Orchard & Vine Fall 2023

FALL 2023

NEW WINERY OPENINGS

$40M EXPANSION FOR BC TREE FRUITS

2023

Viticulturist of the Year

Vineyard Reset

Winter damage cuts into yields

Fall 2023 $6.95

991 Salmon River Road, Salmon Arm

1429-1409 Teasdale Road, Kelowna

385 Matheson Road, Okanagan Falls

Asking $4,995,000

Asking $3,100,000

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

5 bed, 4 bath, 3798 sq. ft. home on a 13.44 acre

Boutique Winery now available for sale

mobiles that can accommodate 35-40 workers.

multi-generational set up with two titles.

Asking $4,700,000

successful u-pick operation. Great for a

7.09 acres. Labour housing is located on-site, with six

in the prestigious Okanagan Falls area.

8.896 acres with a 2654 sq. ft. home.

5th Generation Local | Okanagan Born and Raised | Finance & Real Estate Degree

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OVER 200 TRANSACTIONS WITH OVER 1750 ACRES SOLD, HELPING ME ACHIEVE #1 INDIVIDUAL AGENT AT THE #1 RE/MAX OFFICE IN B.C. FOR 2 YEARS

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

Land Assembly: 26.77 Acres total. 1327' of Lakeshore Lot A 12.97 (850' lakeshore frontage), Lot B 13.8 acres (477' lakeshore frontage), both cherry orchards with 1 acre building sites.

9983 Okanagan Centre Road W, Lake Country Asking $3,750,000

Semi-lakeshore estate with 2 titles, encompassing 9.07 acres (5.1+3.97) of land zoned RR2 and NOT in the ALR.

15829 Greenhow Road Lake Country Asking $3,595,000

10 acre property w/ apple orchard, 10 stall RV park, and 4000+ sq. ft. home w/ 2 lake views!

1711-1733 Huckleberry Road Kelowna

3380 Neid Road, Kelowna

140 acres with spectacular views.

3 separate titles. Subdivision potential into 10 acre lots.

Lakeview vineyard estate in South East Kelowna!

5361 sq. ft. home on 4.35 acres.

Asking $4,500,000

Asking $3,700,000

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

6 bed, 6 bath, 7426 sq. ft. home on 40 acres of private forest terrain with lake views. Includes a second home, two wired shops, solar heated pool, pasture and horse barn.

SCOTT MARSHALL

PREC**

Scott@ScottMarshallHomes. com | 250-470-2388 WWW.KELOWNAFARMS.CA | WWW.KELOWNAACREAGES.COM | WWW.SCOTTMARSHALLHOMES.COM

Great Grandfather Lewis Marshall living in a tent on his first orchard in the Glenmore area of Kelowna.

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.

Professional Representation of Buyers and Sellers for Horticultural, Farm, Acreage and Estate properties throughout the Valley 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. The Marshall Family has a proud history in fruit farming in the Central and North Okanagan since 1911, while the Thorlakson side of the family started farming in the North Okanagan in the late 1800s.

Scott's parents operated large orchards and nursery plantings, and he grew up with them working in the Okanagan Real Estate market.

After completing four years of formal education at the University of British Columbia, Scott received a BCOM in Finance and Real Estate before becoming a licensed REALTOR® and Associate Broker at RE/MAX Kelowna.

Since becoming licensed, Scott has quickly become a natural expert in the Horticultural, Viticultural, Farm, Acreage, Estate and Unique Property market.

Scott has been able to professionally assist his valued clients so that when they are successful in their real estate buying or selling, he has also been able to be successful and is ranked as the #1 Individual Realtor at his brokerage.* Scott is uniquely qualified to effectively assist with the purchase and sale of Horticultural, Farm, Acreage, Estate and Unique Properties throughout the Okanagan. To take advantage of five generations of valued agricultural experience in the Okanagan, call Scott Marshall for your farm property needs!

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

“

“

Great Great Grandfather Thorlakur Thorlakson harvesting grain near Predator Ridge in Vernon.

FIVE GENERATIONS OF FAMILY EXPERIENCE IN THE OKANAGAN

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.

*As per 2021 production for individual agents. **Personal Real Estate Corporation. As per RE/MAX internal statistics 2021 by comississions paid. E & OE: Information is deemed to be correct but not guaranteed.

