Treatment - serving BC for over 60 years. When it comes to water... Come to us!

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17

Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511 orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service. AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

cellar•tek west 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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

Vines to Vintages Inc.

445 Warren Ave E, Penticton, BC V2A 3M3

Phone: 778-476-7755

shop@vinestovintages.ca

www.vinestovintages.ca

Vines to Vintages offers a one-ofa-kind retail experience for all your commercial winemaking needs. With our knowledgeable team and competitive pricing, we are happy to help provide you with a selection of industry leading crush pad and cellar equipment, French and American oak barrels, bottle closures, labware and much more.

Our shop is open Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm.

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 to the craft beverage industry from the hobbyist to the professionals. We keep adding products to our online catalog so call us if you don’t see what you are looking for. Pickup or let us ship. We are good at what we do since 1989.

Manufactured by Technologie Inovaweld

Inc.

139 Rue du Parc de L’Innovation

La Pocatière, QC G0R 1Z0

Michael Robichaud

1-888-401-3758

m.robichaud@inovaweld.com

www.inovawine.com

Technologie Inovaweld is a Canadian company specializing in the production of high-quality stainless steel drums and barrels for the wine, cider, and spirits industries.

Our containers feature seamless design and laser welding to ensure the preservation of your product’s integrity. They are also versatile, durable, and easy to clean.

For your convenience, we keep a stock of various sizes, including 100, 125, 208, 227, and 300 liters, so we can meet your needs even if you have a last-minute requirement.

A.O. Wilson Ltd

Head Office

9597 Sideroad 17 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada

1.855.857.1511 orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Western Canada

1.833.269.4576 (AOWILSON) orderdesk@aowilson.ca

Proud supplier to the beverage industry for nearly 80 years! AO Wilson offers everything you may need from your harvest to the bottling line. We offer reliable products from leading global manufacturers and pair this with outstanding customer service.

AO Wilson is Canada’s largest stocking distributor for packaging, equipment, enology and filtration solutions in the wine, cider, beer, and spirits industries. With locations in both Erin, ON and Kelowna, BC, we are proud to be able to provide efficient and prompt service to all our customers coast to coast.

Winery Equipment

Winery Equipment

Winery Supplies

Winery Equipment

Winery Equipment

Winery Equipment

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 to the craft beverage industry from the hobbyist to the professionals. We keep adding products to our online catalog so call us if you don’t see what you are looking for. Pickup or let us ship. We are good at what we do since 1989.

Gusmer Enterprises

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.

1446 Industrial Avenue Sebastopol, CA 95472

Winesecrets has expanded its engineered solutions offerings to include facility wastewater recovery under the name Recovered Water Solutions (RWS). Our expertise in filtration can serve wineries, food, beverage and agricultural production with filtration-based recovery of wastewater.

Learn more at info@recwatersolutions.com or on the web at www.recwatersolutions.com.

1-707-329-6411

cellar•tek west

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

Cellar-Tek has been a premium supplier of quality equipment and ingredients to the commercial winery, brewery and cidery industries of Canada since 2005. From fruit reception & processing equipment, tanks, filtration, packaging equipment and chillers, to fermentation, finishing & fining ingredients from Laffort, AEB and Innerstave, we offer the largest range of products to our commercial beverage producers across the country.

Vines to Vintages Inc.

445 Warren Ave E, Penticton, BC

V2A 3M3

Phone: 778-476-7755

shop@vinestovintages.ca www.vinestovintages.ca

Vines to Vintages offers a one-ofa-kind retail experience for all your commercial winemaking needs. With our knowledgeable team and competitive pricing, we are happy to help provide you with a selection of industry leading crush pad and cellar equipment, French and American oak barrels, bottle closures, labware and much more.

Our shop is open Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm.

1446 Industrial Avenue Sebastopol, CA 95472

Winesecrets has expanded its engineered solutions offerings to include facility wastewater recovery under the name Recovered Water Solutions (RWS). Our expertise in filtration can serve wineries, food, beverage and agricultural production with filtration-based recovery of wastewater. Learn more at info@recwatersolutions.com or on the web at www.recwatersolutions.com.

