Orchard & Vine Spring 2018

Preparing for Climate Change How to Fight the Mite Berry Growing Tunnels 2018 BUYERS' GUIDE

Decision Aid System Launched Washington Wine Marketing Spring 2018 $6.95

Display Until May 31, 2018 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40838008 www.orchardandvine.net

Quick and precise protection.

An innovative way to target unwanted pests while at the same time having a favourable safety profile for many beneficial insects.

SivantoTM Prime insecticide precisely targets key damaging pests like aphids, leafhoppers, blueberry maggot, scale and psyllids while at the same time having a favourable safety profile for many beneficial insects. Plus it works quickly, which helps preserve the overall health of your crops, stops the spread of diseases and most importantly, protects your investment.

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Photo by © Boguslavus | Dreamstime.com

What does climate change mean for the tree fruit sector? Frequent periods of rain, especially during June-August, when cherries ripen. Page 20

Regulars

6 Publisher's View – Lisa Olson 8 Calendar 10 News & Events

69 Product Feature – The Canning System Your Business Needs to Succeed

70 Product Feature – Got to Have it – 6 Wine Making Supplies 4

Spring 2018

Photo by ?

69 Product Feature – Organic, Growth Enhancers Increase Yield And Quality

2018 Buyer's Guide. Page 33

Photo by Kim Elsasser, mpa

68 Product Feature – New Tech in the Orchard

New President of the BFGA Pinder

Features 20 Climate Change and Tree Fruit Production in BC 23 Global Warming Turning Wine World Upside Down 26 How Wineries Can Win By Working Together 29 Gruner Veltliner Finds New Friends in BC 33 2018 Buyer's Guide 53 Transitioning the Farm – Are You Ready? - Part 2 55 Herbicide Use In Tree Fruits 57 Strategies to 'Fight the Mite' on Your Farm 59 BC Decision Aid System Ready For Sign Up 61 Berry Growers: To Tunnel or Not to Tunnel?

64 BCFGA Elects New President Pinder Dhaliwal 67 Top 5 Mistakes When Choosing Winery Insurance

Photo by Glen Lucas

A California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter surveys and drops water on the wine country wildfires in and around Santa Rosa on Oct. 11, 2017.

Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Loeffler

Dhaliwal. Page 64

Spring Flooding in Cawston, BC, June 1, 2017. Page 20

Spring 2018

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 PUBLISHER’S VIEW | LISA OLSON

Spring the Season for Strength and Optimism

S

pring is in the air after a long winter, but climate change issues are a huge topic covered inside this issue, as per the dramatic image on our front cover.

Vol. 59, No 2 Spring 2018 Established in 1959 Publisher

Industry experts from BC, Washington, and Oregon gathered in March to discuss climate change, working collaboratively from a Washington State producer's perspective and a wide array of topics during the inaugural BC Wine Industry Insight Forum organized by the BC Wine Institute in partnership with the BC Wine Grape Council, BC Grapegrowers’ Association and the BC Wine Authority. Our editor, Gary Symons reports on these eyeopening topics in this edition.

We also cover the generous donation to the BC Hospitality Foundation, a registered charity that helps workers in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a health issues and, in addition, provides scholarships to next generation students enrolled in hospitality, culinary, sommelier, beverage and other hospitality related programs in BC. Thanks go out to the $5,000 donation made by the Stewart Family from Quail’s Gate Winery along with Lake Sonoma Wine. To learn how you can be involved check out the BC Hospitality website.

Editor Gary Symons Graphic Design Stephanie Symons Contributors

Photo by Kim Kanduth

Optimism and strength were demonstrated at the BC Fruit Growers AGM this year, as writer Tom Walker reports. New President elect, Pinder Dhaliwal brings his five years experience as vice-president to the job. Peter Simonsen, long-time board member and organic grower from Naramata, will bring his knowledge and experience with his role as the Vice-President along with area directors.

Lisa Olson

Michael Botner, Pinder Dhaliwal, Tracey Fredrickson, Kim Kanduth, Glen Lucas, Ronda Payne, Gary Symons, Tom Walker

With sadness and shock we say goodbye to long-time cherry grower, Greg Norton.

I will miss his cheerful smile and willingness to share his thoughts and views on the industry. His involvement with many different organizations was admirable and many will miss his presence.

Contact lisa@orchardandvine.net Orchard & Vine Magazine Ltd. 1576 West Kelowna Road West Kelowna, BC, V1Z 3H5

Please check out the 2018 Buyer’s Guide and the many suppliers and services that help provide guidance and top quality equipment and supplies to help your businesses run smoothly.

www.orchardandvine.net Phone: 250-769-2123 Fax: 1-866-433-3349 Orchard & Vine Magazine is published six times a year and

I just can’t say enough about the dedicated people and writers that work in this industry to keep it current and vibrant, makes me happy to present this issue to you.

I hope you enjoy this magazine as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

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

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40838008 Undeliverable copies should be sent to:

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions BRITISH COLUMBIA Nathan Phillips p. 250-809-6040 bcsales@vinetech.ca 6

Spring 2018

QUEBEC Alexandre Jacquel p. 905.984.4324 qcsales@vinetech.ca

NOVA SCOTIA Ian Kaye p. 902.740.2493 nssales@vinetech.ca

ONTARIO Wes Wiens/Tina Tourigny p. 905.984.4324 sales@vinetech.ca

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 SPRING | CALENDAR

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YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS IN VINEYARD, ORCHARD AND AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE VALUATIONS From our Kelowna and Penticton offices, NCA Commercial Inc. is best placed to offer experienced, reliable and professional valuation and consulting services to those owning and operating agricultural land and businesses in BC’s interior.

Our team of accredited commercial real estate appraisers specialize in a variety of services including: • market valuations for financing • property settlement & estate planning • site selection & pre-acquisition negotiation • insurance replacement cost & risk management • compensation in expropriation & partial takings • subdivision & ALR applications • arbitration & expert witness • land leases & rent reviews • “going concern” business valuations Brian Pauluzzi, B.Com., RI, AACI, MRICS Owner/Commercial Appraiser

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Bloom BC VQA Spring Release Victoria April 24 Vancouver April 26 Calgary May 10 www.winebc.org Canada’s Farm Progress Show June 20-22 Regina, SK www.myfarmshow.com i4C+- International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration July 20-22 Niagara, Ontario http://coolchardonnay.org Feast of Fields Okanagan - August 12 Vancouver Island – August 26 Metro Vancouver - September 9 www.feastoffields.com Canada’s Outdoor farm Show September 11-13 Woodstock, Ontario www.outdoorfarmshow.com

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Spring 2018

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 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

AgSafe Provincial Safety Consultant Carol Reid Retires

AgSafe recently announced the retirement of Carol Reid, Provincial Safety Consultant Orchards & Vineyards, based in British Columbia’s Okanagan region.

Carol Reid joined AgSafe, formerly FARSHA, in 2007 to work with employers and their teams, assisting them in meeting the challenges of enhancing worker safety in the vineyard and orchard industries.

Over the years, Reid promoted the importance of worker safety and regulatory compliance using a practical approach to training, education and consultation, making her one of the leading go-to agriculture safety experts in the province.

Over the past ten years Reid has worked with almost every orchard, vineyard, and nursery, as well as other sectors in the Okanagan area. She consulted with seventy-three of those employers on a regular basis. She also helped sev-

eral large and small employers successfully implement a safety management system that meets the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program audit standards in health and safety.

“Carol’s knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm for improving health and safety programs throughout the province earned her the respect of those in the B.C. agriculture community,” said Wendy Bennett, Executive Director of AgSafe. “Carol has been an amazing part of the AgSafe team and we are sad to see her leave.”

Taking over the Okanagan region will be two new AgSafe Regional Safety Consultants, Ron Macc, South Okanagan and Ryan Duncan, Central Okanagan. Both bring a strong health and safety background with them. Ryan Duncan is a former Occupational Safety Officer for WorkSafeBC, and both he and Ron Macc hold a National Construction Safety Officer designation.

“We are fortunate to have Ron and Ryan join the AgSafe

Photo Contributed

Two new safety consultants are joining AgSafe in the Okanagan.

team and work together in the Okanagan,” said Bennett.

“AgSafe and B.C.’s agriculture industry have grown and changed so much over the past twenty-five years, and every member of our team continues to be committed to reducing the number of deaths and injuries in agricultural operations in this province.”

For more than 20 years Ag-

Safe has been the expert on safety in the workplace for British Columbia’s agriculture industry and offers site-specific health and safety programs, training, evaluation and consultation services.

For more information about AgSafe services or agriculture workplace safety call 1-877533-1789 or visit www.AgSafeBC.ca.

9001 Highway 97, Oliver, B.C. V0H 1T2 Ph: Reid, 1-778-739-0109 www.bin97.com Carol AgSafe Provincial Safety Consultant info@bin97.com based in British Columbia’s Okanagan region retires.

SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY STAGE OF WINE MAKING! Bin 97 is a winery equipment supply company located in the south Okanagan.

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 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

We Say Goodbye to Dedicated Industry Veteran Greg Norton It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of long time friend and cherry grower, Greg Norton.

Greg passed away February 25, 2018 while at a wedding in Mexico. We will miss his cheerful smile and positive attitude at future agricultural meetings.

File Photo

His dedicated involvement in this industry was vast; past president of the BC Cherry

Growers Association, his creation of the SIR, Starling Program, EFP member, BCAC, Agricultural Land Commissioner as well as the Sportsman Club, Wildlife Federation, Regional District chairman, National Park Coalition, and Loose Bay Campground.

Our warm thoughts and condolences to Greg’s wife Chris, his children, family and friends.

Here’s to the

GROWER From all of us at FCC, thanks for making Canadian agriculture so amazing.

#HeresToCdnAg

fcc.ca

Spring 2018 11

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Province Reaffirms BC Wine With Funding For BC Wine Month April is now BC’s official Wine Month — a chance to celebrate and support BC's grape growers and winemakers - following a proclamation from the provincial government. the Province has committed $100,000 to the BC Wine Institute to help in the promotion of BC wine to British Columbians.

April’s BC Wine Month campaign will showcase the world-class wines that are produced in BC’s recognized wine regions. British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA) wine will be featured in 119 BC Liquor Stores. There will be sommeliers and chefs teaming up for wine and food-pairing events in all 18 BC VQA wine stores and multi-chef collaborative BC VQA wine-paired dinners.

There will also be a sweepstake competition. The grand prize is an all-inclusive trip for two to the Chef Meets BC Grape

Photo by © Syda Productions | Dreamstime.com

“BC’s vineyard owners and winemakers produce award-winning wines, while providing good jobs and economic benefits to their communities,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “Our government is committed to helping winemakers create and expand markets for their products internationally, and in our home province, which remains, by far, the most important market for BC wines.”

Taste of the Okanagan signature event in the heart of BC’s wine country.

“We are grateful for provincial support to promote the many BC grape growers and wineries, most of which are small, familyowned and operated businesses, here at home,” said Miles Prodan, president and CEO of the BC Wine Institute. “Celebrating all things grown, crushed, raised and produced in BC, we are working with restaurants, retail liquor stores, tourism organizations — including Destination BC

— and wineries themselves throughout the province in a collaboration of efforts to support BC Wine Month.”

BC Wine Month will also tie into Buy BC: EAT DRINK LOCAL, a dine-out campaign run by the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association. This promotion involves BC restaurants and bars highlighting local foods and beverages to customers during May 2018, so British Columbians can experience restaurant takes on BC-grown and produced food and beverages.

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WE’VE NARROWED DOWN THE OPTIONS FOR YOUR NEXT TRACTOR.

Built with the power you expect from Kubota, the new M4 and M5 Narrow tractors are designed for work between vines and powerful enough to be part of the M Series line-up. Their final Tier IV Diesel engines deliver up to 91 PTO HP. Improved hydraulics and a redesigned cab make these tractors the perfect combination of size and strength.

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Spring 2018 13

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Are Your Wine Grapes Short of Breath?

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered how grapes breathe… and the negative impact on wine when they are ‘short of breath’.

"In 2008 we discovered the phenomenon of cell death in grapes, which can be implicated where there are problems with ripening. We've since been trying to establish what causes cell death," says Professor Steve Tyerman, Chair of Viticulture at the University of Adelaide.

"Although there were hints that oxygen was involved, until now we've not known of the role of oxygen and how it enters the berry.”

Tyerman and PhD student Zeyu Xiao discovered that while grapes are ripening they may suffer an internal shortage of oxygen. The research team inserted a tiny oxygen detection probe into Chardonnay and Shiraz wine grapes, and Ruby seedless table grapes.

They found that the level of oxygen correlates very closely to cell death in grapes, which in turn can lessen the quality of the wine made from those grapes.

COOLING EXPERTS

"By manipulating oxygen supply we discovered that small pores on the surface of the berry stem were vital for oxygen supply, and if they were blocked this caused increased cell death within the berry of Chardonnay, essentially suffocating the berry,” said Xiao.

The pair also found that higher temperatures can cause the pores of grapes to be blocked, leading to oxygen deprivation and cell death. The ARC Training Centre for Innovative Wine Production - an offshoot of the University of Adelaide - says the discovery will lead to more research on how to adapt viticulture to a warming climate.

The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Botany on March 6.

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 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Stewart Family Estates Raise Over $5,000 For BCHF business for more than 25 years, we have seen the direct impact that the BC Hospitality Foundation has in our community,” remarks Stewart.

Stewart Family Estates' Proprietor & CEO Tony Stewart is pleased to announce that a joint sales promotion for Quails’ Gate Winery and Lake Sonoma Winery has resulted in a donation of more than $5,000 to the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF).

During the sales promotion that ran through November and December 2017, $1.50 from every case of Quails’ Gate and Lake Sonoma wine sold in British Columbia went directly to the BCHF.

charitable initiatives, which include a scholarship program and providing financial assistance to hospitality professionals facing financial hardship due to critical medical needs.

The funds help support the Foundation’s

“As our family has been in the hospitality

“We sincerely appreciate all the work that the BCHF does and this donation is just a token of our appreciation.”

For more information about Stewart Family Estates, please visit sfewinewine.com.

Visit bchospitalityfoundation.com.

www.OkanaganFarms.com

Just Listed SOUTH EAST KELOWNA Turn-key cherry operation with nearly a century of good will. Dendy Orchards Ltd. is offering their whole operation for purchase, complete with respected Morning Glory brand & profitable Dendy Orchards Ltd. business with loyal clientele. 2 freehold titles totaling over 60 acres with a state of the art packing plant & a variety of leases. Historic barn/fruit stand building with cold storage, campsite w/cookhouse & portable sleeping trailers, 2200+ sf historic home & a small cottage. MLS® $10,400,000

COLDSTREAM 7.5 acres in scenic Lavington.

Flat and useful, great for orchard, privacy or equestrian uses.

Beautiful mountain and pastoral views. Planted this year to brand new high density Ambrosia apple orchard. Enjoy a great community and privacy. MLS® $749,900

PEACHLAND Phenomenal lake views & income from this Peachland acreage!

10 acre parcel, approx 7.5 acres planted to Stacatto cherries.

Great elevation for late cherries.

