Orchard & Vine Fall 2024

SEPT 2024

GRAPE IMPORT SUPPORT

Cider's Seasonal Charm

PUBLISH IN OF

BC Tree Fruits Closure

G

CELLENCE EX

Our team has successfully sold

over 300 properties, totalling over 2,000 acres sold in the Okanagan Valley!

18555 Matsu Drive, Summerland Asking $12,900,000

3623 Glencoe Rd, West Kelowna Asking $7,999,999

2304 82nd Avenue, Osoyoos Asking $7,999,000

Sage Hills Estate Winery is an established premium boutique winery & vineyard.

Opportunity to acquire a turn-key Organic Winery on 11.317 Acres!

21.77-acre orchard

This includes a stunning modern residence, all located on 10.36 lakeview acres.

Off the Grid Organic Winery is the #3 Trip Advisor destination in West Kelowna.

offers a sanctuary for agricultural endeavors.

26 Commonage Road, Vernon Asking $7,750,000

Lot A + B Oyama Road, Lake Country Asking $7,598,000

1429-1409 Teasdale Road, Kelowna Asking $4,995,000

144.92 acre estate in Vernon cit limits.

Land Assembly: 26.77 Acres total.

1327’ of Lakeshore

5 bed, 4 bath, 3,789 sq. ft. home on a 13.44 acre successful u-pick operation.

Lot A 12.97 (850’ Lakeshore frontage), Lot B 13.8 Acre (477’ Lakeshore frontage), both cherry orchards with 1 acre building sites.

Great for a multi-generational set up with two titles.

991 Salmon River Road, Salmon Arm Asking $4,700,000

8100-8104 Silver Star Road, Vernon Asking $4,500,000

15829 Greenhow Road, Lake Country Asking $3,495,000

23,500+ sq. ft. cherry packing & processing facility. 7.09 acres.

6 bed, 6 bath, 7,426 sq. ft. home on 40 acres of private forest terrain with lake views.

10 acre property with apple orchard,

Labour housing is located on-site, with 6 mobiles that can accommodate 35-40 workers.

Includes a second home, two wired shops, solar heated pool, pasture and horse barn.

5200+ sq. ft. modern residence with 5 beds, 3 baths.

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage. Real estate agency. Independently Owned and Operated. E &O.E: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal.

10 stall RV park, and 4000+ sq. ft. home with 2 lake views!

S O T H E B Y S R E A LT Y. C A

Scott Marshall

250.470.2388

Personal Real Estate Corporation Scott@scottmarshallhomes.com

scottmarshallhomes.com scottmarshallhomes

Five generations of family experience in the Okanagan Great Grandfather Lewis Marshall living in a tent on his first orchard in the Glenmore area of Kelowna.

PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF BUYERS AND SELLERS FOR HORTICULTURAL, FARM, ACREAGE AND ESTATE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

SCOTT MARSHALL REALTOR®, ASSOCIATE BROKER, BCOM Scott Marshall was born and raised in the Central Okanagan and is part of the 5th generation of his family to live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.

Grandfather Rexford Marshall next to newly planted orchard in the Carrs Landing area of Lake Country.

Father Lance next to nursery stock in the Carrs Landing area of Lake Country.

Scott training young cherry trees in the Black Mountain area of Kelowna.

The Marshall family has a proud history in real estate and farming dating back to 1911, with the Thorlakson side of the family settling in the Commonage area in the late 1800s; Scott knows the area like the back of his hand and every possible detail that is relevant to a potential transaction in the Okanagan.

Personal Real Estate Corporation Ranked Canadian business school, obtaining a double specialization in both Real Estate & Finance. Along with his formal education specializing in real estate, Scott has relevant experience with the Commercial Real Estate Development Association in Vancouver, and as a manager at the largest cherry operation in Canada.

After completing his four years of formal real estate education and starting his career as a fully licensed REALTOR®, Scott quickly obtained his

broker’s license for trading services and rental property management services.

In today’s market, marketing reach, industry connections, and a sales history that speaks for itself has never been more important.

I’m not afraid to get my boots dirty.