1-707-329-6411

Winery Supplies

Winery Supplies

Winery Water Recovery

UVC Rays Tackles Powdery Mildew In Strawberries

By Ronda Payne

UVC rays may be better at suppressing powdery mildew in strawberries than fungicide based on results out of Florida and other regions. David Gadoury, plant pathologist with Cornell University in New York says there is no damage to the plant or reduction in yields as a result of the UVC application. He’s the project manager and spokesperson for the study, which has involved a wide range of facilities, a large number of people and about 20 varieties of strawberries.

“We’re at the earliest stages of seeing UV used in disease suppression situations,” he clarifies, adding, “Can we at least tip the balance in our favour? The answer is yes. We’ve measured just about every physiological and metabolic response. Nothing changed [in the plants or fruit].”

So, while the application of UVC rays is still in introductory stages, the results are promising. Powdery mildew is a surface-dwelling pathogen that needs the host to live in order to survive. Therefore, UV rays are a great

solution as they can’t penetrate beyond the surface of the plant.

“We have found exposing the plants to treatment at night is even better than fungicide,” he says. “Daytime, the large dose is likely to damage the plant. The timing of the treatments has to be timed to the plant’s biology and ecology. The plant is not stressed and is not responding in a way that impacts quality that we have measured yet.”

UVC rays have proven to be more efficient and effective than UVB rays due to the output levels of the LED lights. The most effective wavelengths are from 250 to 280 nano-

meters with an effective dose at about 100 Joules per meter square.

Through Wish Farms, a community of strawberry growers in Florida, testing was based on 20 UVC lamps backed by polished reflectors using a uniform dose of 85 Joules per meter square starting one hour after sunset. “Units of this type have been used in Florida successfully since 2017,” he says.

He’s referring to the device built by the crew at Wish Farms as a unit. It was even named, The Dragon. Trials done on low-trellised hops, grapes and apples were also successful.

“There are some crops that are more sensitive like tomatoes, so do half the dose, applied twice over a couple of days. [In strawberries the application] provided suppression across foliage and fruit throughout the duration of the trial,” says Gadoury. This was done in strawberries using a fully autonomous robot that moves through the field at nightfall.

There are parameters that need to be observed by growers in terms of speed and proximity to plants for efficacy. These are outlined fully in the study. The low-pressure discharge UVC lamps are the most practical technology when the conveyance device moves at about 4.5 kph. The lamp array density and reflector design are both critical to ensuring uniform dosing through fields. Since the autonomous robot is simply a conveyance to move the lights throughout the berry field, there are a number of options to consider for movement.

“You can build your own or consider one of the autonomous robots,” he says. “For smaller operations, I’d suggest you’re best off building one of these yourself.”

He estimates the costs to be about $7,000 to $10,000 to have one built or $2,500 to $3,000 if skilled, capable labour is on-farm. Benefits include the fact that there is no residue on the plants from the UVC treatment, but there are still safety protocols required.

“In particular, you need eye protection and you need to cover exposed skin,” he says. “We also want to make sure your lamps are coupled into a ground-fault circuit to cut down on shock risks.” 

AgSafe Supports Mental Wellness with Mantengo

AgSafe Launches “Mantengo” to Support BC’s SpanishSpeaking Farm Workers

The farm safety organization

AgSafe has developed a collection of wellness resources and materials in support of British Columbia’s Spanish-speaking agricultural workers called “Mantengo”.

These resources are part of AgSafe’s larger Mental Wellness in Agriculture initiative.

Supported by the Canadian

Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, Mantengo is a collection of inter-related videos and resources in Spanish and English to help improve the mental and physical wellbeing of agricultural workers in BC, as well as those guest workers who have traveled from outside of Canada and are working in various agricultural sectors throughout the province.

“BC’s guest workers face many emotional challenges while working here,” says AgSafe Executive Director Wendy Bennett. “Loneliness, anxiety and depression often occur as a result of being so far away from their families and community.

“We developed Mantengo to make supportive mental and

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physical wellbeing resources more easily accessible for Spanish speaking workers and their employers.”

Mantengo resources include information, links to additional resources, and posters about fitness, nutrition and building community. A series of videos features personal stories and a music video called “Mantengo: The Journey.”