4 bdr main house/2nd home and studio, detached oversize garage/ workshop. MLS® $1,599,000

RUTLAND Stunning views of lake & city from 8.98 acre apple orchard right in the city! Great proximity to city services, zoned A1 and in the ALR but a very strategic location on the border of medium density residential. Close to recreation, schools, airport & Orchard Park.

MLS® $1,950,000

BELGO 12.12 acre estate. Approx 2.5 acres of modern apple varieties.

Beautiful, meticulously built 2659 sq. ft. rancher (built in 2002) and a separate shop/commercial building with legal suite set well off from the house. Perfect for a home-based business/fruit stand.

Exclusive $2,098,800

LUMBY VALLEY 76 acres in the scenic Lumby Valley minutes from town. Bring your horses and cattle to this mainly fenced ranch. Quaint & simple farm house on well with irrigation from Bessette Creek. 39 acres cleared and roughly 29 in hay plus timber across the creek.

MLS® $949,000

KEREMEOS Modern cherry orchard on premium site with Highway 3A frontage & stellar views. 36 acres of modern cherry varieties, 6-7 acres of modern variety peaches, 2 acres of prunes, 1 acre of apples for diversity. Irrigated by a high production well.

MLS® $3,880,000

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www.GeenByrne.com Spring 2018 15

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Funding Supports New Growers And Sector Competitiveness Apple, cherry and other tree fruit growers throughout the province will be able to update aging equipment and infrastructure while increasing their marketing and research efforts thanks to a new $5-million Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund.

“This fund will help family-run orchards and the sector as a whole with advancements that make B.C. tree fruit more competitive in the marketplace,” said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. “The $5-million investment reflects this government’s commitment to partner with B.C. growers to help modernize their practices, and help them share their great-tasting apples, cherries and other fruits, with more customers here at home and around the world.”

The fund will be open to tree fruit growers, producers, and processors to support three key areas of priority:

• Research: cultivar, disease and pest research.

• Marketing: export market opportunities and market development research.

• Infrastructure: sector-based infrastructure modernization such as new equipment.

Portions of the fund can also be used to address any oversubscription of the B.C. government’s Tree Fruit Replant Program over the next four years. This year, the Province provided an additional $300,000 in funding for the replant program, to meet the demand from tree fruit growers.

The B.C. government will be engaging with the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association and other partners to set up the fund and establish the process for awarding funding. It is anticipated the fund will be active for the next three to four years.

B.C.’s tree fruit industry is composed of approximately 800 growers managing 6,474 hectares (16,000 acres) of tree fruit in crops in the Okanagan, Similkameen and Creston Valleys. Those growers produced nearly 129,000 tonnes of fruit in 2016 worth more than $116 million.

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 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Minister Plans Future of Agriculture with Industry Leaders Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says her ears are wide open when it comes to revamping the agriculture industry in BC. Popham spent two days in meetings with Okanagan tree fruit growers in March, getting their input on changes she’s making to regulations, support programs and marketing programs.

“Agriculture has a way of bringing peo-

ple together and I have been sharing my exciting ideas to Grow BC, Feed BC and Buy BC,” Popham said. “However, when you walk into a room and a local legend like orchardist Fred Steele is there, it is time to listen. I want to thank Fred and all the growers in the Okanagan for their leadership and advice during my visit.”

Among other programs, Popham says there’s more money and support for the

annual replant program, for new equipment and infrastructure, research, and marketing.

The BC government added $300,000 to the replant fund for this year, and created a $5 million Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund that was announced at the BC Fruit Growers’ Association annual general meeting.

After 65 years, our commitment to grape crop protection clearly has good legs.

As the #1 provider of grape crop protection products in Canada, our innovative solutions run as deep as our history in industry – 65 years worldwide. But we probably don’t have to tell you that.

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Spring 2018 17

 SPRING | NEWS & EVENTS

Share Your ALR Ideas

The BC government is seeking ideas and opinions from farmers and the general public on how to revitalize the Agricultural Land Reserve.

B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham, announced the formation of an independent committee to lead a public engagement process and provide recommendations to the provincial government. The Advisory Committee will consider best approaches to revitalizing the ALR and the ALC.

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The government has also released a discussion paper on the topic. The Advisory Committee asks that respondents read the discussion paper the committee has prepared before completing the online survey. Both the discussion paper and the survey can be found at this URL: https:// engage.gov.bc.ca/agriculturallandreserve/ The survey focuses on collecting British Columbians’ opinions and views on these common themes: • A defensible and defended ALR • ALR resilience • Stable governance

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• Unauthorized uses • Non-Farm uses and resource extraction in the ALR The deadline for submission is April 30th at 4 p.m. The Advisory Committee will provide a final report to the Minister in fall 2018.

WE HAVE A HEALTHY ATTACHMENT TO GROWERS.

THE TURBO-MIST SPRAYER SERIES FROM SLIMLINE MANUFACTURING. Our Turbo-Mist Sprayers are engineered to reduce cost, reduce footprint, and increase yield.

Whether you’re a corporate farm or standalone operator we have models to meet your needs.

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Reduce Fuel Costs + Extend Machine Life • Reduce Blow Through + Spray Volume Eliminate Drift + Improve Coverage • No More Renozzling + Recalibrating

Optimize your Investment with Turbo-Mist Crop Technology.

GRAPE TOWER

Designed to ensure exceptional grape quality. Accommodates single drive row or multi row through controlling the direction of sprayer outlets. Optional spray outlet adjustable arms. Combine with Under Vine Blower to spray from above and below for complete coverage.

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To clear debris (like leaves) in weed spray area. Attaches to any 30 Inch Turbo-mist turbine equipped sprayer. It allows the manager to multi task by blowing both sides of the drive row at the same time.

This tool maximizes your sprayer investment.

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Engineered for the Future

Spring 2018 19

Climate Change and Tree Fruit Production Global climate change is becoming, so to speak, an increasingly ‘hot topic’ among fruit growers who must deal with new threats and, in some cases, new opportunities.

In this issue of Orchard & Vine, we are presenting the full report on climate change by the BC Fruit Growers’ Association to the Canadian Senate.

By Pinder Dhaliwal, President, BC Fruit Growers’ Association and Glen Lucas, General Manager Presented to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry Climate Change - What does it mean for the tree fruit sector?

Climate change has been defined as increasing average temperatures. Global warming was and is a topic of hot debate, though science points to long term increases in average global temperature. As air warms, it holds more moisture and more energy. Now, climate change is being defined as ‘increased variability, and increased chance of extreme weather events’.

In tree fruit, the extreme events that can harm tree fruit are, seasonally: • Flooding as the snowpack at higher elevations melt.

• Disease spread due to high humidity from Spring flooding.

• Frequent periods of rain, especially during June-August, when cherries ripen.

• Wind damage to fruit.

• Sunburn on fruit.

• Smaller fruit due to heat stress and drought.

Fortunately, tree fruit does not suffer from forest fires or the smoke from forest fires.

Climate change is leading to weather events that are a) Getting more extreme b) Getting more frequent Where Okanagan Tree Fruit Production is Located, and Its BioGeoclimatic Zone The Okanagan Valley is located in the interior of British Columbia, about 220 kilometres due East of Vancouver. The valley runs North-South, is relatively narrow and 150 km long. Associated with the Okanagan tree fruit growing areas are the Similkameen Valley, Shuswap, and the Creston Valley.

In the Okanagan, the valley bottom is about 1,100 feet in elevation, surrounded by a plateau about 4,000 feet elevation. The mountains located on this plateau have the finest skiing in the 20 Spring 2018

world, and the plateau naturally stores water in the form of snowpack, until it melts in late Spring until June. As the melt occurs, creeks become raging torrents that can flood. The most serious floods in memory occurred in the Spring of 2017.

Another feature of the Okanagan Valley is its low summer rainfall. Average annual precipitation is 387 mm, or 15.2 inches.

The Okanagan is semi-arid.

The Okanagan climate approaches the ideal for tree fruit production. Its winters are cold , but not too cold. Cold winters encourage fruit set, kill some of the overwintering pests, and also assist by thinning fruit as a small percentage of buds suffer winter damage. Rarely, winters will have extreme cold and cause extensive damage to fruit buds, or blossoms may be frozen in the Spring due to a sudden cold snap. Tree damage and tree mortality can occur in very extreme cases, but this appears to be once every 50 to 100 years. Cold snaps can be especially damaging if severe cold occurs before trees are dormant in the late Fall.

Summers in the Okanagan are hot and dry. Fruit trees become stressed at temperatures over 30 degrees celsius, and fruit growth above 35 degrees celsius plant growth is stopped.

Growers observe that there are more extreme hot summers than in the past, and this is impacting the need for irrigation (due to evapotranspiration and cooling needs).

Local Government and Industry - Adapting to Climate Change The regional governments in the Okanagan have been very active in adapting to climate change, through water use planning. The province has improved monitoring of snowpacks and drought. An important element of these new activities is reporting to all of the agencies, including agriculture associations, as shown in the following example.

in BC “Between June and August, Kelowna broke its record for LEAST SUMMER RAINFALL, with only 7.3 mm accumulated. Penticton and Vernon are poised to break their own records for summer dryness.

Kelowna also broke records for HOTTEST July and August.

This follows a record-breaking spring for MOST PRECIPITATION from March to May for Vernon (2nd highest ever recorded), Kelowna (4th highest) and Penticton (ranked number 1 for precipitation), out of 100 years of records.”

Source: Okanagan Drought Bulletin #2, September 1, 2017, Okanagan Basin Water Board Of note, there are several initiatives in the tree fruit sector for adapting to climate extremes, • The tree fruit sector has moved from hand move sprinklers to more efficient microjet and drip irrigation.

• A climate action initiative has - developed an irrigation planning tool.

- adopted a Decision Aid System that uses two-week weather projections to help growers understand pest development and plan treatments ahead of time.

- Mapped future climate, to determine the expansion of tree fruit growing areas in British Columbia.

• The AAFC Summerland Research Station has been a leader in modelling and mapping climate change.

Photo by Pinder Dhaliwal

The government and industry has been innovative, but there are some risks that are increasing, and for which we have not prepared.

High water levels in Okanagan Lake in 2017.

Apple growers south of Oliver suffered significant damage when a 2015 wind storm blew down trees and knocked the fruit to the ground.

Spring 2018 21

Photo by Glen Lucas.

Spring Flooding in Cawston, BC, hit orchards hard on June 1, 2017.

Improving How The Tree Fruit Industry, and Agriculture as a Whole, Adapts to Climate Change There are several notable program lapses that need to be addressed: •P reparing for Multiple Year Drought, through Water Storage and Water Conservation. We recommend that priority be given to increasing water storage - for agriculture and for cities. In particular, we strongly recommend that the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Agency be re-established, as it was unfortunately cut by the previous government at a very critical time of increasing risks in climate change. The PFRA was respected, effective, professional and efficient. It was the Canadian equivalent of the US Army Corp of Engineers and should be re-instituted.

• I ncreasing Water Supply for Agriculture. We recommend that increased water storage be eligible for infrastructure funding on a priority basis. Due to expensive upgrades for water quality in the Okanagan and Creston area, agriculture systems are at risk of being orphaned. We recommend that federal funding provided for the twinning of water supplies (separating agricultural and residential water supplies) should require parallel investment in the agricultural water systems to ensure they remain viable.

•D ealing with Extremes in a Proactive Basis in the Production Insurance Program, for example, extreme wind 22 Spring 2018

damage was new to tree fruit in 2015, and was not a peril covered in the quality portion of the provincial Production Insurance program, but subsequently was added to the list of perils covered - little comfort to those who suffered damage in 2015 and were not covered. We recommend that Climate Change funding be utilized to study future impacts of climate change and adapt Production Insurance to look at perils and provision of coverage before risks impact growers.

•U se Agriflex to enhance other programs, reinforcing protection from climate change. AgriFlex is not working for localized weather disasters, such as extreme hail storms that cause damage beyond what is conceived in Production Insurance. We recommend that AgriFlex be used to enhance Production Insurance for unspecified perils, and for risks not adequately covered in existing crop insurance.

Summary “The weather - everyone talks about it but no-one does anything about it,” to paraphrase Mark Twain. We encourage the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to take the lead in adjusting agricultural programs, re-introducing the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Agency, and seeking new programs and funds for climate change. ■

Global Climate Change Turning Wine World Upside Down

by Gary Symons When the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus coined the phrase “The only thing that is constant is change,” he probably wasn’t thinking about global warming.

But for 21st Century winemakers and grape growers, the words of Heraclitus serve as fair warning: Get ready for change and you can prosper, or ignore climate change and watch your business die on the vine.

At the BC Wine Institute’s ‘Insight Forum’ in Penticton on March 13, researcher Dr. Gregory Jones told a packed house that climate change offers both an opportunity and a threat to wine makers and wine regions throughout the world.

Jones is the Director of the Centre for Wine Education at Oregon’s Linfield College, and a researcher in the field of Environmental Studies.

Jones presented his findings on the impact of climate change on cool climate grapes, making it clear the entire wine industry is in for a seismic shift over the coming decades.

In short, you may welcome a 90 point Pinot Gris from Ireland, but have to say goodbye to a Russian Valley Pinot Noir.

A California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter surveys and drops water on the wine country wildfires in and around Santa Rosa on Oct. 11, 2017.

Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Loeffler

Spring 2018 23

California Air National Guard photos by Master Sgt. David Loeffler

Water drops on the Santa Rosa wine country wildfires on Oct. 12, 2017.

“If you look at climate zones in Europe, you are seeing a shift to higher growing areas to compensate for higher temperatures,” Jones said. “In North America growing zones are pushing to the north, and to the coastal areas in BC and the Western United States, and we’re even seeing more suitable wine growing areas in more northern BC valleys.”

That wave of change is global, Jones says, and will dramatically impact most or all of the world’s wine regions by 2040. How much it changes depends on the rate of global warming, and specifically on warming in any given area.

In one dramatic chart, Jones showed that with an average in-

crease of just 1-degree celsius the wine map in Europe would look much different than it does today. Many areas in France or Germany would become too hot for cool climate varietals, while most of England and parts of southern Ireland would become viable new wine regions.

However, if global temperatures climb by more than 1-degree Celsius on average, the map changes much more dramatically.

Much of Jones’ research was done in the Willamette Valley in Oregon State, and he found that over 15 of the last 20 years the average temperature has been between 2 to 3 degrees hotter than the average established between 1895 and 2017.

Climate Change Influences on Vine Growth, Productivity and Quality

Bud Break

Flowering

Véraison

Harvest

Warmer soil temperatures and spring air temperatures driving earlier growth, but frost still occurs.

Evidence of rainfall and cloud cover shifts in some regions that affect flowering and set.

Overall longer growing seasons and higher heat accumulation, higher temperature variability and heat stress in many regions.

Lower diurnal temperature ranges in many regions, fruit ripens too early, sugar ripe, but not flavor/ aroma ripeness clocks out of sync. Warmer dormant periods reducing chilling and cold hardiness, but winter freezes still occur.

Information from Gregory V. Jones, Director, Center for Wine Education, Professor of Environmental Studies, Linfield College, from the BC Wine Industry Insight forum, March 31, 2018.

24 Spring 2018

Projections of warming in the region could see average temperatures increasing by about 1-degree Celsius by 2040, but the bigger concern is the expected increase of three ‘standard deviations’ in the period between 2040 and 2060.

