Left out in the cold. That's how the BC Fruit Growers feel after being left out of an agriculture support package announced today by the federal government.
General Manager Glen Lucas spoke to AM 1150 News about the door being slammed shut on fruit growers, "We really were expecting something meaningful to be announced today, and because it wasn't announced we're disappointed. Unfortunately, we're not shocked. This government needs to get serious about agriculture."
Lucas says fruit growers are at the point where they can't afford to produce a crop this year, "In the tree fruit sector we've been under, especially apples, but cherries as well has had a bit of a pinch last year because of the frequent rains during the summer. And apples have been on a down cycle on pricing for the last three years. So, this COVID-19 thing is really amplifying the financial stress on growers."
Lucas says they will continue to work with the federal agriculture minister on the importance of locally grown food.