In English, the meaning of Mantengo is to maintain your personal wellness. AgSafe encourages employees and employers to use the Mantengo resources jointly as a team, and to incorporate the resources into everyday workplace health and wellness programs. Employers will find the Mantengo resource user guide helpful in preventing

injuries and lost time due to illness.

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau says the government feels it’s important to support the many workers whose native language is not English or French.

“BC’s guest workers face many emotional challenges while working here,” Bibeau points out. “Loneliness, anxiety and depression often occur as a result of being so far away from their families and community.

“We developed Mantengo to make supportive mental and physical wellbeing resources more easily accessible for Spanish speaking workers and their employers.”

New Workers

Employers are responsible for the safety of their workers. Educate new and young workers to identify hazards and minimize risks.

Mantengo resources can be found on AgSafe’s website at www.agsafebc.ca/mental-wellness/mantengo. For more information about AgSafe visit www.AgSafeBC.ca

The program is also supported by the BC government, which is part of the five-year, $3 billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership program.

This includes a $2 billion commitment that is shared between the two levels of government, in which the province pays 40 per cent of the cost, and the federal government covers off 60 per cent.

BC’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, Pam Alexis, points out that BC’s crop production is heavily reliant on foreign workers who travel to Canada to work on local farms.

Hon. Pam Alexis, British Columbia Minister of Agriculture and Food –

“Guest workers on BC farms play a key role in our food system, so it’s important they have support in our province,” Alexis says. “Mantengo is a great new resource for Spanish speaking workers and their employers to help them take care of both their mental and physical health, while they work hard to put food on our tables and support their families.”

Nationally, close to 470,000 foreign nationals have a work permit that became effective in 2019, and the largest proportion (27.4 per cent) of temporary foreign workers in Canada work in crop production. 

AgSafe is the non-profit health and safety association for agricultural producers in British Columbia. For more information about AgSafe services or agriculture-related workplace health and safety call 1-877-533-1789 or visit www.AgSafeBC.ca.

Work With Your Neighbours To Increase Tourism

If you have not yet, take the time to get to know your neighbours. This neighbourly connection will be very helpful as the first idea is to bundle your offerings. Work with your neighbouring restaurants, farms, breweries, distilleries, and other companies that offer related activities to yours.

Collaboration with key partners will lead to success

After a few difficult seasons, we are collectively ready to throw open the doors and welcome the world. In many cases tasting room sales can make up 40 per cent or more of a winery or cidery’s direct sales.

Cellar door sales are the most profitable channel, so linking to tourism and thus attracting more visitors to wine regions, wineries, cideries, distilleries, breweries, hotels, and restaurants will lead to increased profitability.

To make the most of this renewed fervour for in-person experiences, here are a handful of ideas to help you market your tourism offering.

There Is Strength in Numbers

These ‘bundles’ should be comprised of offerings that have complementary but non-competing activities that will enhance the visitors’ experience, give them more reasons to stay in your area, and help you forge relationships in your community. You can work together to create a package that could include visits with each other, or you can simply refer visitors to and from one another’s properties.

Adding to this, research conducted in western Canada revealed that highly motivated, long-distance wine tourists prefer destinations offering a wide range of cultural and outdoor attractions. In other words, you should also get to know your local golf courses, ski hills, museums, boat rental companies,

and hiking trails as well, and work together to cross-promote one other.

Carry It On Your Shoulders

It’s time to rethink and reshape your shoulder season. To bring traffic into your tasting room at the different, quiet, less-travelled time of year from November to the end of April, consider what kind of unique things can you do and offer to encourage people to visit you.

There have been some very successful initiatives around holidays such as Valentine’s Day, where wineries from a region have joined, all on the same day, to partner with a bakery or chocolatier and customize wine and chocolate pairings. Or, perhaps there are end-of-harvest celebrations that can take place as November approaches. Some wineries hold winter wine activities as well.

Think about what you can do to collaborate with local restaurants or your neighbours to make something unique happen that will bring traffic to the area and populate hotel rooms. Here are a few ideas that have

worked successfully in some regions during off seasons: A themed 5 km or 10 km run (for fun, or a longer one that is formally sanctioned), concerts, film festivals and fashion shows.