Cool Climate Zones North America Growing Season Average Temperatures 13 - 15 °C 1950-2000 Average Temperatures

“With 1 degree of warming the climate envelope would shift to the warmer end of the spectrum (for cool climate grapes) and would change our way of producing cool climate wines,” Jones explained. “A change of 2 degrees shifts us to a whole new varietal mix, and an increase of 3 degrees means really big changes, basically (the Willamette Valley) would have a more ‘Bordeaux-like’ climate.

“That is projected to occur in this region between 2040 and 2060.”

Neither Jones nor anyone else has done an in-depth study on the impact of global warming on wine production in Canada, but Jones does say his research gives some indications what could happen in places like British Columbia.

Cool Climate Zones + 1° C

Area Too Warm > 15° C Warmer but still suitable

Today, the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys produce by far the largest number of wine grapes in BC, with a very small minority of wines produced in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Thomson Valley.

New Area 13 - 15° C

In future, the Okanagan Valley might lean far more heavily toward warmer climate wines, even producing wines more typical of those you might see in Napa or Bordeaux. But other regions that are currently considered borderline or even unsuitable for wine production could soon become viable wine production areas, just like England and Ireland in Europe. Staying on top of more precise climate change predictions for various regions will be critical for producers who want to remain prosperous, or even to increase their operations.

Cool Climate Zones Europe Growing Season Average Temperatures

“Cool climate (wine production) zones are expanding with new opportunities,” Jones says. “The wine map is changing all over the world, for many reasons, and continued warming is highly likely, so increasing our adaptive capacity and reducing our vulnerability to climate change will be key to our sustainability.”

13 - 15 °C 1950-2000 Average Temperatures

Jones also points out that global warming remains a double edged sword for the wine industry. While warming may create opportunities for some, it creates a serious threat for others.

Some wine regions could see temperatures rise to the point their industry is no longer viable, so some wine regions will be lost even as others are created.

As well, climate change is not evenly distributed throughout the world. Global warming causes pockets of change, so one area might see increased rain and cloud that makes it unsuitable for wine production, even though the average temperatures might have increased. Other areas, like BC, Portugal, and California have experienced catastrophic wildfires that have greatly affected wine production or wine tourism.

Cool Climate Zones + 1° C

Warmer but still suitable New Area 13 - 15° C Maps from Jones and Schulz 2016

“The research shows that major impact events like forest fires will have increasing importance in the future,” Jones said.

Some wine makers and growers in the audience called on Jones and local scientists for more research on the impact of global warming in British Columbia, and Jones said he is eager to extend his research on the topic into other wine growing regions. ■

Area Too Warm > 15° C

Spring 2018 25

How Wineries Can Win By Working T

Steve and Bridget Griessel, managing owners of Betz Family Winery in Redmond Washington, Cathy Betz and Bob Betz, Founder and Consulting winemaker.

The first thing you have to realize is that you're not actually competing against each other, you're competing against the rest of the world.

Steve Grissel

By Gary Symons Steve Griessel, owner of the Betz Family Winery in Washington State, is a serial entrepreneur who has founded or run multiple businesses over his career, including two public companies.

So he would obviously understand that business is a ruthless, cut throat affair, pitting companies against each other in an all out war for survival … right?

Wrong.

Griessel, an unassuming South African transplant to Washington, believes businesses survive best when they can work together to their mutual benefit. In a presentation to the BC Wine Institute’s Insight Forum, Griessel outlined how cooperation and a ‘neighbourly attitude’ helped Washington State become the second largest wine region in America.

“The first thing you’ve got to realize 26 Spring 2018

is that you’re not actually competing against each other; you’re competing against the rest of the world,” Griessel says.

The point of Griessel’s presentation to more than 100 growers and winemakers was that wineries in smaller wine regions will see better growth by working collaboratively to promote that region, as opposed to competing fiercely with their neighbours.

In that sense, BC winemakers provide a pretty receptive audience to that message. The BC wine industry has done a good job of organizing collective marketing campaigns, and winery owners have been known to help out other wineries when they’ve struggled through a crisis, such as the disastrous Summer of Fire in 2003.

But Griessel says there’s always room for improvement, and shared his region’s ex-

The Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley is the farthest

perience in building out an industry with 930 wineries and 55,000 acres of planted vines.

“It’s a very interesting region,” Griessel says. “We are now the second largest grape growing region in the United States after California … but of course, we are dwarfed by their wine region as they produce more wine than the rest of North America combined.”

Despite the huge disparity in size, Gries-

Photos Contributed

Together

west and highest altitude vineyard.

sel says Washington wineries have prospered and grown by working on joint marketing campaigns that promote the quality of the region’s wines. That awareness has driven an almost unparalleled reputation among wine critics, which has in turn promoted the brand of Washington State wineries as a whole.

Griessel says making great wine is part of the job, but equally important is letting people know you’re making great wine.

That’s something the Washington wineries have excelled at.

Between 2009 and 2016, 46 per cent of the wines produced in Washington earned a score of 90 or higher from Wine Spectator. That contrasts favourably with wines from California at 32 per cent, France at 42 per cent, Italy at 34 per cent, and Oregon at 45 per cent.

Griessel currently serves as vice-chair at the Washington Wine Commission, and

says highly targeted marketing by the entire sector helped establish the high reputation the state’s wineries enjoy.

“Being friends and neighbours and having great camaradarie is very critical to the success in our industry,” Griessel says.

“In terms of marketing, we work together to ‘influence the influencers’, which includes the media, educational entities, core consumers, and what we call Pacific Northwest icons.”

Spring 2018 27

Photos Contributed

A good example of the Wine Commission’s marketing strategy, Griessel says, are the frequent campaigns the wineries will run in select cities. The wineries work together in an organized marketing blitz, creating buzz around their products and educating bloggers, sommeliers and influential consumers (who typically have a large social media following) over a short but intense period.

“We go in with a campaign where we work with the local retailers in that city,” Griessel says. “We have local tasting events, and we’ll often have a big tasting event with the ‘somms’ (sommeliers), and this type of campaign will go on for a couple of months.

“Other times we’ll bring in the top 40 or 50 influencers (usually wine critics and sommeliers) to Washington from around the country.”

While the size of Washington’s production may pale in comparison to California’s, the state’s Wine Commission has 102,000 followers on Facebook; the third highest number for any wine organization in the world, and much higher than the account for Napa Valley.

The Wine Commission itself is a critical aspect of Washington’s success, Griessel says, as it acts as a central organizing body for marketing and research. Membership in the Wine Commission is mandatory in Washington State, and members contribute $12 per ton of grapes and 8 cents per 28 Spring 2018

If you really want to change the world, you have to work together.

Steve Grissel gallon of wine to the Wine Commission, which currently has a $5.5 million annual budget.

Members are represented by a board of 13 directors, all drawn from the industry, with five seats for growers, five for wine producers, one for distributors, one for the Dept. of Agriculture, and one for non-vinifera producers.

In addition to marketing, Griessel says a tight focus on enology research is seen as

key. The Wine Commission and its members recently raised $25 million to establish the Viticulture and Enology program at Washington Statue University as one of the most advanced wine research centres in the world.

Again, Griessel says cooperation, not competition, was key to the project’s success.

“If you really want to change the world, you have to work together,” he said. ■

Photo contributed

Gruner Veltliner Finds New Friends in BC

By Michael Botner Its origins are murky, but the humble Grüner Veltliner grape (GV) is no slouch, as two of the South Okanagan’s premiere wineries – Culmina and Bordertown have ably demonstrated.

The GV grape’s emergence as a darling of top restaurateurs, critics and connoisseurs from around the world came after Austria’s infamous diethylene glycol scandal in the 1980s. A harmless but illegal additive, it was used to bolster body and make sweet wine taste sweeter.

To rebuild its image, Austria introduced tough laws and regulations aimed at cutting yields and ensuring quality. For their part, a new generation of winemakers

focused on re-shaping the style and quality of the country’s wines. In a series of blind taste-offs in the first decade of the 21st century, Austria took on the world’s elite Chardonnays with its mighty GV, often edging out its rivals from Burgundy, California and Australia.

Not bad for Austria’s popular, foodfriendly GV, the ultimate quaffing wine typically served crisp, crackling and slightly spicy, straight out of the barrel, with hearty Austrian food in family-run taverns known as heuriger. Genetic research into the variety’s origins confirms that GV was a natural crossing of Traminer and an obscure, unnamed grapevine traced to a village in eastern Austria.

Spring 2018 29

Culmina Family Estate Enter Don and Elaine Triggs, co-owners of Culmina Family Estate, a cutting edge, mountainside winery with southeast facing vineyards on Golden Mile Bench.

They included GV along with Chardonnay and Riesling as one of three icon quality, cool climate, food friendly white wine grapes suitable for growing on Margaret’s Bench.

At 595 metres, it is the highest and the coolest of Culmina’s three benches, comparable to Dijon in Burgundy being rated at 1280 Degree Days.

On mountain soil composed of a layer of crumbly schist over loamy sand and sandy gravel, the Triggs’ team planted 2.6 acres of GV post-to-post at the top of Margaret’s Bench in 2012-13. Soft, permeable and decomposing, the soil is highly suitable for GV vines sourced from Sunridge Nurseries in California. “The roots grow between the cracks,” Triggs says.

Photo contributed

“We had no growing experience on which to base our decision but we had good evidence that it would survive our winter,” says Donald Triggs. “I knew that Karl Kaiser, the Austrian-born co-founder of Inniskillin, planted the vines in Ontario and made some good examples in the 1980s until the winery removed the vines to build a parking lot. Our consultant, Bordeaux’s Alain Sutre, has referred to GV as a wild card. We thought it would do well in the Okanagan, so we took a chance.”

Don Triggs in front of the concrete egg shape amphora that Culmina uses to amplify the wine’s aromatic presence.

To force roots deeper into sub-soil for water and nutrients, the vines were planted using a high density regime of 2,044 vines per acre, with vines planted every 1.1 metres, in rows 1.8 metres apart.

We had no growing experience on which to base our decision but we had good evidence that it would survive the winter.

“Vertical Shoot Positioning is the trellising system used in part because it leaves a kicker cane just to give a little insurance,” Triggs explains. “But we haven’t seen any evidence of bud damage. Based on the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre’s latest report on bud survivability at under -20C in Oliver for tender varieties, we’re not worried.”

Donald Triggs

In the vineyard, “we are trying to farm organically but we are not quite there yet,” he says. “Use of pesticide and herbicide, including Roundup and Ignite for cover crop weed control, has stopped but we are still using elemental copper and sulphur. Because Margaret’s Bench vine30 Spring 2018

yard is on virgin land, the soil has a lot of oomph and does not require manure or any other fertilizer. At this point our goal is to protect the land and get the best expression of the terroir in our wine.”

“Limiting GV yields to 3 to 3.3 tons per acre is essential for getting the intensity of flavor, we are looking for”, Triggs adds. “But it is challenging because the vines are too vigourous and average alcohols rise quickly ahead of phenolics.

To slow top growth and reduce energy to the vine, we’re doing hedging; trim-

ming the top of the vines. Starting with Malbec, we are looking at palissage as a more permanent alternative to slow the vines’ vigour.”

Trials at Cornell University indicate that the palissage technique – wrapping shoots along the top trellis wire or tucking the shoots down into the interior of the trellis – shows promise for reducing lateral number and length.

A fairly late ripening grape variety, GV has thicker skin, a plus until it is time for

pressing. Extremely hard to press, they are like “little rubber bullets,” Triggs says.

In 2017, the GV harvest took place at four different times starting on October 5. It is quite a chore checking bunches for taste and for the optimum golden hue of berries before hand-picking.

For pressing GV, “the winery has recently replaced its basket press with a tiny bladder press” Triggs says.

Fermentation at 15C to 18C takes place in a trio of vessel types to enhance complexity and character of the wine. While stainless steel develops GV’s crisp, grapefruit character, the concrete egg shape pulls out the middle texture, its body and the concrete amphora tends to amplify the wine’s aromatic presence. Curious about the impact of wild yeast on flavour, “we’ve produced 100 cases of wild ferment GV which has not yet been released,” Triggs says. “We are considering the use of neutral oak for aging GV in the future.”

town opened its doors in 2015 and, by 2016, production surpassed 15,000 cases.

Only one acre of GV was planted on welldrained, gravelly soil on a gently sloping, south east and west facing block behind the winery between Highway 97 and Lake Osoyoos. “I was looking for something different and Frank Whitehead of Okanagan Viticulture Services suggested GV vines sourced from Ontario,” Gill says.

Planted in 3’ x 7’ rows at a density of 2,100 vines per acre on a site with plenty of heat, winter hardy GV is a heavy producer as well. “To maintain yields at 5-6 tons per acre, we limit irrigation and keep bunches to 3 to 4 per branch by doing lots of thinning,” he says. “In 2017, picking started on September 5 when the

brix reached 21 and there were no green bunches.” The two vintages of GV available at the winery show the disparity of the years with 2015 a hotter year than 2016. It is the reverse of the usual trend indicating more heat and earlier harvests over the last 10 years.

Bordertown’s 2015 Grüner Veltliner provides texture and easy drinking with notes of delicate white flowers, subtle citrus/lemon, blanched almond and mineral, clean, crisp, refreshing acidity, and a white pepper finish. Bordertown’s 2016 Grüner Veltliner is more subtle, delicate with a crisp, refreshing palate suggesting hints of tropical fruit, lime and melon along with nuances of flint, almond and white pepper. ■

Culmina’s 2016 Unicas Grüner Veltliner is a white wine that needs to breathe an hour or two to reveal its dual aspects of finesse and intensity. A slightly spicy, buttery texture embraces focused aromas/ flavours of rose petal, crisp grapefruit, lemon, mineral and white pepper. A fantastic food wine, GV has a special affinity for West Coast fusion cuisine. Not sold in wine stores, it is available at the winery, Fellowship wine club members, and at fine restaurants.

Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery

From the start, Gill has been selling grapes to several producers large and small and continues to do so. In 2013, Gill engaged Jason Parkes as winemaker to produce his first vintage of 3,000 cases. Border

Photo contributed

For travellers heading south on Highway 97, Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery’s spacious cellar door located alongside the highway just north of the Highway 3 intersection is the gateway to Osoyoos. Born in India, owner Mohan Gill first came to the Okanagan with his parents in 1993. After attending Oliver Secondary School, he bought his first orchard in 1996. In 2005, Gill planted 2 acres of vines, steadily increasing plantings to 20 acres in 2007. Currently, the total is 38 acres of grapes on two vineyards in Osoyoos, as well as a 30 acre site in Peachland.

Bordertown's Mohan Gill was looking for something different when he planted GV grapes.

Spring 2018 31

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Spring 2018 33

Accounting

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WinePak Direct provides bottles for smaller runs such as reserve wines.

Bulk Wine Brokers

WINE ASPECT B.C. Bulk Wine Brokers Ltd. 4203 Valleyview Road Penticton, BC Phone: 250-462-0620 wineaspect@gmail.com www.WineAspect.com Wine Aspect is the premier Bulk Wine Brokerage company focused only on British Columbia wines.

Our services include: • B.C. bulk wine brokerage, • Classified advertising for the B.C. wine industry, • Professional wine/vineyard evaluation & appraisal services Create your Free Account on our newly upgraded and enhanced website, coming late spring 2018!

