The immigrant temporary farm worker is pivotal to the agriculture industry in the Okanagan.
With close to 20 workers testing positive for coronavirus at Byland Nurseries, what happens to other workers, like those at the West Kelowna nursery, in getting this years crop in the ground?
Sukhpal Bal is President of the BC Cherry Growers Association.
Appearing on AM 1150's Early Edition, Bal says the situation at Bylands is unfortunate. "I know they were taking precautions, having workers in smaller groups, but you can only do so much and this really show us how easy this virus can spread. We really do have to take precaution."
The workers in quarantine arrived in the Okanagan from Mexico on March 12th.
The BC Fruit Growers Association doesn't expect to have enough workers to get this years harvest off.