Embrace Technology

Be sure that your business listing is up to date on Google Business and Tripadvisor, and make yourself easy to find. This is especially important for those of you who are not located on main roads.

Encourage your visitors to talk about you socially and give them a free and easy way to do it. Post your Wi-Fi code so they can connect and post that photo in your wine shop. Publish your own social handles in a prominent place so your visitors can share where they are and tag your business. You want your visitors’ friends to know about you as well, so make it easy to be found online.

Along these lines, use social media and listen to what is happening around you. If you notice on social media that someone is traveling in your area or has tagged one of your

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neighbouring businesses, say hello to them online and invite them to come to your tasting room.

Work Closely With Tour Operators

Let tour operators know what you are pouring or doing at the top of each day. Other things to consider that your local tour operators might like to know:

• Is there access to the winemaker?

• Are there night tours, or tours after hours? 8 PM? 11 PM?

• Do you offer any kind of food pairing experience?

• Do you offer any kind of behind-the-scenes experience?

• Is something taking place at the business that visitors can watch, such as harvest or bottling?

With this kind of information readily available, when bookings are made, the tour operators can find out what their customers are interested in, then take it from there and bring the visitors to wineries that meet the preferences and requests.

A Passport to Wine Country

This is a tried-and-true tactic that has worked in many wine regions: The visitor is invited to use a free or for-pay touring passport, visit X number of wineries, collect a stamp at each winery, and when a certain number of stamps is reached, earn a prize.

The passport encourages wineries in a region to send visitors to and from one another and provides a wide range of tasting experiences for those who are collecting the stamps. Note that overseeing the creation of a passport is something that does require a coordinated approach, budget, and a professional touch, so this is where the BC Wine Passport or regional wine associations come in.

Join Your Regional Wine Association

As noted above, there is strength in numbers, so play nice in the sandbox. Be willing to cooperate and share.

To have successful tourism you need to be proud of what your area offers; not just your own winery, vineyard, and people, but also those across the road.

Band together and pool resources to co-market yourselves, host events together, and so much more. When the wine country visitor is offered not just a single vineyard, but an entire region with diverse offerings that may also include cideries and places to eat, there is so much more potential for a diverse and memorable experience.

We’re all in this together, and our industry will give a stronger visitor experience if we all work to promote and support each other.

What ideas do you have to create and promote tourism? 

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

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Try Something New for BC Wine Month this April

2022 vintage are hitting shelves in wineries, wine shops, and restaurants around BC. This April, find a newly released wine perfectly suited to your palate by taking the taste test on the award-winning Wines of BC Explorer App, or find your new favourite restaurant from this list of Best BC Wine Restaurants.

This April marks the sixth annual BC Wine Month, a time to celebrate spring wine releases and the awakening of the vines by raising a glass to BC’s vibrant wine industry.

There is a lot to commemorate this year, including the findings of the report ‘Canada’s Wine Economy – Growth and Innovation Through Global Challenges’ released last summer, which highlights the momentum of the BC wine and grape industry. In 2019 the sector contributed a significant $3.75 billion to the provincial economy, an 86.7 per cent increase from the 2011 report.

“This impressive growth is a testament to the dedicated efforts of BC wine industry professionals and stakeholders who have put BC on the map as an internationally recognized destination for premium wine and wine tourism,” said Miles Prodan, CEO & President of Wine Growers British Columbia. “BC Wine Month is an opportunity to honour the hardworking winemakers and grapegrowers that craft stunning wines in our province vintage after vintage.”

Spring is considered to be the season of new beginnings and it is in that spirit that Wines of BC is promoting three ways for industry, trade and media to celebrate BC Wine Month.

This April Taste Something New

The first wine releases from the

You Do Not Want to Miss Tasting These 2022 Wines

“You can expect fruit driven, aromatic, fresh and lively whites. Red wines had a longer ripening period leading to refined soft tannin structures with good colour intensity, fresh acidity, and a juicy palate. I expect it to be a very elegant vintage,” said Alex Nel, Winemaker & Viticulturist at Fort Berens Estate Winery.

Read more in the BC Grape Wine 2022 Vintage Report on WineBC.com. If you own or work at a restaurant pouring BC wine, claim your free listing on our Best BC Wine Restaurant list in the Pour More BC program, contact info@winebc.com.