Growing up in a household with parents working in the Okanagan Real Estate market, Scott developed a passion for the rapidlyevolving industry. His father, Lance, was a very successful agent for over 20 years in the Okanagan Valley. After spending his childhood in Lake Country, Scott moved to Vancouver to attain his Bachelors of Commerce degree from UBC, the #1

SCOTT MARSHALL GROUP The Scott Marshall Homes Group is a sophisticated group of high-producing agents at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada office in British Columbia.

Office: 250.469.9547 3477 Lakeshore Road, Suite 104, Kelowna, British Columbia V1W 3S9

Strong Roots. Rich History.

With multiple high-producing agents that mirror the success of his individual production, their team has produced hundreds of millions of dollars in sales volume, and have created some of the most effective and

irreplaceable marketing platforms in the industry.

The team boasts three full-time agents to help services acreage and farm owners in the valley.

SCOT TMARSHALLHOMES.COM

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CONTENTS 5

Voices | Publisher

9

News & Events

20

No Last Call: BC Tree Fruits closure

24

Vinifera Viability: Exploring new grape varietals

28

Borderline Vintage: Import supports for wineries

35

Tech | Wine supply chain

36

Seeds of Growth | Saving BC’s tree fruit industry

38

Marketing Mix | Cidery off-season strategies

40 Word on Wine | Falling for BC wine 42

Stewardship | Nature-friendly netting

44

Sippin’ Pretty | To market in Naramata

46

Field Feature | Merridale Cidery & Distillery From top: A flight of fall ciders at Summerland Heritage Cider; Coyote Canyon Vineyard manager Todd Chapman and owner Ron Kubek of Lightning Rock Winery harvest grapes in Granger, WA; Solvero winemaker Alison Moyes checks the quality of Oregon Pinot Noir destined for a traditional method sparkling. Cover: Tony Holler shows the canopy growth at Poplar Grove in Naramata where the vines failed to produce fruit this season.

Cover photo by Yvonne Turgeon, other photos contributed.

4 orchardandvine.net

 VOICES | PUBLISHER Established in 1959 ISSN 1713-5362 ISSN 2817-500X

Publisher/Editor Yvonne Turgeon Associate Editor Ronda Payne Design Mishell Raedeke Contributing writers Pat Bulmer, Leeann Froese, Kelly Josephson, Dan Lionello, Valerie Maida, Ronda Payne, Melissa Tesche, Yvonne Turgeon, Tom Walker Contributing photographers Pat Bulmer, Anthony Gunderman, Alyson Skinner, Chris Stenberg Yvonne Turgeon

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

Subscriptions Subscriptions are available in print and digital format at orchardandvine.net or contact us at info@orchardandvine.net.

Social | web @orchardvinemag | orchardandvine.net Office: 250-448-2630 Email: info@orchardandvine.net news@orchardandvine.net Publications Mail Agreement No. 40838008 Return undeliverable items to: Orchard & Vine Magazine 5190 MacNeill Crt Peachland, BC V0H 1X2 Equivalent trees planted for every pound of paper printed with Mitchell Press.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form, print or electronic, without the written permission of the publisher. Ideas and opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent the views of Before & After Media or its affiliates. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement or sponsored content in this publication.

Orchard & Vine Magazine is published by Before & After Media Inc. Find them on the web at beforeaftermedia.com.

The experience advantage

T

he rhythm of the seasons beats strongest in the vineyards and orchards. There’s something truly special about tasting a wine poured directly by the winemaker or biting into a sun-ripened pear freshly picked by the grower. This first-hand experience—whether at a winery, a bustling farmers’ market or a charming roadside fruit stand— builds a deep connection to the land and the people who shape its bounty.

Winery tasting rooms, farmers’ markets and roadside fruit stands are the heart and soul of this connection. Throughout the summer and fall, doors are open wide and pop-up treasures dot the highways inviting passersby to stop, taste and talk. Here, you don’t just buy; you learn the story behind the fruit, the wine, the honey. You meet the families who have been farming these lands for generations, and you taste the dedication in every sip or bite.