Bottles

Cider Making

Juicing Dot Systems Inc.

Richards Packaging is proud to be a Major Supplier to the Canadian Craft Beer and Cider Industry.

Richards Packaging has been associated with container manufacturing and distribution since 1912.

We offer perhaps the widest range of plastic and glass containers originating from Canada, the United States, Europe. We are a major North American source for metal and plastic closures. A leading distributor of various injection molded containers and packaging systems.

Good Things Come in Richard’s Packaging.

Universal Packaging 1810 Kosmina Road Vernon, BC V1T 8T2 Toll free: 1-866-549-1323 Fax: 1-877-260-8777 sales@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com Universal Packaging is one of the leading bottle screen printers in North America, specializing in Applied Ceramic Labels (ACL). Since 1985, the company has been providing onestop packaging solutions to the wine beer and spirits industries. Universal Packaging is the proud distributor of glass bottles from around the world and the Vinoseal closure. The familyowned company operates out of their decorating facility and warehouse in Vernon, British Columbia.

5944 Ranch Road Vernon, BC Phone: 250-558-5488 sales@juicing.systems www.juicing.systems

We sell quality Kreuzmayr fruit processing equipment from the leading European manufacturer.

Available are: > Bin Dumpers > Washers / Elevator / Grinder > Belt Presses > Pasteurizers > Bag-in-Box Fillers > Fruit Dryers > De-stoners > Jam Kettles > Mobile Juicing Trailers > Complete Juicing Lines > Bottle Filling Lines

2018 Buyer's Guide

Richards Packaging #140 - 9200 Van Horne Way Richmond, BC V6X 1W3 Phone: 604-270-0111 Fax: 604-270-8937 cribeiro@richardspackaging.com www.richardspackaging.com

Spring 2018 35

Concrete Resurfacing

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Marvelous Ideas Contracting Ltd.

Amcor Capsules

Unit #6 – 2543 Juliann Road West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2M3 BC Interior: 250-258-8728 Lower Mainland: 250-454-6969 Toll Free: 1-866-227-5165 don@marvelousideas.com www.marvelousideas.com

2018 Buyer's Guide

An innovative, specialty trades wall and flooring system applicator (since 1991) engaged primarily in concrete preparation, restoration, resurfacing and protective finishes. We use only hybrid, proven-performance products (urethanes, epoxies, mortars, lithium sealers and joint sealants), technologies and equipment that can enhance chemical, corrosion, thermal and slip resistance. Many of these products are also LEED certified, VOC Compliant, anti-microbial and CFIA approved.

California 5425 Broadway Street American Canyon CA 94503 Phone: 877-STELVIN (877-783-5846) Quebec 2301 Route 112 St-Cesaire, Quebec, J0L 1T0 Phone: 450-469-0777 info.capsules@amcor.com www.amcor.com/stelvin Amcor is a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of STELVIN® aluminum closures and capsules for the wine, sparkling wine & spirits industry. STELVIN®, the original wine screwcap developed more than 50 years ago, is the market reference. The STELVIN® closure uses specific liners that respect the aging process and deliver uncompromised flavors and aromas.

Cooperage, Tanks & Containers

Corks, Capsules & Closures

cellar•tek west

cellar•tek west

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

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

cellar•tek east

cellar•tek east

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

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

info@cellartek.com www.cellartek.com

info@cellartek.com www.cellartek.com

Cellar-tek is a commercial winery, brewery, cidery and distillery supply company based in Canada and serving all of North America. We offer a full range of quality equipment & supplies ranging from processing to tanks to packaging and all points between.

Because we’re such huge fans of great wines, beers, ciders and spirits, we strive to be the “go to” support system for the commercial producers of these delicious beverages so we can do our part to help them make the best products possible.

Cellar-tek is a commercial winery, brewery, cidery and distillery supply company based in Canada and serving all of North America. We offer a full range of quality equipment & supplies ranging from processing to tanks to packaging and all points between.

Because we’re such huge fans of great wines, beers, ciders and spirits, we strive to be the “go to” support system for the commercial producers of these delicious beverages so we can do our part to help them make the best products possible.

36 Spring 2018

Corks, Capsules & Closures

Universal Packaging 1810 Kosmina Road Vernon, BC V1T 8T2 Toll free: 1-866-549-1323 Fax: 1-877-260-8777 sales@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com Universal Packaging is one of the leading bottle screen printers in North America, specializing in Applied Ceramic Labels (ACL). Since 1985, the company has been providing onestop packaging solutions to the wine beer and spirits industries. Universal Packaging is the proud distributor of glass bottles from around the world and the Vinoseal closure. The familyowned company operates out of their decorating facility and warehouse in Vernon, British Columbia.

Crop Protection

Aurora Helicopters 6200 Tronson Rd, Vernon, BC V1H 1N5 Phone: 236-426-1928 Toll free: 866-743-5588 Fax: 236-426-2289 info@auroraheli.com www.auroraheli.com Aurora Helicopters operates the Airbus H120, the quietest turbine helicopter available for orchard protection services, tourism, and general charter services. The H120 has the longest fuel endurance and fastest cruise speed in its class. In addition, Airbus AS350, Bell 206 and Bell 412 helicopters are available for a dynamic list of charter capabilities.

Aircraft are available for wine tours, orchard surveys & protection, airport transfers, and more.

Crop Protection

1030 Gordon St. Guelph, ON N1G 4X5 Phone: 519-826-7878 Toll free: 866-613-3336 Fax: 519-826-7675 info@engageagro.com www.engageagro.com

Electrical Services

Farm Equipment

Argon Electrical & Solar Services

Eastern Farm Machinery Ltd.

338A Co-op Ave, Oliver BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-4506 sales@argonsolar.ca

Engage Agro develops, registers and markets protection, nutritional and management products for orchard, vineyard, greenhouse and field crops across Canada. Engage Agro works closely with end users and suppliers to evaluate market needs, conduct research, and provide cost effective products that offer superior performance.

Argon Electrical & Solar Services has been providing quality commercial, industrial and residential electrical work in the South Okanagan for 20 years. Servicing many local wineries, farms and businesses. From service calls to renovations, major overhauls and new construction. They handle it all! Argon has been installing Solar PV Systems for the last 5 years and has grown into one of the biggest and busiest installers around. Ask them how solar can help your business save money and attract customers!

Crop Protection

Equipment Attachments

RR3, 10 Nicholas Beaver Rd. Puslinch,ON. N0B 2J0 Phone: 519-763-2400 sales@easternfarmmachinery.com www.easternfarmmachinery.com Welcome to our virtual farm! We have assembled a terrific catalog of over 2,000 products for you to browse, as well as many other things to see and do.

Farm Equipment

TVH Parts Co

Maria Dombrowsky Canada Horticulture Specialist Phone: 226.820.6223 maria.dombrowsky@ca.nufarm.com 1-800-868-5444 Nufarm.ca Growing any crops requires careful planning. Growing high value, labour intensive horticultural crops in Canada requires extra time and attention to maximize growth, yield and quality while minimizing the challenges from insects, diseases and weeds. Put your resources into growing the best quality crop, and depend on our crop protection solutions to do the rest.

TVH is the worldwide leading supplier of quality replacement parts and accessories for the material handling and industrial equipment industries.

Our commitment to service, knowledge and product availability has made TVH a trusted resource for our customers. With 14 distribution centers across the Americas, we are able to reach 90% of the industrial equipment population in 1-day ground service with over 8.3 million parts.

Farmco Sales Ltd. 201 - 150 Campion Street Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7S8 Phone: 250-765-8266 Toll Free: 1-877-461-7933 Fax: 250-765-3179 sales@farmcosales.com www.farmcosales.com The New Holland dealer serving the Okanagan Valley for over 30 years.

Also Dealers for Perfect Van Wamel, Cub Cadet, Woods Equipment and now S.A.E supplying Porter Bin Lifts and Turbmatic Sprayers from Italy.

2018 Buyer's Guide

Nufarm Agriculture Inc.

1039 Cardiff Blvd.

Mississauga, ON L5S1P4 Toll free: 800-509-7668 Fax: 905-564-5717 marketing@tvh.com www.tvh.com

Spring 2018 37

Farm Equipment

Farm Equipment

Farm Management

Provide Agro Corporation 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.

Farm Equipment

4825 Union Rd. Beamsville, ON L0R 1B4 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.

Farm Equipment

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. www.cafanet.com info@cafanet.com Elizabeth Robertson Box 270 Seven Sisters Falls, Manitoba R0E 1Y0 Phone: 1-204-348-3578 Toll free: 1-877-474-2871

Farm Products

South Okanagan Equipment

2018 Buyer's Guide

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

38 Spring 2018

5679 Sawmill Rd Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-498-5145 Fax: 250-498-5135 sokequip@hotmail.com Sales and service of new and quality used farm equipment. Specializing in Edwards Equipment, TurboMist, Rankin/Northstar, Braun, TG Schmeiser, Kult Fingerweeder, S&A spreaders, Rabaud, Aerway, Gearmore Sprayers and Berkelman dump trailers.

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 Pacific Calcium, Inc., makers of Nature’s Intent Calpril® and Nature’s Intent Dolopril®, also offer a full line of soil amendments and fertilizers for organic and conventional use. We have dealers across the west coast, so look for Nature’s Intent and call or check our website for a distributor nearest you.

Fencing

Fertilizer

Fertilizer

Pacific Calcium, Inc.

TerraLink Horticulture Inc. & BioFert Manufacturing Inc.

Fraser Valley Steel & Wire Ltd.

Proud supplier of quality steel and wire products to the orchard and vineyard industry for over 40 years.

Thank You For Your Continued Support. For A Dealer Near You Call 1-877-856-3391

Fertilizer

32117 Highway 97 Tonasket, WA 98855 Phone: 1-509-486-1201 Fax: 1-509-486-1701 info@naturesintent.com www.naturesintent.com Pacific Calcium, Inc., makers of Nature’s Intent Calpril® and Nature’s Intent Dolopril®, also offer a full line of soil amendments and fertilizers for organic and conventional use. We have dealers across the west coast, so look for Nature’s Intent and call or check our website for a distributor nearest you.

Fertilizer

GROSPURT CANADA 3882 Main Street Vancouver, BC, V5V 5C8 Toll free: 1-844-616-1444 info@grospurt.com www.grospurt.com GROSPURT products are Certified Organic, Plant Growth Enhancers.

GROSPURT products are the only GA3 product registered for most crops in Canada.

As the official supplier of the B.C. Cherry Association, GROSPURT GS-4 increases size, firmness and yield of Cherries.

Contact us to see how we can help you maximize your crop quality and yield.

Part of the farming community since 1973, TerraLink began as a fertilizer supplier under the name Coast Agri Crop Supplies. TerraLink Horticulture Inc and our organic subsidiary Biofert, are leading manufacturers and retailers of conventional and organic crop input products in Western Canada. We provide a wide range of fertilizers, seeds, crop protection products, growing media and hard goods. Sound Science, Safe Solutions

Financial

Your business is unique Your financing should be too Grow with a lender who understands Canadian food.

Superior Peat Inc.

fccfinancing.ca | 1-855-230-6821

1700 Carmi Avenue Penticton, BC V2A 8V5 Phone: 250-493-5410 info@superiorpeat.com www.superiorpeat.com OMRI Listed supplier of Organic soil amendments used when planting Orchards, Vineyards and Berry Farms.

We also carry a large selection of bark mulches for ground cover. Visit us online at www.superiorpeat.com for more information.

Grow more with GROSPURT Learn how at Grospurt.com Call 1-844-616-1444

464 Riverside Road Abbotsford, BC Phone: 604-864-9044 Toll Free: 1-800-661-4559 Fax: 604-864-8418 sales@tlhort.com www.tlhort.com / www.biofert.ca

2018 Buyer's Guide

3174 Mt. Lehman Road Abbotsford, BC V4X 2M9 Phone: 604-856-3391 Toll Free: 1-877-856-3391 Fax: 604-856-0603 www.fraservalleysteelandwire.com

Spring 2018 39

Financial

Financial

Funding Programs

TD Canada Trust – Agriculture Services

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC

Jeremy Siddall, District Vice President – Pacific Agriculture Services 1633 Ellis Street, Unit 100 Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A8 Phone: 250-681-4656 Fax: 250-712-5470 Jeremy.Siddall@td.com www.tdcanadatrust.com/agriculture/

PO Box 8248 Victoria, BC V8W 3R9 Phone: 250-356-1662 Fax: 250-953-5162 info@iafbc.ca www.iafbc.ca

RBC ROYAL BANK RBC has 4 agricultural and agri-business Specialists in the Okanagan Tyler Chick South Okanagan/Similkameen 250-490-4404 tyler.chick@rbc.com Jason Michiel Penticton / South Okanagan 250-490-4420 jason.michiel@rbc.com Kevin Sparling Kelowna / North Okanagan 250-868-4196 kevin.sparling@rbc.com Ian Jones Kelowna / Central Okanagan 250-868-4181 ian.jones@rbc.com www.rbcroyalbank.com/agriculture

Financial

Scotiabank Agriculture 488 Bernard Ave Kelowna, BC For 185 years, Scotiabank has been helping farmers and agri-businesses grow and prosper. Our integrated banking solutions can assist in the day-to-day management of your business for now and in the future.

2018 Buyer's Guide

For a complete suite of services, contact one of our specialists or visit scotiabank.com/agriculturalservices Lee Gogal, BBA Director & Group Lead, BC Agriculture Phone: 604.308.1657 lee.gogal@scotiabank.com Meagan Beattie, BASc Senior Client Relationship Manager, Okanagan Phone: 250.212.0555 meagan.beattie@scotiabank.com

40 Spring 2018

Serving the Okanagan, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland 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.

Food Processing Equipment

IAF is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization. Since 1996, we have been making strategic investments in support of innovative projects that benefit BC’s agriculture and agrifood industry. Funding is available through a variety of programs for projects focused on innovation, market expansion, emerging sectors and more. We’re here to help you and your sector become more competitive and sustainable, talk to us about your project idea today!

Insurance

Juicing Dot Systems Inc. 5944 Ranch Road Vernon, BC Phone: 250-558-5488 sales@juicing.systems www.juicing.systems

We sell quality Kreuzmayr fruit processing equipment from the leading European manufacturer.

Available are: > Bin Dumpers > Washers / Elevator / Grinder > Belt Presses > Pasteurizers > Bag-in-Box Fillers > Fruit Dryers > De-stoners > Jam Kettles > Mobile Juicing Trailers > Complete Juicing Lines > Bottle Filling Lines

Robert Fiume Toll free: 1-800-670-1877 Ext 3815 rfiume@capricmw.ca www.capricmw.ca Robert Fiume, is a viticulturist and insurance broker specializing in wineries and the agricultural industry.

He recently opened up his own family winery in the Okanagan Valley, Ciao Bella.

At CapriCMW, we provide personalized insurance and custom risk solutions to give you the confidence and freedom to focus on what matters to you.

CapriCMW is a uniquely independent, employee and locally owned company with strong roots in BC, created through the merger of CMW and Capri Insurance companies. We believe this integration leverages the strength and stability of decades of insurance and risk management experience, with a resulting positive impact on how we serve our clients.