This April, Learn Something New

How familiar are you with the Okanagan Valley’s six new SubGIs? In June of 2022, the BC Wine Industry recognized six new Sub-Geographical Indications (Sub-GIs) which are now official and protected terms under BC law, used to help consumers identify BC wines’ origins.

The six are: Lake Country; East Kelowna Slopes; South Kelowna Slopes; Summerland Bench; Summerland Lakefront; and Summerland Valleys; all representing an area of distinct sense of place resulting in unique wines.

The best way to learn about Wines of BC, and these new SubGIs is through getting Ambassa-

dor Program Level One certified. The online course is designed for everyone, including those making, growing, serving, or simply enjoying BC wine. Level up your BC wine knowledge in time for wine touring season!

Ambassador Program Course

Level One Online. Use Promo Code: BCWINEMONTH

Level Two of the Ambassador Program is an in-class learning experience. Wines of BC will be offering Level Two classes throughout BC this spring. Visit WineBC.com to see if there is a course happening near you. Level One is a pre-requisite for Level Two.

This April, Share Something New

Wines of BC is rolling out the

paign, complete with stunning visuals to inspire BC wine lovers to get out and explore BC wineries, pair local BC wine with their meals, and generally share their excitement for BC Wine. Join in the celebrations by sharing the Wines of BC content. Visual assets are available to BC Wineries and BC wine trade to share organically on their own channels, contact us at info@winebc.com if you are interested in telling the Wines of BC story with us this BC Wine Month. Happy BC Wine Month!

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

Evan Saunders: Winemaker at Blasted Church Vineyards

At Blasted Church Vineyards, who celebrated their 20th anniversary recently, winemaker Evan Saunders has been a driving force in the pursuit of stellar quality in the Blasted Church wine program. His contagious enthusiasm in the cellar, along with his finely balanced artistic and scientific approach to winemaking have made Evan the natural choice to spearhead the team’s wine operations into the future.

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

Evan Saunders: After graduating from the University of Victoria with a degree in microbiology, I wasn’t quite sure where my next steps should take me. I knew I loved food and wine and that I wanted to pursue them in some way, while also putting my scientific background to work. Everything came together the more I explored wine and winemaking. It was a perfect fit that provides a balance of science and art, and that gives an actual product that you can hold at the end of the process; a very satisfying conclusion!

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

Evan: I graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in microbiology, and from there I moved to St. Catherines to attend the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) at Brock University where I received a Certificate in Grape and Wine Technology. After graduating from Brock University, my first few years were spent in the cellar at Osoyoos Larose, which provided an amazing practical experience in the production of benchmark red wines.

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

Evan: I only took the opportunity to go international for one vintage; the 2013 vintage at Kosta Browne in Sebastopol, California. It was an amazing experience that has a continuing impact on the way I work in the cellar today.

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

Evan: Picking a favourite variety to work with is impossible! If I had to pick only one, I would pick Cabernet Sauvignon. When you walk through a Cab Sauv block as the har-

vest date draws near, there is just a wonderful feel about it. I am fortunate to work with some old vines (by Okanagan Valley standards) at Blasted Church. The big, gnarly old trunks, the way the sunlight passes through the leaves, the feel of the clusters, and the generally beautiful days that surround the harvest of Cab Sauv, all influence my choice. And, in the cellar, it is a rewarding wine to make. Extended maceration in tank and long maturation in barrels, it is a wine that rewards patience and careful attention.

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

Evan: The thing that I love most is the combination of the scientific with the artistic to yield an actual tangible product at the end of the process. That combined with the fact that you only get one chance to capture a vintage and that the number of vintages we

will get to experience are limited. You really need to be ready every year to express the best of any vintage and overcome any challenges on the fly to achieve what we are all working towards; the best possible wine in the bottle.

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

Evan: Similar to choosing a favourite variety, choosing a favourite wine or vintage is tough, but our Small Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of which I am particularly proud. It isn’t a wine that we make every year, but in the years that we do I feel that it is a great expression of the variety, our terroir on the Skaha Bench, and the entire process that goes into making the wine. I am excited to see what the 2022 version becomes as it matures in barrel. 

Photo credit: John Adrian

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