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CONTENTS Voices | Publisher

8 News & Events | Viticulturist of the Year

22 Vineyard Reset 30 BC Tree Fruits Expansion 34 Grasshopper Damage 37

Word on Wine | WGBC elections

38 Money Matters | AgriStability & Production Insurance 40 Sippin’ Pretty | Love of art and wine 42 Stewardship | Eco-friendly farms 44 Seed of Growth | BCFGA 45

Marketing Mix | Budget friendly marketing

46 Canadian Winemaker Series – Jim Faulkner

30 4 orchardandvine.net

From top: Back Sage vineyards damage from the extreme winter temperatures in southern B.C.; winemaker Alison Moyes readies for the opening of Solvero Wines in Summerland; BC Tree Fruits expands Oliver plant investing $40 million. Cover: Vineyard workers welcome smoke-free skies over Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in late August.

Custom Climates Refrigeration Inc. commercial • industrial • agricultural

Wineries, Breweries, Fruit Processing & Storage Facilities Custom Climates Refrigeration Inc. is a full-service refrigeration company, specializing in commercial refrigeration, as well as all aspects of heating and air conditioning.

From the chiller in your winery or brewery to blast coolers/freezers and controlled atmosphere applications, we thrive on any challenge and feel very confident that we will exceed your expectations.

Our services keep your business cooling systems operating smoothly. Our customer’s satisfaction is our ultimate goal.

Custom Climates Refrigeration Inc. Red Seal Refrigeration & Gas Fitter Certified Proudly Serving the Okanagan Valley 24 hours a day - 365 days a year

Kelowna, BC 250-869-5308 www.customclimatesrefrigeration.com Fall 2023 |

5

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We’re ready to collaborate with you — right from the heart of the major North American wine regions — to help you run efficiently and sustainably every step of the way.

Call us to learn more about our extensive bottle portfolio and the exceptional quality and support you can expect from your local glass partner.

707-200-9344 ardaghgroup.com/wine2023 6 orchardandvine.net

 VOICES | PUBLISHER

Established in 1959 ISSN 1713-5362 ISSN 2817-500X

Vol. 64, No 5 Fall Issue | Sept-Oct 2023 Publisher/Editor Yvonne Turgeon Design Mishell Raedeke Stephanie Symons Contributing writers Leeann Froese, Kelly Josephson, Ronda Payne, Myrna Stark Leader, Glen Lucas, Valerie Maida, Geoff McIntyre, Gary Symons, Yvonne Turgeon Contributing photographers Jon Adrian, Myrna Stark Leader, 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. pressreleases@orcharardandvine.net Publications Mail Agreement No. 40838008 Return undeliverable items to: Orchard & Vine Magazine 5190 MacNeill Crt Peachland, BC V0H 1X2 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.

Hope amidst flames

A

s the McDougall Creek Wildfire raged through the Central Okanagan, consuming over 180 buildings and displacing thousands, a remarkable display of resilience, solidarity, and compassion emerged along the Westside Wine Trail.

On Thursday, August 17, this devastating wildfire crept dangerously close to the region’s renowned tourist destination, putting the 14 wineries in its path on high alert. Vineyard owners and winery staff found themselves evacuating their properties alongside their neighbours with little warning.

In the face of adversity, several wineries offered refuge to evacuees.

Mt. Boucherie, Grizzli Winery, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, and Rollingdale Winery opened their doors to those in need. At the same time, Ciao Bella Winery’s father-and-son winemaking team assisted neighbours and transported livestock; Quails’ Gate provided hundreds of meals each day to local firefighter camps.

The strength of that resilience and unwavering commitment to the land rang loudly in the voices of winery owners. “The most important thing that we’re doing right now is farming through all this to make sure we get the most and best grapes possible,” says Nigel Paynter of Off the Grid Organic Winery.

Harvesting bounty from the land often comes with shared struggles, and this season, those struggles forged unbreakable bonds among the growers.

“We’re all in this together, connected by the force of nature,” says viticulturist and proprietor Karnail Singh Sidhu of Little Straw Vineyards and Kalala Organic Estate Winery. “Right now, our main focus is lending a hand wherever it’s needed most. Challenges will come, but we’ll bounce back stronger.”

Acknowledging the long road to recovery, Bobby Gidda, president of Volcanic Hills Estate Winery, remarked, “The coming days and months will be difficult for many, especially our local farmers and small businesses. I urge everyone to support Okanagan’s small businesses whenever possible.”

Roberto Fiume, founder and viticulturist for Ciao Bella Winery, emphasized the importance of unity during these trying times, saying, “In the midst of this chaos, sticking together and staying strong is crucial.

“Forza,” he urged.

Amidst the ominous, smoky skies, the community rallied together, and hope shone brightly. The Westside Wine Trail team shared a photo snapped just days after the fires began—an image we’ve chosen for the cover of our Fall issue of Orchard & Vine. The vineyards are those at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery photographed the morning of August 23.