We call this the CapriCMW Difference.

Insurance

Irrigation

Labels

Great Little Box Company The Co-operators Solve Insurance 120-1640 Leckie Road Kelowna, BC V1X 7C6 Phone: 250-861-3777 Toll free: 1-866-582-3777 Fax number: 250-861-3715 solve_ins_kelowna@cooperators.ca www.cooperators.ca/en/solve-insurance We offer all lines of insurance and our specialists can customize your insurance portfolio to meet your specific needs.

We have three convenient locations to help serve you in the Okanagan Valley: two in Kelowna and one in the West Kelowna. We look forward to seeing you in our offices, talking to you on the phone or corresponding through email. If you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss your personal insurance needs or if you would like a quote, please feel free to contact us.

Irrigation

Nulton Irrigation (B.C.) Ltd 5830 Sawmill Road Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Phone: 250-485-0246 Fax: 250-485-0247 german@nultonirr.com www.nultonirr.com Serving the Okanagan for over 44 years. Our staff of IABC certified irrigation designers is continuously searching for the most efficient method of irrigating your crop. No charge for consultation or design.

Irrigation

11300 Twigg Place, Richmond, BC Phone: 604-301-3700 Toll free: 1-800-661-3377 Fax: 604-301-3745 Info@glbc.com • www.glbc.com Other Locations: 3502 Spectrum Court, Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-765-6988 748 Market St. Victoria, BC, Phone: 250-384-3382 100-1500 Industry St. Everett, WA Phone: 425-349-4522 Great Little Box Company is the onestop shop for packaging products and solutions. Products include the design and manufacture of custom and stock, corrugated boxes, point-of-purchase displays, custom folding cartons, rigid boxes, clear PVC boxes, custom labels, specialty packaging and fabrication of foam packaging. GLBC also distributes a complete line of shipping supply products and moving equipment while providing fulfillment services and vendor managed inventory programs to its customers.

Labels & Labelling Equipment

Juicing Dot Systems Inc. Southern Irrigation

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

44160 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 3Z9 Phone: 604-792-0041 Toll free: 1-800-663-2615 Fax: 604-792-9515 sales@southernirrigation.com www.southernirrigation.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.

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 a second location in Lethbridge, Alberta.

5944 Ranch Road Vernon, BC Phone: 250-558-5488 sales@juicing.systems www.juicing.systems

We sell quality Kreuzmayr fruit processing equipment from the leading European manufacturer.

Available are: > Bin Dumpers > Washers / Elevator / Grinder > Belt Presses > Pasteurizers > Bag-in-Box Fillers > Fruit Dryers > De-stoners > Jam Kettles > Mobile Juicing Trailers > Complete Juicing Lines > Bottle Filling Lines

2018 Buyer's Guide

Nelson Irrigation Corporation

Spring 2018 41

Labels & Labelling Equipment

Nurseries

Nursery Supplies

Wonderful Nurseries Universal Packaging 1810 Kosmina Road Vernon, BC V1T 8T2 Toll free: 1-866-549-1323 Fax: 1-877-260-8777 sales@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com Universal Packaging is one of the leading bottle screen printers in North America, specializing in Applied Ceramic Labels (ACL). Since 1985, the company has been providing onestop packaging solutions to the wine beer and spirits industries. Universal Packaging is the proud distributor of glass bottles from around the world and the Vinoseal closure. The familyowned company operates out of their decorating facility and warehouse in Vernon, British Columbia.

Management Consultants

27920 McCombs Ave. Wasco, CA 93280 Phone: 661-758-4777 Fax: 661-758-4999 dustin.hooper@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, and other table and raisin grape varieties, and pistachios.

Nursery Supplies

Mori Vines Inc. R.R.#3, 1912 Concession 4, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 Phone: 905-468-0822 Fax: 905-468-0344 morivines@sympatico.ca www.morivines.com We are a Canadian nursery producing quality certified grape vines for domestic and export markets. Choose from a wide selection of plant clones, ownrooted or grafted, dormant or green. Mori Vines is your best source for quality grape vines. We look forward to assisting you.

Orchard Supplies

Gerard’s Equipment

2018 Buyer's Guide

Pascal Madevon Signature Ltd. 701 Nelson Avenue, Penticton, BC V2A 2L6 Phone: 1-250-488-8497 p.madevon@shaw.ca www.pascalmadevon.ca Pascal Madevon Signature is a vineyard and winery consultancy company based in the Okanagan Valley. Classically trained expert viticulturist and oenologist Pascal Madevon offers professional advice on vineyard management, wine production, and marketing of white, rosé, red and late harvest wines to Canadian wineries of all sizes.

42 Spring 2018

Inland Desert Nursery 32508 W. Kelly Rd Benton City, WA USA 99320 Phone: 509-588-6615 Fax: 509-588-4526 sales@idnursery.com www.idnursery.com Family owned and operated, Inland Desert Nursery supplies the cleanest and healthiest grapevines available to growers across North America.

We also provide an extraordinarily high level of knowledgeable service to customers. Our success depends on helping growers develop the sustainable, high-quality vineyards upon which their success depends.

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.

Orchard Supplies

Organics

Packaging, Containers & Boxes

Great Little Box Company Princeton Wood Preservers www.pwppost.com ABBOTSFORD Fraser Valley Steel & Wire 604-856-3391 greg.wire.fvsw@shaw.ca PARKSVILLE Fenceline Products 250-248-3122 fence@telus.net ONTARIO Ardiel Acres 705-443-7613 greg@ardielacres.ca ALL OTHER AREAS Bill Everitt 877-797-7678 beveritt@xplornet.ca PWP is an industry leader in CCA pressure treated wood post and rail products for farm, orchard, vineyard and berry trellising meeting CSA080 standards. Guaranteed life expectancy of 25 years if not damaged or altered before or after installation.

Organics

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 Pacific Calcium, Inc., makers of Nature’s Intent Calpril® and Nature’s Intent Dolopril®, also offer a full line of soil amendments and fertilizers for organic and conventional use. We have dealers across the west coast, so look for Nature’s Intent and call or check our website for a distributor nearest you.

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 100-1500 Industry St. Everett, WA Phone: 425-349-4522 Great Little Box Company is the onestop shop for packaging products and solutions. Products include the design and manufacture of custom and stock, corrugated boxes, point-of-purchase displays, custom folding cartons, rigid boxes, clear PVC boxes, custom labels, specialty packaging and fabrication of foam packaging. GLBC also distributes a complete line of shipping supply products and moving equipment while providing fulfillment services and vendor managed inventory programs to its customers.

Packaging, Containers & Boxes

GROSPURT CANADA

GROSPURT products are Certified Organic, Plant Growth Enhancers.

GROSPURT products are the only GA3 product registered for most crops in Canada.

As the official supplier of the B.C. Cherry Association, GROSPURT GS-4 increases size, firmness and yield of Cherries.

Contact us to see how we can help you maximize your crop quality and yield.

Grow more with GROSPURT Learn how at Grospurt.com Call 1-844-616-1444

NNZ Inc. Unit 107 - 2076 192 Street, Surrey, BC V3S 3M3 Phone: 778-819-1139 Fax: 778-785-1128 west@nnz.ca www.nnz.ca Packaging solutions since 1922. NNZ Inc. is proud to announce its brand new warehouse in Surrey, BC. This new branch will serve the target markets of British Columbia and Alberta. The focus of the Western Canada branch is in servicing clients active in growing, processing and packing mushrooms, berry-crops, hard and soft fruits, greenhouse vegetables, (grain and seed) pulse crops, potatoes, onions and other land vegetables. NNZ will offer a vast assortment in-warehouse and provide fast delivery times to clients active in these markets.

Universal Packaging 1810 Kosmina Road Vernon, BC V1T 8T2 Toll free: 1-866-549-1323 Fax: 1-877-260-8777 sales@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com Universal Packaging is one of the leading bottle screen printers in North America, specializing in Applied Ceramic Labels (ACL). Since 1985, the company has been providing onestop packaging solutions to the wine beer and spirits industries. Universal Packaging is the proud distributor of glass bottles from around the world and the Vinoseal closure. The familyowned company operates out of their decorating facility and warehouse in Vernon, British Columbia.

2018 Buyer's Guide

3882 Main Street Vancouver, BC, V5V 5C8 Toll free: 1-844-616-1444 info@grospurt.com www.grospurt.com

Spring 2018 43

Packing House Equipment

Fruittek, LLC: Ste 103, 603 Cherry St, Sumas, WA 98295 Fruittek Canada: 33 Mckenzie Rd., Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 7N4 U.S. Phone: 360-201-7162 CAN Phone: 604-855-8062 Toll free: 877-826-3427 Fax: 604-852-5036 info@fruittek.com www.fruittek.com Affordable electronic sorter/sizers for small to medium sized tree fruit packers emphasizing sorting precision, and gentle handling.

• Multiscan cherry pre-sorters, sizer/ sorters and complete lines.

• Van Wamel Perfect apple, stone fruit & round/oblong vegetable sizer/ sorters and complete lines.

• Sorting modules Include colour, dimension, weight and external defects (& softness on cherries).

Pesticides

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage 123 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6S1 Phone: 250.861.3955 Toll Free: 1.888.861.3955 Fax: 250.861.3165 Storage@Secure-Rite.com www.Secure-Rite.com Secure-Rite Mobile Storage provides a range of secure, weatherproof mobile storage units. Our storage, office, accommodation, pesticide or refrigerated containers and accessories are available for purchase, lease or rental at competitive prices, with exceptional service! Our customized Pesticide Storage Units are equipped with extra ventilation, shelving, spill containment options and more!

Real Estate

Geen+Byrne Real Estate Team RE/MAX Kelowna 100 – 1553 Harvey Ave Kelowna, BC V1Y 6G1 Jerry Geen: 250-870-3888 Jerry@GeenByrne.com Elya Byrne: 250-317-1980 Elya@GeenByrne.com www.OkanaganFarms.com Selling property requires knowledge of land use, values, current market conditions, financing and that intangible ability of a good REALTOR® to “connect” with people. With Jerry + Elya’s professional demeanour, sharp analytical skills, industry contacts and extensive experience with farms & acreages, this is the REALTOR® team you need working on your behalf!

Call Jerry + Elya today!

• UL/CSA Compliant.

• Local service and support.

Pesticides

Real Estate

Refrigeration

N.M. Bartlett Inc.

2018 Buyer's Guide

4509 Bartlett Rd. Beamsville, ON L0R1B1 Phone: 905-563-8261 Toll free: 1-800-263-1287 info@bartlett.ca www.bartlett.ca Bartlett’s are a crop protection distributor in Canada specializing in specialty horticulture products.

Family owned and operated now in its fourth generation with over 100 years of experience in the Canadian hort segment.

44 Spring 2018

KOOLJET Refrigeration Inc. BC Farm & Ranch Realty Corp.

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

1444 Bell Mill Side Road, Tillsonburg, ON. N4G 4G9 Phone: 519-688-6803 Toll Free:1-866-748-7786 Fax: 519-688-5962 info@kooljet.com www.kooljet.com KOOLJET, a Canadian company, designs and builds specialized refrigeration systems for cooling fruits, vegetables, and wine storage rooms.The specialized one-piece designs do not require refrigeration technicians to do the installation.

KOOLJET Refrigeration systems are charged with refrigerant and fully tested before shipment. Products include Hydro-Coolers, Wine Tank Chillers, and Room Coolers.

Refrigeration

Rancho Cooling & Warehouse Ltd. 3155 Pleasant Valley Rd. Armstrong, BC V0E 1B2 Phone: 250-938-5062 cooling@ranchovignola.com www.ranchocooling.com Rancho Cooling & Warehouse Ltd. is a frozen, refrigerated and dry storage warehouse facility located in Armstrong, BC. We have cooling/ freezing capability to -29C/-20F. We are fully racked and have six convenient loading/unloading docks and ample space for ease of truck maneuvering. Please contact us to discuss any potential cold or dry storage warehousing needs that you may have.

Soil Amendments

Soil & Soil Testing

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

Spreaders

Whatcom Manufacturing Inc. 405 Birch Bay Lynden Rd. Lynden, WA USA 98264 Phone: 360-354-3094 Fax: 360-354-5434 info@whatcommfg.com www.whatcommfg.com Custom Built Row Mulch Spreaders for Vineyards and Orchards.

Extra narrow models, QuickChange discharges, available in multiple sizes with numerous options and features built to accommodate all applications.

For use with compost, sawdust, shavings,manure or wood chips.

Soil & Soil Testing

Storage

Superior Peat Inc.

Rancho Cooling & Warehouse Ltd.

1700 Carmi Avenue Penticton, BC V2A 8V5 Phone: 250-493-5410 info@superiorpeat.com www.superiorpeat.com

3155 Pleasant Valley Rd. Armstrong, BC V0E 1B2 Phone: 250-938-5062 cooling@ranchovignola.com www.ranchocooling.com

460 Kent Ave S, Vancouver, BC Phone: 1-250-809-8646 compost@wearerevolution.ca www.aforceofnature.ca Revolution produces Class A Compost, an allowable input in organic farming, made with commercial food waste from Vancouver’s Organic waste stream. We produce the most contaminant free, nutrient rich compost available on a commercial scale in BC - Replacing chemical fertilizers and dramatically increasing water retention and crop yields.

Give us a call today and “Join the Revolution!”

OMRI Listed supplier of Organic soil amendments used when planting Orchards, Vineyards and Berry Farms.

We also carry a large selection of bark mulches for ground cover. Visit us online at www.superiorpeat.com for more information.

Rancho Cooling & Warehouse Ltd. is a frozen, refrigerated and dry storage warehouse facility located in Armstrong, BC. We have cooling/ freezing capability to -29C/-20F. We are fully racked and have six convenient loading/unloading docks and ample space for ease of truck maneuvering. Please contact us to discuss any potential cold or dry storage warehousing needs that you may have.

2018 Buyer's Guide

Revolution Compost

Spring 2018 45

Storage

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage 123 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6S1 Phone: 250.861.3955 Toll Free: 1.888.861.3955 Fax: 250.861.3165 Storage@Secure-Rite.com www.Secure-Rite.com Secure-Rite Mobile Storage provides a range of secure, weatherproof mobile storage units. Our storage, office, accommodation, pesticide or refrigerated containers and accessories are available for purchase, lease or rental at competitive prices, with exceptional service! Our customized Pesticide Storage Units are equipped with extra ventilation, shelving, spill containment options and more!

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Avenue Machinery Corp.

1521 Sumas Way Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Phone: 604-864-2665 Fax: 604-864-9568 Toll Free: 1-888-283-3276 Kelowna Phone: 250-769-8700 Fax: 250-769-8755 Vernon Phone: 250-545-3355 Fax: 250-545-4255 Rock Creek Phone: 250-446-2311 Toll Free: 1-888-283-3276 reception@avenuemachinery.ca www.avenuemachinery.ca Agricultural and light construction supply and service equipment.

Featuring Kubota, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Landpride, Florida, Rankin, Maschio.

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

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

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Noble Tractor And Equipment Ltd. Distribution Importation Jean Gagnon Inc Antonio Carraro

2018 Buyer's Guide

179 St Laurent West Maskinonge, PQ Phone: 819-626-0166 Fax: 819-626-0146 info@antoniocarraro.ca www.antoniocarraro.ca Antonio Carraro is a Specialty tractors for Orchard, vineyard application from 31 to 100 Hp. 4x4, articulated frame or steering direction drive, with or less cabine.