In a world where convenience often outweighs connection, these encounters remind us of the value of slowing down and appreciating the source. For many, the act of buying directly from a grower or winemaker forms the foundation of their love for the region. It’s one thing to drink a wine or enjoy a piece of fruit—but it’s another entirely to hear the stories of how that wine was nurtured from vine to bottle, or how that pear thrived in the hot summer sun.

These experiences aren’t just about what’s in the glass or basket—they’re about who’s behind it. As an industry, we must recognize how unique and invaluable these first-hand connections are. You can’t replicate the authenticity of hearing a winemaker share their process or tasting fresh fruit right where it was grown. No marketing campaign can match that direct engagement— it’s the core of what makes our region and our products so special. This personal connection is a powerful value proposition that sets us apart.

Yet, despite this incredible asset, many people still don’t realize how transformative a visit to a winery or orchard can be. This direct connection with our products and producers is a goldmine for marketing and sales, and it’s time we leverage that more effectively. As an industry, we must do more to recognize the value of what we offer and actively showcase it. We need to be bold in telling our stories and making sure the world knows what we bring to the table. These authentic, personal connections are our greatest strength.

We have a rare and valuable opportunity to invite people to slow down, connect with the land, CELLENCE EX and experience the passion behind the product.

G This is what will keep people coming back, season after season—an unforgettable experience that goes beyond the bottle or basket, connecting people with the heart of our industry. Let’s remind ourselves, and the world, of what we have and ensure it becomes the cornerstone of our future success.

PUBLISH IN OF

Vol. 65, No 5 Fall Issue | September 2024

— Yvonne Turgeon, publisher

yvonne@orchardandvine.net

Fall 2024 |

5

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 NEWS & EVENTS

CFIA seeks industry input on fresh fruit grading

F

ruit growers and other industry partners can provide input on proposed new approaches for developing and maintaining Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable standards through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Responses are being submitted via an online questionnaire or through email until October 20.

The purpose of this input is to create “a more efficient model for grades that will facilitate trade, support economic growth and align with the CFIA’s mandate,” according to the CFIA webpage about the input process. Canadian fruit with grade requirements includes apples, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, crab apples, cranberries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums and prunes, field rhubarb and strawberries.

Grading is about product quality and considers colour, size, maturity, firmness, shape, condition and defects like bruising or scabbing.

Verification of grades is required for exporting produce to other countries and includes 31 different grade terms like Canada No. 1, Canada Domestic, Canada Extra Fancy, Canada Commercial, Canada Hailed and others, depending on the types of produce.

REPORT

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CFIA wants input from stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the role of fresh fruit and vegetable grades in the modern marketplace; identify opportunities to reduce burdens on industry and support competitiveness; and be informed on how different approaches for developing and maintaining fresh fruit and vegetable grades may affect stakeholders. CFIA outlines three options for the future of grading in the online discussion paper.

The history of grading in Canada is nearly 100 years old, with one of

the earliest references coming from the Department of Agriculture in 1938. Grading is essentially a promise from shippers to receivers confirming the state of the product. However, because the CFIA has found that the current marketplace includes produce both with and without prescribed grades, among other factors, a new approach is needed which has led to the proposed three options.

Complete the questionnaire online at: ca1se.voxco.com/SE/93/ vegetables_fruits_legumes. 

Year-end survey opens October 1

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2023

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Growers and industry partners are invited to provide input on updated Canadian fruit and vegetable grading standards, shaping the future of produce quality and trade.

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Find the 2024 Harvest Reports in the Year End issue of Orchard & Vine.

Orchard & Vine’s annual growers survey is your way to share your pains, plans, practices and hopes with fellow growers.

Each growing season brings its own set of triumphs and challenges, and 2024 has been no exception. From the return of wine shipments across the Alberta border to the impact of extreme weather, our farming community faced a year full of challenges—and progress.

To capture these stories and more, Orchard & Vine Magazine conducts an annual survey of growers. We want to hear about your experiences—what you grow, your yields, how the season went and your plans for the year ahead. Your insights help create a clearer picture of what’s happening across the industry.

Scan the QR code to enter your contact details. Surveys will sent by email. 

Photo contributed

Fall 2024 |

9

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