“Tough times bring us closer together,” said Pebble Fehr, wineshop manager of Rollingdale Winery. “We’re all facing similar challenges—slow seasons, damaged vines, and now this disaster. But we’re not just sharing the struggle; we’re also sharing hope. These challenges may ultimately strengthen our unity.

“Hand in hand, we will overcome this—you can count on it.”

— Yvonne Turgeon, publisher

yvonne@orchardandvine.net

Fall 2023 |

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 NEWS & EVENTS

Viticulturist of the Year

Moon was named Viticulturist of the Year at the grower day on Aug. 3. The event was cohosted by the BC Grapegrowers’ Association, BC Wine Council and Sustainable Winegrowing BC. Below The team from Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

Andrew Moon, viticulturist at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver is the BC Grapegrowers’ Association 2023 Viticulturist of the Year.

Originally from Australia, Moon was recruited to come to Canada in 2009 when he didn’t even know they made wine in Canada. Today, with 30 years of viticulture experience, and spending the past 14 years with Tinhorn Creek, Moon was praised for his passion for irrigation and working hard on sustainability.

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ founders Sandra Oldfield and husband Kenn say Moon’s knowledge raised the bar in their vineyards and brought a community feel to the operation.

Not only did he convince Sandra about irrigation, she says his leadership transformed the work culture, calling him a “once in a lifetime employee”, who led the vineyard team but also made her a better leader.

While accepting the award, Moon thanked his team for their work, saying he’s seen the coldest year on record in B.C. in 2009, the hottest in 2015 and now in 2023, one of most harshly damaged grape crops.

His advice to other growers, “Go down the road and see what other growers are doing. Talk to your neighbours.”— ­ Myrna Stark Leader ■

Wine market set to soar past $444.5 Billion USD by 2030 The global wine market size is expected to reach $444.5 billion (USD) by 2030, according to Skyquest’s latest research report.

Changing consumer preferences, increasing disposable income and purchasing power, growing wine tourism, and exploration of lesserknown wine regions are having positive impacts on sales. The report found rising demand for premium and luxury wines and wine as a popular gifting option.

Among these global market trends are increasing demand for

organic and biodynamic wines and the rising popularity of sparkling wines and rosé wines.

“Sparkling wine is blossoming with enormous potential all over the world, thanks to its effervescent features that make it unique in spectrum,” says the report authors. “Consumers in developing nations are drawn to novel products such as this drink, which provides desirable sensory characteristics and mouthfeel.”

Preference is growing for lowalcohol and alcohol-free wine, says the

researchers. “Alcohol intake is becoming a social status symbol, which is fueling the market growth for low alcoholic beverages. Because of its refreshing appeal and low ABV options, it has a huge popularity with millennials.”

With the market expansion, demand for premium products is expected to slow down. Increased alcohol use had prompted alcohol companies to introduce creative alcoholic beverage varieties at low pricing. Customers are looking to the wine industry for similar affordable products. ■ Photos contributed

8 orchardandvine.net

New community approved at first winery site Andrew Peller Limited has received final approval for Westport Village, a five-acre development project in Port Moody.

The site was the location of the first winery opened by Andrew Peller (Andres Wines) in 1961. Winery operations ceased in 2006 and production was moved to Kelowna following the acquisition of Calona Wines that year.

The mixed-use urban neighborhood will include condo and market rental residential homes, below-market rental artist studios, a 50-space childcare centre, an arts centre that would include a 300-seat performing arts theatre, and a mix of commercial spaces for retail and office. The plan will put a focus on the overall Port Moody community with planned enhancements to parks, trails.

“Andrew Peller Limited is proud of its heritage in the region and thrilled to support the development of a sustainable urban community that will benefit Port Moody residents for generations to come,” said president and CEO John Peller.

The company is now seeking development partners to facilitate the completion of the project.

In August, Andrew Peller Limited Sales reported its 2024 first quarter results, showing an increased 2.8% growth at provincial liquor stores, restaurants and hospitality locations, and export. Gross margin was 38.8%, consistent with the prior year. ■

PST exemptions, the easy way.

BC Farmer ID Card

Tired of carrying around paperwork to prove farm status?

Look no further! The BC Farmer Westport Village will be built on the former ID Card conveniently allows you Andres Wines property at the corner of Clarke Street and Barnet Highway in WPort E S TMoody.

P O R T V I L L A G to E show proof of farm status at the A A The new urban neighborhood will OCP include at R retailer to receive PST exemptions.

300-seat theatre in the planned arts centre. mendment And

ezOning

PPliCAtiOn

It also grants you access to exclusive discounts and offers from participating businesses.

` Visit bcac.ca/farmeridcard to learn more and get your card today.