Also the RGS system option (Reversible Guide System), With gear or Hydrostatic transmission.

46 Spring 2018

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.

4193 Noble Road Armstrong, BC V0E 1B4 Phone: 250-546-3141 Toll Free: 1-800-661-3141 nobletractor@telus.net www.nobletractor.com Your dealer for Mahindra Tractors, Turbomist Sprayers, Landini Orchard & Vineyard Tractors, and Case IH Tractors & Farm Equipment. We can help with equipment solutions, parts, & service for your business.

Trailers

PrairieCoast Equipment

Cummings Trailer Sales & Rentals

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

29571 Fraser Hwy Abbotsford, BC V4X 1H2 Phone: 604-856-1988 Toll Free: 877-856-1988 Fax: 604-856-4535 cummingstrailers@gmail.com www.cummings.ca Offering a great variety of utility, dump, flatdeck, cargo, horse and stock trailers.

Your local John Deere dealer selling specialty sprayers, tractors, and mowers for Orchard, Berry, and Vineyard growers across BC!

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Slimline Manufacturing 559 Okanagan Avenue East Penticton, BC V2A 3K4 Phone: 250-493-6145 Toll Free: 1-800-495-6145 Fax: 250-492-7756 agsales@slimlinemfg.com www.slimlinemfg.com Increase yield. Reduce Footprint.

Decrease Fuel Costs. For fruit orchards, vineyards, cherries, blueberries and hops. The control, precision, durability and savings of Turbo-Mist is unmatched. We supply Organic kits for 100% organic growers and custom attachments for all crop configurations. Learn about our patented Gear Up, Throttle Down eco-program. Turbo-Mist Sprayer series from Slimline Manufacturing: Engineered for the Future.

Vineyard Equipment

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.

Vineyard Equipment

Viticulture

ATAGO U.S.A., Inc.

Providing Canadian Grapevine Solutions

11811 NE First Street, Ste 101 Bellevue, WA, USA 98005 Phone: 1-425-637-2107 Toll free: 1-877-282-4687 (877-ATAGOUS) Fax: 1-425-637-2110 customerservice@atago-usa.com www.atago.net/USA/ “You ask, we create.” With 77 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.atago-usa.com.

ONTARIO Wes Wiens/Tina Tourigny Phone: 905-984-4324 sales@vinetech.ca BRITISH COLUMBIA Nathan Phillips Phone: 250-809-6040 bcsales@vinetech.ca QUEBEC Alexandre Jacquel Phone: 905-984-4324 qcsales@vinetech.ca NOVA SCOTIA Ian Kaye Phone: 902-740-2493 nssales@vinetech.ca Producers of Canadian grafted and own rooted Grapevines. Importers of Grapevines from Europe and the United States for sale across Canada.

We also offer custom grafting, potted grapevines, trellising material and planting.

2018 Buyer's Guide

Tractors, Sprayers & Machinery

Spring 2018 47

Warehousing & Distribution

Winery Equipment

Commercial Logistics Inc. 333 Penno Road Kelowna, BC V1X 7W5 Phone: 250-491-9316 Fax: 250-491-9317 cli_kelowna@containerworld.com www.commercial-logistics.com Our 93,000 square foot Kelowna facility offers a state-of-the-Art temperature controlled environment for maximum safety & security for your wine products. We now offer complete scheduled delivery services throughout the Okanagan Valley and beyond. Competitive pricing, industry and product knowledge and a new level of technology support our customers to handle of their logistics needs.

Winery Consultants

Winery Equipment

cellar•tek west 9001 Hwy 97, Oliver, BC V0H 1T2 Phone: 1-778-739-0109 info@bin97.com www.bin97.com Solutions for every stage of wine making. Bin 97 is a winery equipment supply company located in the south Okanagan.

Dealer for: Bucher Vaslin, Sutter, InnovaWeld, Speidel Tanks, Moog Barrel Washing, Costral Bottling, Cazaux Pumps, Quantor-Kreyer, Lamothe-Abiet and other cellar supplies.

Winery Equipment

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 is a commercial winery, brewery, cidery and distillery supply company based in Canada and serving all of North America. We offer a full range of quality equipment & supplies ranging from processing to tanks to packaging and all points between.

Because we’re such huge fans of great wines, beers, ciders and spirits, we strive to be the “go to” support system for the commercial producers of these delicious beverages so we can do our part to help them make the best products possible.

Winery Equipment

ECOVIN CONSULTING

Prospero Equipment www.prosperoequipment.com

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

• Site evaluation, equipment selection.

2018 Buyer's Guide

• Natural & conventional grape & fruit wine production.

• Organic/Sustainable & conventional vineyard establishment & management.

• Twenty years experience.

• Serving the Coast & Okanagan regions

48 Spring 2018

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 Ingredients, supplies, labware and equipment for the winemaker, brewer and professional distiller. For convenience, use our online catalog and have us ship your order. For a great experience come in person and see our vast showroom/warehouse and pick up your items immediately.

We serve fruit processors, vinegar makers, amateurs/hobbyist’s and professionals alike. Our product selection can’t be beat.

CANADA - MONTREAL 438 Isabey Suite 270 Montreal, Quebec H4T 1V3 Phone: 514-667-0557 Fax: 514-336-7117 canada@prosperocorp.biz CANADA - BRITISH COLUMBIA Authorized Agent Stefan Buhl Phone: 250-317-4378 bc@prosperocorp.biz Prospero Equipment is a full equipment supplier of wine, beer, and cider equipment in the United States and Canada. With parts offices located on both east and west coast we have the technical support and parts to provide quick onsite support and phone support.

Winery Equipment

Winery Packaging

Winery Supplies

Technologie Inovaweld Inc.

A.O. WILSON LTD.

A.O. WILSON LTD.

139 Rue du Parc de Innovation La Pocatiere, QC G0R 1Z0

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

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

Michel Levesque Phone: 418-860-7987 m.levesque@inovaweld.com www.inovawine.com

Eastern Canada Phone:1-855-857-1511 Fax:1-519-833-2502 customerservice@aowilson.ca

Eastern Canada Phone:1-855-857-1511 Fax:1-519-833-2502 customerservice@aowilson.ca

Technologie Inovaweld is a Canadian manufacturer of stainless steel drums & barrels for the wine and cider industry.

Western Canada Phone/Fax:1-250-764-2645 Mobile:1-250-868-7650 hsoliver@shaw.ca

Western Canada Phone/Fax:1-250-764-2645 Mobile:1-250-868-7650 hsoliver@shaw.ca

All of our containers are seamless and laser welded with stainless steel made in United States.

Sizes : 100, 125, 208, 227, 300 litres

Winery Equipment

Premium supplier to the beverage industry for over 70 years. Technical sales and advise for all your processing and packaging needs.

Heritage, knowledge and passion go hand in hand when dealing with our company. Check out our website for all our products and services. Send a request to receive our newsletter to customerservice@aowilson.ca

Winery Services

Premium supplier to the beverage industry for over 70 years. Technical sales and advise for all your processing and packaging needs.

Heritage, knowledge and passion go hand in hand when dealing with our company. Check out our website for all our products and services. Send a request to receive our newsletter to customerservice@aowilson.ca

Winery Supplies

Winemaking Wonders!

We build and sell Estate-scale solutions for: • Precision Alcohol Adjustment • Proven Volatile Acidity and Ethyl Acetate Removal • Targeted Taint and Smoke Removal • Colorfull Color and Flavor Optimization We also offer: • Lab Scale Targeted Filtration Test Track • Membrane & Filter Sales & Service • Waste Water Filtration Systems • GE Water Product Distributor • Want to become a Zero Waste Water Winery? Ask us how!

Kelowna Labs Unit #5, 325 Bay Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7S3 Phone: 778 484 0900 info@kelownalabs.com www.kelownalabs.com Kelowna Labs is a complete analytical beverage testing lab offering comprehensive testing of Beer/ Wort, Wine, Cider, Kombucha/Kefir and Distilled Spirits to ensure your products are on track to be the best they can be. Kelowna Labs is staffed by knowledgeable scientists from the brewing, wine making and the distilling industry to provide a wealth of services to all beverages.

We specialize in VQA, export and Microbiological testing.

Winesecrets helps Winemakers make better wines & build better Wineries

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 Ingredients, supplies, labware and equipment for the winemaker, brewer and professional distiller. For convenience, use our online catalog and have us ship your order. For a great experience come in person and see our vast showroom/warehouse and pick up your items immediately.

We serve fruit processors, vinegar makers, amateurs/hobbyist’s and professionals alike. Our product selection can’t be beat.

2018 Buyer's Guide

Toll Free: 1-888-656-5553 www.winesecrets.com

Spring 2018 49

Winery Supplies

Winery Supplies

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 is a commercial winery, brewery, cidery and distillery supply company based in Canada and serving all of North America. We offer a full range of quality equipment & supplies ranging from processing to tanks to packaging and all points between.

Because we’re such huge fans of great wines, beers, ciders and spirits, we strive to be the “go to” support system for the commercial producers of these delicious beverages so we can do our part to help them make the best products possible.

Winery Supplies

Winery Supplies

Nuance Winery Supplies Inc.

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

Winery Supplies

15 Lloyd Street St. Catharines, ON L2S 2N7 Phone: 905-225-0114 contact@nuancetrade.com www.nuancetrade.com Established at the crossroad of the three largest wine volume producing countries in the world, Nuance is at the forefront of the industry’s latest developments. Rigorously trained by our suppliers in the state-of-theart, and paying close attention to our customers’ input and feedback, we propose a comprehensive set of technical solutions, from grape receiving, through wine preparation for bottling.

Winery Supplies

IDL Process Solutions Inc. Gusmer Enterprises

2018 Buyer's Guide

81 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: 559-485-2692 Toll Free: 866-213-1131 sales@gusmerenterprises.com www.gusmerenterprises.com For over 90 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.

50 Spring 2018

1164 Lee Street White Rock, BC V4B 4P4 Phone: (604) 538-2713 Fax: (604) 538-4517 Warehouse: 604-214-6437 info@idlconsulting.com www.idlconsulting.com/ Originally founded as IDL Consulting and later Incorporated. IDL has over 28 years of experience in wine making and fruit processing in Europe and America. IDL Consulting provides customers with innovative processing and treatment solutions to achieve quality products and to manage resulting waste streams. They also provide solutions for liquid-solids and liquid-liquid separation. Supplier of Yeasts, Fining Agents, Enzymes filtration materials for the wine, juice, beer and distilling industry.

Winemaking Wonders!

Toll Free: 1-888-656-5553 www.winesecrets.com We build and sell Estate-scale solutions for: • Precision Alcohol Adjustment • Proven Volatile Acidity and Ethyl Acetate Removal • Targeted Taint and Smoke Removal • Colorfull Color and Flavor Optimization We also offer: • Lab Scale Targeted Filtration Test Track • Membrane & Filter Sales & Service • Waste Water Filtration Systems • GE Water Product Distributor • Want to become a Zero Waste Water Winery? Ask us how!

Winesecrets helps Winemakers make better wines & build better Wineries

IF YOU WANT THE BEST, BUY FROM THE BEST.

Every day, Wonderful Nurseries follows the philosophy that testing is believing. It’s why we confidently offer the cleanest vines in the industry. In line with our “Growers First” philosophy, we have designed every element of our advanced processes & facilities to bring our grower partners peace of mind. This includes our intensive vine testing program, with 100% scion testing for internal mother blocks annually. Our in-house ISO Certified testing lab and built-in safeguards help accomplish this task. When it comes to getting the best in value, selection and cleanliness, Wonderful Nurseries delivers every time, vine after vine.

RELY ON THE INDUSTRY’S CLEANEST VINES – 100% TESTED MOTHER BLOCKS

SERVING THE WINE, TABLE GRAPE, RAISIN AND PISTACHIO INDUSTRIES WonderfulNurseries.com

661.758.4777

P.O. Box 279, 27920 McCombs Ave., Wasco, California 93280

© 2017 Wonderful Nurseries LLC. All rights reserved. WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL NURSERIES and the accompanying logos are trademarks of Wonderful Nurseries LLC or its affiliates.

Spring 2018 51

Our unique service specializes in providing access to conventional branded parts as well as Slimline’s OEM parts through leveraging its purchasing power and manufacturing capabilities. We offer expertise and knowledge to help you select the right parts in a timely manner.

INDUSTRIAL

HOSE SERVICE CENTER

POWER TRANSMISSION PRODUCTS

AGRICULTURE

THE RIGHT PARTS, RIGHT ON TIME. We specialize in conventional branded parts, as well as OEM parts.

Let our international purchasing power, expert knowledge, and our network help you find the right parts, at the right price, in a timely manner.

We offer an extensive selection of industrial and agricultural parts locally in British Columbia and via our dedicated dealer network across North America.

Our approach is quite simple: If you can’t find it, we can.

Let us help you get up and running today.

EXTENSIVE + DIVERSE PRODUCT LINE, EXPERT KNOWLEDGE, TOP-NOTCH SERVICE

Engineered for the Future 250-493-6145

parts@slimlinemfg.com

559 Okanagan Ave E Penticton, BC V2A 3K4

** Delivery guarantee is 2 standard business days for delivery services within North America, provided by FEDEX and UPS. The cost of 52 will Spring 2018 shipping depend on your location, the carrier chosen, and the size and weight of the product purchased.

www.slimlinemfg.com

Transitioning the Farm – Are You Ready? - Part 2

By Tracy Frederickson

I

n our first article on this topic, we looked at how to get started on succession planning including assembling the necessary information, tax implications and setting goals. In this article, we look at family dynamics related to succession planning and how to have productive discussions that result in a satisfying outcome for all involved.

Not all farm families approach succession planning with ease, however. Sometimes it takes a bit of persistence to convince the owners of the need to plan, says McIntyre. The process may be initiated when a farmer wants to expand or buy more land and needs a tangible plan to show how it will operate. In extreme situations, a critical event such as an accident or health issue which suddenly prevents a farmer from farming will trigger the succession planning process. As well, beliefs and misconceptions about succession planning can delay the process, including: • “A written succession plan isn’t necessary. I know what I want to do, it’s all in my head.”

Photo by © Syda Productions | Dreamstime.com

Geoff McIntyre is a Kelowna-based Business Advisor with MNP in Kelowna who specializes in the Agriculture, Food and Beverage industries. “Fortunately there seems to be greater awareness these days of the need for succession planning and a willingness to talk about transitioning the farm,” McIntyre says. “Most farms are family run and family members are bound by a love of the land. They work closely together and tend to have more conversations about the farm’s future than employees in other types of businesses.”

• The belief that succession planning is about having a will and tax planning.

Goal setting and family dynamics are not considered.

• Denial. “I’m just not there yet.”

When and how the transition is addressed is unique to every farm but there are three basic ways of exiting the business, points out McIntyre: “You may sell the farm to someone you don’t know/are not related to, close your doors and liquidate your assets, or transition the farm to

family members. Once the owners have identified what they would like their farm to look like in the future, focussed discussions need to take place with family members and others who may be involved.

“Start having stakeholder meetings to determine specific interests, who will do what and other details,” says McIntyre.

Stakeholders can be non-family employees who may potentially buy into the business as well as family members. An

Wineries, Distilleries and Cideries Ingredients, Supplies and Equipment Visit our fully stocked 10,000 sq.ft.warehouse or shop online

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

Spring 2018 53

Your exit plan should be something you do on your own terms and in your own time frame rather than being forced into the process due to an unexpected event.

Geoff McIntyre The Best Way to Predict the Future – Is to Create it.

Achieving success in business is hard work. After all the sacrifice, risk and commitment what’s next? How do you design the future your way? A well-structured plan can result in significant tax savings and increase the value of your operation. Our TransitionSMARTTM program will help you develop and complete a plan that gives you peace of mind and allows you to successfully transition on your own terms.

After all, dreams don’t retire - they grow.

Contact Geoff McIntyre, Regional Leader, ThompsonOkanagan, Food and Beverage Processing, at 250.979.2574 or geoff.mcintyre@mnp.ca

Premium Grapevines

increasingly important factor for farms and other family-run businesses is the implication of blended families. “Mom and dad need to consider whether the kids, grandchildren and/or step-children they have in mind to run the farm possess the drive, skills and business knowledge to do it. Perhaps some employees outside the family want to buy into the business and are better suited to operating the farm.”

Professional advisors can support the planning process by facilitating discussions from a non-emotional perspective, and providing expertise on taxation issues and corporate structure.

“Much of the work succession planning specialists do focuses on land values and keeping the land in the family,” McIntyre says. “Considerable tax savings can be realized by protecting the farm status of the business – for example, when a farmer moves from traditional agriculture to operating a winery, or making other value-added products that are not considered farming within the local regulatory framework.

“Your exit plan should be something you do on your own terms and in your own timeframe rather than being forced into the process due to an unexpected event,” McIntyre adds. Planning the transition can enable you to protect what you’ve built from bad business decisions when you are no longer involved day to day, and help you be financially secure and happy in your retirement.” ■

Call Now to Book Wine Grapes for Spring 2019 AREAS OF PRACTICE • Contracts • Business • Trade-marks • Real Estate • Wills & Estate Planning

CALISSI FARMS Inc. 250 317 2164 james_calissi@telus.net • www.calissifarms.com 3810 East Kelowna Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 4H2 54 Spring 2018

Denese Espeut-Post, Lawyer 107, 13615 Victoria Road North • P.O.Box 576 Summerland BC, V0H 1Z0 • 1.778.516.2675 www.AveryLawOffice.ca

How to Prevent Herbicide Resistant Weeds

By Tom Walker When it comes to using herbicides for weed control in orchards, sometimes the good old standby is not the best bet, according to Ken Sapsford, Pesticide Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Herbicide resistance is a real possibility for BC fruit growers,” says Sapsford, who owns a 2.5 acre vineyard in Kaleden.

“Resistance occurs when a weed survives a normally lethal dose.” That’s different from tolerance, which describes a weed that has always been able to survive an herbicide. Worldwide there are 36 weeds that have developed resistance to glyphosate for example, Sapsford says.

Sapsford explained that while there are 27 different modes of action registered worldwide (ways that an herbicide controls susceptible plants), only 13 of those are approved for tree fruits in Canada, and they’ve been around for a while.

“1983 was the last year a new mode of action was identified,” he says. “If you are thinking there is something new coming down the pipeline to help us with resistance, it’s not happening.

“We need to make sure that the products we have are going to work for us into the future, because if resistance develops, we’ve got nothing.”

Sapsford reviewed basic good practices for herbicide use. Make sure you read the label to get the best affect for the product, he advises. “Many of the soil resid-

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ual products need water to move them into the soil, so irrigate or wait for a rain event,” Sapsford says. “A lot need direct contact with the soil, so clear away leaves or pruning litter from the ground, before you apply.”

“When you are applying soil residual products, too high a rate can damage some crops, as soil residuals are there for a longer term.” says Sapsford. “The old saying, ‘if a little is good more is better’, does not apply.”

With foliar applications, watch out for wet leaves. “With a heavy dew, you’ve just increased your water volume rate thousands of times,” says Sapsford. “The product will actually wash off the leaves.”

Monitor the results after application.

Check back a couple of times says Sapsford and look for plants that were supposed to die and did not. “If certain plants did not die, they may be developing a resistance and need to be hand controlled,” he says. “Don’t let the seeds of those plants escape, as the seeds will grow resistant plants as well.”

Be sure the weeds are actively growing.

“A plant that is dormant or under stress wont take in the product that is meant to kill it,” he says.

Target annual plants when they are small.

“A lot of products that we are introducing into orchards are designed to work on weeds in the two to four leaf stages,” Sapsford explains. “Those products do not control a large plant.”

Sprayer calibration is also important.

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Look for IPM alternatives and consider cover crops, says Sapsford. “We know that competing crops help to control weeds,” he says. “Resistance to glyphosate has developed when it was the only product used to control weeds on bare ground.”

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Plants will adapt and find a way to survive under any amount of pressure, Sapsford points out. “We have found that Canada Fleabane has developed resistance to glyphosate in Ontario and Kochia shows resistance to it in Western Canada.” Kochia is here in the Okanagan Valley Sapsford adds. “I’ve seen it in my own vineyard.”

If you use only one product, after a certain length of time a weed species will develop resistance. A way to extend that time is to use two different products with different modes of action in alternating years. Rotating herbicides is an effective way to counter resistance, but you can extend the time before resistance develops even longer, by tank mixing herbicides. Tank mixing two products with different modes of action on the same weed will effectively double the time it takes for a plant to develop resistance,” Sapsford explains.

Sapsford reviewed products from the list of BC approved modes, and described how they would complement glyphosate in a tank mix application. He says it is important to pay attention to what weeds are on your property. “Glyphosate does such a good job of controlling most weeds, that we started to ignore what was in our orchard,” says Sapsford. “Pick a product to tank mix that will target the weeds that you have.”

If you were seeking to control broadleaf weeds and crab grass, “Authority” from Group 14 would be a good tank mix.

Sapsford says. If Redroot Pigweed and Nightshade are a problem, “Dual Magnum” from Group 16 might be a good choice.

“It is not recommended to tank mix “Ignite” from Group 10, or “Gramoxone” from Group 22 with glyphosate,” Sapsford cautions. Gramoxone is no longer available to purchase and product in the current formulation must be applied by Dec 31 2018, he adds. A new formulation may be available in 2019.

“Helping to delay weeds from developing resistance to the herbicides requires a four pronged approach,” says Sapsford.

“Use good integrated pest management, tank-mix herbicides with multiple modes of action, use the proper rate and monitor your orchard after application. ■

Strategies to 'Fight the Mite' on Your Farm

By Ronda Payne

Photo by © Catherine Eckert | Dreamstime.com

Mites have a love for all kinds of berries and some of these pests are finding their way to new territories in terms of berry plants. Identification is the first step, then knowing how to best deal with the pests follows, says entomologist Tracey Hueppelsheuser with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Damage caused by mites is quite broadreaching,” says Hueppelsheuser.

There is a range of mite families and the pests within these groups will cause damage by feeding and pushing toxins into plants. Mites are actually arthropods with four or eight legs (sometimes having two or six legs at different life stages), and aren’t insects as commonly believed.

Two-spotted Spider Mite The two-spotted spider mite is perhaps the most commonly known and comes from the tetranychidea family.

“It’s actually the poster-child mite we think of,” Hueppelsheuser says.

These mites use their webbing as highways to move their large colonies. While destructive during spring and summer, the adults turn orange pre-winter and don’t do any damage in the late fall.

Their preference seems to be cane berries, but the pest is exploring new worlds in BC “We don’t really see spider mites in blueberries, but we found they can live in blueberries,” she notes. “It doesn’t seem to be on the increase, but keep an eye out for it.”

The flare-ups in blueberries seem to be minimal and she says the same controls used for spider mites in other berry crops will work for blueberries. In order to determine if control is necessary in cane berries, Hueppelsheuser advises collecting ten leaflets per growing location in June (pre-harvest) and examine them. If spider mites are approaching 10 or more per leaflet (and there are few or no predators – ie, less than one predator to 10 mites) or there are numerous eggs, spraying may be necessary. However, she advises to do the check more than once per site in order to establish trends and see if mite populations are growing and if action is required pre-harvest.

Other Mites Yellow mites are relatively new to BC

and differ from spider mites in that they are more yellow/green, come out earlier in the season and tend to focus on cane berry plants.

The European red mite is more common in drier zones, but has been seen in the Lower Mainland. This mite is redder than the spider mite, but its eggs over-winter.

The McDaniel spider mite is very similar to the two-spotted spider mite so for proper identification, Hueppelsheuser points to guidelines from WSU as well as the berry production guide.

Cyclamen mites in strawberries can be a costly pest for growers.

“It does cause growth deformation,” she says, adding that it will stunt growth points of the plant. “If you see anything that looks like sand it could be mites.”

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Red berry mites are also aggressive and make use of Himalayan blackberries as refuge areas while hosts are wild and cultivated blackberries. Canes infested with red berry mite will have berries that don’t ripen. Instead, berries will stay green, red or two-toned and crops can be lost within three years of the first detection of the pest.

“What you see is non-ripening fruit,” she says. “They overwinter under bud scales, come out to flowers and ultimately to the fruit. There is nothing you can do this year [if you find it].”

She advises to use lime Sulphur or sprayable Sulphur early the following spring.

The currant big bud mite only seems to damage black currants and again Sulphur, combined with pruning, is the best control.

“The buds basically become mite hotels,” she explains, so to get rid of the mites, you have to demolish their ‘hotels’.

Along with cyclamen mites, broad mites are part of the tarsonemidae family. Broad mites enjoy blackberries but are not common in BC, but the Ministry is advising growers to watch for them. They tunnel into the plant similar to the cyclamen mite’s behaviour in strawberries. “It likes warm and moist,” says Hueppelsheuser.

Finally, the blueberry bud mite is also not seen in BC at this time, but is in Eastern Canada and the Southeastern U.S. It behaves in blueberries similarly to how the currant big bud mite behaves in currants.

Plan of Attack With the ability to identify mites comes the next step – the approach to knocking them down.

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The stethorus punctillum is described as a spider mite destroyer.

“We are fortunate in BC to have lots of beneficials,” Hueppelsheuser says of insect helpers.

A tiny ladybug known as the stethorus punctillum is what she describes as a spider mite destroyer. It starts working early and continues to prey on mites throughout the season.

Another naturally occurring beneficial is the pirate bug. “They will eat pretty much what they can catch on your plant,” she notes.

While both insects are native, they can also be purchased to supplement existing populations.

The neoseiulus (amblysieus) fallacis will also eat all species of pest mites.

For chemical approaches, Hueppelsheuser says the majority are for spider mites, but there are options for other mites as well.

In cranberries, Acramite and Kanemite are labeled for spider mites as is Agri-Mek which will also control broad mites. In blueberries, Envidor is labeled for bud mite and also controls spider mites. Strawberries have Nealta and Oberon for spider mites as well as Agri-Mek which is also labeled for cyclamen mite. In currants, oils, Sulphur and lime Sulphur are labeled for big bud mite.

Those growers in a fight against mites will do best to first identify the pest they are dealing with, then determine the plan of attack to better win the battle and save the berry crop for next year. ■

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BC Decision Aid System Ready For Sign Up

By Tom Walker The BC version of the Washington-based Decision Aid System (DAS) is ready for growers to use.

“All the relevant BC information has been loaded,” says Melissa Tesche, acting General Manager of the Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program(SIR). “It’s been checked by our local pathologists and entomologists and field service. We conducted Beta testing last summer and it’s ready for growers.”

DAS is a cloud-based tool combining pest life cycle models with environment data, local weather forecasts, management data, pesticide recommendations and time sensitive information to recommend the timing and type of intervention strategies that growers can use for pest management. that it gives growers real time information, plus a forecast so that they can plan better,” says Leaming.

“What it does is put a whole lot of complex information at the individual growers fingertips,” says Tesche. “It’s not that the information wasn’t available before, but it puts it all together in one place.”

BCTF field service staff all contribute to the horticulture message that Leaming sends out once a week, but sometimes it’s almost too late the day it comes out. “For fire blight you have to have the spray on within 12 hours. Scab, it’s 48 to 96 hours after the infection,” Leaming points out. “If it takes us 24 hours to get the message out to you, you have less time to respond,”

DAS is linked to your closest weather station, and you are able to track individual pests that are of concern. The system makes predictions of what is likely to occur in the next week or so and you can find management strategies, both conventional and organic, all from your cell phone, tablet, or home computer.

“Sometimes we post updates, but generally we only send it out once a week. If the weather turns cool, that changes the timing.” says Leaming. Growers could be monitoring the weather

Charlotte Leaming at BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTF) is quick to express her enthusiasm for the tool. “The biggest thing is

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on their own, she says, but generally they don’t.

“DAS gives growers a really good tool where they can log on and see where we are today or tonight,” Leaming explains.

“The system uses the “Dark Sky” weather forecasting program and combines that with pest cycle models that are loaded into the program.

"Not only will DAS show the current degrees days and how many degree days are needed before leaf roller eggs start to hatch, for example, but it also predicts how many days until the hatch starts", she explains, "So as a grower, you know when it will be the optimal time to spray and when it will be too late."

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“That kind of detail is phenomenal,” she adds. In addition to the real time information and the forecast, Leaming explains that the information is specific to a grower’s individual growing region. ”You get to sign in at the weather station closest to you and get information reflecting the location of your orchard.” The diverse terrain, latitude, altitude and rainfall across the Okanagan all create variations in growing conditions. If a grower has multiple orchard sites across the Okanagan, he or she can register each one.

DAS is designed to support both conventional and organic growers. “I’ve seen some of the organic management recommendations,” comments Peter Simonsen, an organic grower from Naramata. Washington State has a strong organic orchard community, he points out, and they were an important part of the development.

BC DAS is specific to our region. As part of the BC version development, pest management recommendations from the BC Tree Fruits Production Guide were loaded to correspond with products registered in Canada.

Both BC Tree Fruits and SIR are urging growers to sign up. “We have about 30 growers signed up so far,” says Tesche. Field services staff can help member growers register and SIR is available to help all growers.

“I think that it is really important for independent growers to get on board with DAS,” Tesche says. “They don’t have access field services and DAS could really support their orchard management.”

The service is also completely free, Tesche adds. SIR is covering the costs of the program. “You can sign up yourself or contact us and we will come out to help you get started or get a group of growers together,” she says. “Get a log-in, go in and play around with it.”

Estimates from Washington say that 90% of the fruit acreage in the state is covered under DAS and growers report that on average, they save $75 an acre per year.

“The onus is on the growers to look at the site,” Leaming points out. “It doesn’t send you a message on your phone. But if they do go in and look at it they will get much more accurate information.”

“It’s just one tool,” Tesche adds. “You still need to put boots on the ground and go and see what is happening in your own orchard.” ■ For more information go to https://www.oksir.org/bcdas/.

To sign up go to https://ca.decisionaid.systems/subscriptions/ subscribe/new_subscription

Berry Growers: To Tunnel or Not to Tunnel?

By Ronda Payne Berries and raspberries are grown in tunnels around the world, but are they right for B.C. growers?

Photo by © Dwight Smith | Dreamstime.com

Tunnels are used in many countries around the world to grow strawberries and raspberries. These protected environments have benefits, but certainly have a price tag associate with them.

Kathy Demchak from the Department of Plant Science at Penn State University helps growers understand the risks and rewards inherent in tunnel berry-growing.

Types of tunnels There are a number of shapes, sizes and configurations for berry tunnels. High tunnels come in single, or multi-bay, where as low tunnels are always singlebay, or more accurately, single bed.

Single-bay tunnels, preferred by smaller crop growers, are typically smaller than the structures used in multi-bay setups.

“Multi-bay tunnels are used to cover large areas,” Demchak explains.

Multi-bay structures are typically bays of 200 to 300 feet long and 24 feet wide that are then attached or tied together providing more structural integrity. Like single-bay tunnels, the hoop frames are covered with six to eight mil clear plastic that will generally last about three seasons; proper installation being the prime indicator for longer life. Snow loads may

Raspberry vines growing in the Pajaro Valley of California.

require taking the plastic down but in some climates tunnels can stay in place year-round, particularly for single-bay tunnels.

Low tunnels are typically two feet or shorter in height and are a lighter weight plastic – about 1.5 mil – and generally last one season. These plastic covers span a single row and unlike the high tunnels, work is done from outside the structure, and there is protection from the elements only for the plants, not for workers.

Survey of strawberry growers In 2010 and 2011, a high tunnel survey was done among three grower groups (potential high-tunnel berry growers, current high-tunnel berry growers and former high tunnel berry growers), all of which were experienced berry grower groups. Within the survey, June berries were most likely to be grown in a singlebay tunnel while everbearing berries were split evenly between single and multi-bay tunnels.

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In June bearing, growers’ second reason for using tunnels was the ability to harvest while it was raining and the second reason for everbearing was increased yield.

Will strawberry growers who tried high-tunnels continue?

The June bearing growers found that prices and yields didn’t justify the expense of tunnels, but in everbearing, many planned to increase their tunneled acreage.

A number of benefits emerged from the survey.

“Tunnels do provide some degree of control over the environment,” notes Demchak.

While the high tunnels cost more than their low-tunnel cousins, they allow the ability to work within the structure at any time. This controlled environment also includes the ability to lengthen the harvest season, increase yields, create a higher percentage of marketable fruit and allow for longer shelf life of the everbearing berries.

Most growers reported payback in two to three years when using high tunnels for growing. Demchak also said going organic and pesticidefree growing is easier in tunnels, but integrated pest management systems would be a good addition.

On the downside, strawberry roots were exposed to higher levels of salt, perhaps due to the lack of snow or rain water leaching it away.

“You won’t want to grow strawberries [in a tunnel] after something like tomatoes,” she says. “We do need to work out the production systems.”

Demchak feels that excess salinity could potentially be leached out of tunnel areas through increased irrigation.

Other issues noted by growers were an increase in management time (to control temperatures but as Demchak pointed out, this is quite minimal) and plastic waste concerns, but plastics are seeing new options coming to market soon that deal with waste issues.

“Pay off depends on crop management skills, Demchak says. “There is a cost to the constant maintenance and temperature management.”

Photo by Ronda Payne

“Fruit appearance was the number one reason,” says Demchak of why growers were using tunnels in both everbearing and June bearing berries.

Kathy Demchak from the Department of Plant Science at Penn State University.

Spider mites were also mentioned as an issue for some growers.

“Our recommendation for that is to release predatory mites when first seen and just keep scouting,” she says.

Despite the upside, some growers still felt the benefits didn’t justify the costs and both groups which had grown berries had some growers switch to using the tunnels for higher value crops such as tomatoes. While the off-season berries were a plus, finding a market for them proved to be somewhat of a challenge as consumers weren’t expecting

locally-grown berries at that time. If growers can achieve higher selling prices and markets for off-season berries, they may well find that the costs of tunnels are worthwhile.

So are low tunnels a better option?

Low tunnels weren’t surveyed with strawberry growers, but the ability to work in the high-tunnel structure may outweigh the higher costs of the structure over the cheaper low tunnels.

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veyed about their use of high tunnels and reasons for using the structures included increased yield, improved appearance and ability to harvest in the rain. While the tunnels delivered a larger berry and fungicide-free fruit, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) impacted longer shelf life and pesticide-free qualities.

Very few raspberry growers discontinued growing raspberries in tunnels or planned to decrease their tunnel acreage.

“The number of growers planning to increase their acreage significantly outpaced those planning to decrease acreage,” Demchak says.

Results of the raspberry growing season In Philadelphia, growers saw two to four times increase in yield. “When you’ve got them in a tunnel, you’ve really got them in an optimal growing season for 50 per cent of the time,” Demchak notes. “We get a higher yield that first year and it will go up from there.”

Learning kept pace with the plant growth. Plants grow faster and larger in the high-tunnel.

“Keep a minimum of seven feet between rows,” notes Demchak. “Plants will get away from you. We use a simple support trellis or like a V row.”

Water quality becomes a larger issue in a controlled environment.

“We recommend to growers that they test their water source,” she says, and adds that tissue testing each year is important to see if fertilizer rates are right.

There was also a major decrease in diseases in the tunnel as well as harvests occurring two to three weeks earlier.

“We’re finding generally if it [a variety] works good in the field, it’s good for a tunnel in your area,” she notes. “We never had anything do worse in a tunnel.”

Some growers were concerned about pollination but Demchak found that bumblebees liked the tunnels. Honeybees however did seem to get confused and sometimes caught in the peak of the structure. She recommends providing nests for both mason and bumblebees within the high-tunnel structures. ■

Spring 2018 63

BCFGA Elects New President Pinder Dhaliwal

By Tom Walker There was an air of optimism as the 129th BC Fruit Growers Annual General Meeting drew to a close.

On the second day of the AGM, some 235 BCFGA members voted to continue that positive direction by electing Oliver grower and former BCFGA vice president Pinder Dhaliwal to the position of president, over long-time Steele rival Jeet Dukhia.

Peter Simonsen, an organic grower in Naramata, was acclaimed as vice president.

Photo by Tom Walker

The industry has been riding a wave of success as the provincial replant program has given a boost to growers seeking to convert older apple plantings to more profitable varieties. Ambrosia and Honeycrisp apples and new cherry cultivars have put more profit in grower’s pockets.

The positive tone set by outgoing BCFGA president Fred Steele has created a “can do” atmosphere.

Newly elected president Pinder Dhaliwal (third from left) and supporters.

We all share a common vision for a strong and prosperous industry. The stronger we are together, there is nothing that can stop us.”

The Board of Directors elections chose previously serving younger members Ravinder Bains, David Dobernigg and Sukdeep Brahr, while Karmjit Gill and Sukhdev Goraya bring a depth of experience to the team.

Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham gave a boost to the mood with her announcement of a $5 million Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund.

Pinder Dhaliwal “I truly believe that with a little support the BC tree fruit sector will continue to seize the opportunities that you’ve

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The funds will be open to tree fruit grow-

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ers, producers, and processors to support three key areas, Popham explained. Research funding will include cultivar, disease and pest research. Marketing funds will support export market opportunities and market development research. Infrastructure funding will provide money for sector-based infrastructure modernization such as new equipment. The funds can also be accessed to cover a short fall in replant funding in years when the program is over-prescribed.

“I have heard that the replant program is growing in popularity,” says Popham.

“I’ve also heard your serious concerns about aging infrastructure and a decrease in apple sales in the 2017 crop.

Your government is helping you with the difficult circumstances you are facing; we are committing new support to your sector.”

Popham was referring to the lower than usual returns on apple sales this season.

Similar growing conditions in Washington and BC produced a glut of smaller apples, making it hard to find markets for this lower priced product.

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The Minister’s announcement spoke to several of the BCFGA resolutions that called for increased research on invasive pests, particularly the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). Some very high concentrations of BMSB have been found in downtown Kelowna and crop protection chair Peter Simonsen described the expected movement into orchards as “virtually uncontrollable”.

Other resolutions supported more development of new varieties and a continuation of the replant program past the current 2021end date. The federal bare land replant program that has been proposed by the Canadian Horticulture Council’s apple working group was also given a nod.

A report from Sean Beirnes, General Manager of the BCFGA-owned Summerland Varieties Corp gave an account of royalty revenues. Forty-five per cent comes from apple licensing, 48 per cent from cherry licensing while berries garner just one per cent. The budwood nursery brings in the remaining six per cent. Beirnes explained that SVC funds over $400,000 in industry support each year including 31% to the AAFC breeding program for new apple varieties, a

Spring 2018 65

contribution that is mandated in their government contract.

“We need a Canadian breeding program,” Beirnes explains. “With less than one half of a percent of global production we simply are not considered by international variety developers.”

Ministry of Agriculture tree fruit specialist Carl Withler gave a breakdown of the replant program. “From 150 applications a year, about 20 are declined or withdrawn, some can’t secure trees or change their plans and we end up with about 125 that we work with,” says Withler.

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“Apples are the lead planting for us with about 200 acres per year.” Half of those are Ambrosia he says, with 25% Honeycrisp, 25% Galas and a “smattering” of other varieties. Cherries are about 85 acres a year with Staccato and Sentennial leading the way.

An update on the Sterile Insect Release program was presented by Acting GM, Melissa Tesche. ”We haven’t raised taxes for our program in eight years,” Tesche pointed out, while explaining the success of the sterile coddling moth release program. Tesche outlined successful UAV trials that showed excellent dispersal of the moths over a 40 acre field in a brief six to eight minute flight. She also spoke of promising talks with Washington growers to ship BC moths south to support that state’s IPM programs.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program plays an ever increasing role in supporting BC Fruit growers. Labour Chair and new BCFGA President Pinder Dhaliwal reported more than 950 Caribbean and 6,000 Mexican workers came to BC in 2017. Members discussed resolutions on worker housing issues, communication with consulate representatives, and a “trusted employer” program.

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“Over the last two days we have discussed a lot of issues and priorities that we need to tackle for 2018,” says Dhaliwal, addressing the members after his election. “But one thing is certain, we all share a common vision for a strong and prosperous industry. The stronger we are together, there is nothing that can stop us.” ■

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ires, forklift accidents and recalls, they’re the stuff of nightmares for winery owners. For those with the right insurance coverage that considers every scenario, however, the peace of mind is worth every penny.

What are some general insurance brokers forgetting, and how do operators ensure they have the proper coverage?

Robert Fiume, a winery insurance advisor at CapriCMW Insurance Services and Okanagan winery owner, reveals the biggest mistakes operators make when it comes to their coverage.

1. Wine Is Undervalued It’s taken years—of growing, picking, crushing and barrelling—and now your wine is nearly ready to bottle. What happens if a forklift hits the tank of 10,000 litres of wine just weeks before bottling?

Is your wine valued at bulk price, or selling price?

“Our approach to wine valuation is unique because we consider the market value of that wine at the time of loss, not just the bulk current value,” says Fiume, comparing the value of freshly crushed juice to wine that’s been barrelled for three years. “The closer it gets to bottling, the more value wine has, so we take that into account where other policies do not.”

2. Buildings & Offsite Locations Are Missed Or Undervalued What if a fire strikes your cold storage building? Or an off-site storage facility?

Will all of your property—on and offsite—be included and properly valued?

“We have an evaluator tool that helps gather all the underwriting details so we can ensure everything is being considered, confirming the current building replacement costs.”

Fiume knows firsthand of winery operators who’ve experienced flooding or fire damage, only to find out they’re only covered for half of the building’s actual value. When a winery is undervalued and a claim is filed, the operator is penalized and shares the loss through coinsurance, receiving only a partial reimbursement.

Fiume says some brokers also forget to ask about insurance for any off-site stor-

age locations, often used to store wine inventories. “Most policies only give coverage for a specified, 30-day temporary location, but we offer coverage for unspecified locations, with certain limitations, and it’s not restricted to 30 days.”

3. Not Including Packaging Errors or Property in Transit Operators don’t know they should have it, and many brokers don’t think to ask.

Packaging errors—which occur more often than people realize—include bottling lines not being properly calibrated, leading to glass breaking, product recalls, mislabelling and more.

Property in transit coverage tops up the minimal amount that might be paid by a trucking company (which only goes by weight) if wine in shipping gets damaged in a truck accident, for example.

“You could be out thousands and thousands, so we have a beefy limit for that— $250,000,” says Fiume.

4. Forgetting Helicopter Landing Pad Insurance & Liability for Events & Tours More and more wineries are accommodating helicopter landings, and while the helicopter firm carries their own liability insurance, Fiume advises operators to ask brokers about helicopter landing pad insurance for liability coverage.

Fiume says brokers who don’t specialize in winery insurance might not think to ask a simple but important question: What else are you doing on your property?

“Wineries are hosting more and more different kinds of events and tours, and if there were a hidden hazard and something happened to a guest, you’d certainly want to have liability.”

5. Not Disclosing Foreign Sales Over the years, Fiume has met a number of operators who are confused about or unintentionally don’t disclose foreign sales, and policies don’t automatically cover foreign sales.

“Winery owners aren’t always clear on the true definition of ‘foreign sales’ when it comes to insurance, so it helps to have a broker who understands how that coverage works.”

Avoid these mistakes by consulting an insurance advisor with specialized expertise in winery insurance. At CapriCMW, our dedicated winery insurance specialist asks questions to uncover potential exposure and pitfalls, and provides the appropriate options and solutions.

Contact Robert Fiume at 250 869 3815 or rfiume@capricmw.ca.

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Spring 2018 67

 SPRING | PRODUCT FEATURE

New Tech in the Orchard

It’s more important than ever to maintain an efficient and happy labour pool. Growers need to find new ways to mitigate rising labour and input costs by implementing new technology in the orchard and vineyard.

Electronic labour and product tracking is more accurate and offers many benefits and savings to the grower: • Eliminate punch cards and checkers • No more manual data entry • Automated reports decrease time spent running payroll • Precise clock in/out times and pay by weight options eliminate overpayments • Fast in-field scanning has employees back to work in seconds • Clear, searchable records in case of audit • Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Chardonnay • Gamay • Gewürztraminer • Malbec • Merlot • Muscat Ottonel

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Sukhpaul Bal of Valley Orchards in Kelowna implemented the FairPick system this past season to improve efficiency in his cherry harvest. Bal recognizes that, “In the past, so much time had been spent on trying to get our pickers to fill up their buckets, and the manual counting and data entry. Now we can focus more energy on the quality at harvest and never pay for cherries that are not there!”

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Not only has the system saved him money, Bal notes that, “The 2nd Sight staff is very hands-on and provides the necessary service and support to ensure the transition to the FairPick system is a smooth one.”

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 SPRING | PRODUCT FEATURE

The Canning System Your Business Needs to Succeed If you’re a small winery, cidery or brewer, you might think canning your beverages is beyond your reach.

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There are two basic systems, depending on your needs.

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 SPRING | PRODUCT FEATURE

Got to Have it – 6 Wine Making Supplies Lotus Pumpover Head Gently and uniformly distributes juice - even if unfiltered or mixed with whole berries - over the cap in tanks of any size without excessive bruising or misting.

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Spring 2018 71

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