Fall 2023 |

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Zinfadel TV launches

SURVEYING - MAPPING - DRONES

S U RV E Y I N G - M A P P I N G - D R O N E S

“A Better Way to Survey” A better way to survey Vineyard Mapping - C.A.D. Design - Construction Layout Precision Farming - Spectral - Thermal Imaging Ortho Photos - Aerial Photography - Videography 250-833-8663 | geosurv1@gmail.com

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Specializing in High Value Agriculture

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Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) has launched Zinfandel Live to tell the Zinfandel story in six, short entertaining episodes on the ZAP YouTube channel.

Hosted by author, speaker and television personality Leslie Sbrocco, each bi-monthly episode features world-class wines and their winemakers who will lead the viewer to discover the joys of Zinfandel.

“We selected Leslie as our host because she is a super-star in the wine world, has a fabulous storytelling ability and a love of Zinfandel,” says Rebecca Robinson, ZAP’s executive director. “Leslie's trademark of connecting to the audience, combined with her entertaining approach to wine and food will captivate and inspire wine drinkers to the ‘Zinfinite’ possibilities in each episode.”

Zap has partnered with Wine.com to make available for sale a curated selection of the Zinfandels featured in the series.

In addition, Zinfandel Live also provides links to purchase a wide selection of Zinfandels directly from the wineries.

Watch online at zinfandellive.com. ■

2023-02-24 10:25:18 AM

BC Organic Conference set for November • Independent real estate valuation • Specializing in agricultural properties such as vineyards, wineries, orchards, packing plants and ranches • Consulting and advisory services such as rezoning, ALR inclusion/exclusions, temporary farm worker accommodation approvals

Kent-Macpherson Appraisals Kelowna, BC 250-763-2236

csmirl@kent-macpherson.com

kent-macpherson.com 10 orchardandvine.net

• Professionalism and high standards • Local knowledge and expertise

The 2023 BC Organic Conference is just around the corner. Growers will reconnect, exchange ideas and learn from experts Nov. 7 to 9 in Penticton.

Conference keynote speakers include Elaine Ingham, founder and president of Soil Food Web, Kelly Terbasket, program director of IndigenEYEZ and KinSHIFT The 2023 conference theme is Building Bridges, and topics span from bridges built in the soil by microbe and plant relationships to farmers working on unceded land and their connection and relationship with Indigenous peoples and place.

For full conference details, including sessions and schedule, visit: organicbc.org/conference. ■ Photo contributed

 NEWS & EVENTS

VASANTI ESTATE WINERY

New beginnings for Sidhu Family vineyards in Oliver

I

n the heart of the South Okanagan, where sprawling vineyards are kissed by the sun, lies a family-owned gem that embodies the spirit of new beginnings. Vasanti Estate Winery, founded by the Sidhu family, stands as a testament to the resilience and determination that have shaped their journey from tending orchards to embarking on their journey as burgeoning vintners.

Davinder Sidhu and his brothers Gordie and Vik trace the family's roots back to farming in India, where their connection to the land runs deep. “Farming has been a part of our heritage for generations,” he reflects.

Their father, Harb Sidhu, moved to the Okanagan Valley in the early 1980s and, a decade later, had saved the funds to purchase an orchard. What was once a 10-acre plot, initially rows of apricots, peaches, cherries and apples, has since transformed into a haven for wine grapes. “We kind of put our own twist on it over the years,” says Sidhu.

Today, their vineyards, lovingly tended to and meticulously nurtured, tell a story of dedication and evolution.

The name ‘Vasanti’ holds a deeper significance for the family, encapsulating both their Punjabi heritage and the idea of new beginnings. “It means ‘spring’ or loosely, it could be used as ‘new beginnings,’” says Sidhu.

This essence is echoed in their Lotus flower logo, a tribute to their father's journey from nothing to prosperity, much like the resilient flower that thrives in any environment.

With a portfolio of wines that boast distinction, Vasanti Estate Winery is ready to make its mark on the Canadian wine scene. The signature Syrah, nurtured in the prime conditions of East Bench Osoyoos, promises to be the crown jewel of their offerings.

“That vineyard has produced premium grapes that have led to great wines in the past,” says Sidhu. As the Sidhu brothers guide the winery's destiny, they also nurture their ambition to craft premium Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a unique Cabernet Merlot blend sourced from a number of Vasanti vineyards.

As the Sidhu brothers guide the winery’s destiny, they also nurture their ambition to craft their first releases: a premium Chardonnay, Cabernet

Its a new beginning for long-time farmers, brothers Davinder, Gordie and Vik (far right) and their father Harb Sidhu as they prepare to open a new family winery.

Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a unique Cabernet Merlot blend sourced from each of the three Vasanti vineyards.

The wines were crafted by long-time friend, winemaker Jason Parkes.

However, their aspirations go beyond the cellar door. The Sidhu family envisions Vasanti Estate Winery as a place of knowledge sharing and discovery. “We want our tasting room to be inviting to everyone and offer an educational component to the wine tastings” says Davinder. With a commitment to educating visitors about the winemaking process, they aim to offer an immersive experience. “We want to dive into the details of how it's grown and how it's made,” he says, enabling guests to engage with the wine's journey from vine to glass.

As Vasanti Estate Winery enters its next chapter, the Sidhu family's commitment to unity and growth remains unshaken. While their father’s role transitions from hands-on labour to a guiding hand, his wisdom remains invaluable. “His experience is something that we can't go without.”

Online sales of their first vintages are available at vasantiwines.com. The tasting room opens its doors in Spring 2024. ■

 NEWS & EVENTS

First wine bottle-made from 100 percent-recycled PET Ron Rubin Winery and Amcor Rigid Packaging have partnered to introduce BLUE BIN, a significant step in eco-conscious wine packaging. This 750mL bottle is crafted entirely from 100% recycled PET plastic, showcasing a blend of sustainable innovation and consumer consciousness.

Glass bottles account for 30 percent of the wine industry’s carbon footprint­—­the single largest environmental impact across the value chain of the product. A wine bottle made from PET is 85 percent lighter than one made from glass and has one-third the greenhouse gas emissions.

Ron Rubin Winery conducted a two-year assessment of wine packaging to develop a premium wine for ecoconscious wine-lovers. The new bottles feature Plasmax technology, a thin glass layer preventing the wine from ever touching the rPET, fully protecting the taste and quality.

“Plasmax is a thin, glass-like oxygen barrier on the inside of the bottle; this protective barrier holds the wine, while the PET bottle holds the shape,” says marketing manager Jonathan Jarman, Amcor Rigid Packaging. “This is truly a transformational moment for North American wine market, ushering in an era where the product’s packaging is valued and celebrated as deeply as the product itself.

BLUE BIN aligns with Ron Rubin Winery’s ethos of sustainability. The winery is one of only 33 Certified B Corporation wineries in the world. ■

With a lighter and shatterproof PET wine bottle, premium vintages can be easily enjoyed poolside, at the beach or at the campsite.

Japanese beetles pose a serious threat to grape and cherry crops.

Japanese beetles could spread across Washington

BY SARA ZASKE, WSU MEDIA RELATIONS

Without intervention, the colorful but devastating Japanese beetle could make its way across Washington state within two decades, according to a study of their potential dispersion.

The iridescent, greenand-copper beetles damage plants by “skeletonizing” their leaves, chewing up all the soft green parts between the veins. They eat over 300 plants and pose a serious threat to agriculture as some of their favorite crops include grapes, hops and cherries.

Once established, Japanese beetles are tough to eradicate, but it may be possible to keep them under control, said David Crowder, a Washington State University (WSU) entomologist.

“These coordinated, intense efforts early in the

invasion are really critical,” says Crowder, senior author on the study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology. “Hopefully, we can prevent the beetles from expanding beyond the quarantine areas, at least in the near future.”

The study found that Japanese beetles would most likely thrive in the dry, agriculture-rich southeastern part of Washington state, where the first individuals were found three years ago. If they were to escape the quarantines in place in those areas, modeling shows they would likely spread throughout the region.

Japanese beetles have already spread through much of the United States. They are believed to have arrived first on the East Coast in 1916 Photos contributed

12 orchardandvine.net

but are just now reaching Western states. The first beetles detected in Washington were found in a parking lot in the town of Sunnyside in 2020.

Two years later Washington State Department of Agriculture trapped more than 20,000 in Sunnyside and Grandview. So far in 2023, trapping has shown the beetles mostly remain in those areas, though there has been one report just outside of Seattle.

This evidence shows that quarantine zones can be effective, the researchers said. Quarantines provide guidelines such as making sure residential yard waste does not go out of the area and agricultural trucks are thoroughly cleaned.

While the beetles can fly, it is often humans who help them reach new areas.

“People can notice the adult Japanese beetles very easily, but it’s very hard to notice them in the earliest stage of life, the eggs and larvae, so people might unintentionally help with their dispersal,” said Gengping Zhu, WSU research assistant professor and the study’s first author.

Japanese beetles lay their eggs near the soil surface and spend a lot of their life cycle underground as grubs feeding on roots and other organic material in the soil. When they turn into beetles, they emerge to feed on plants. Some of their favorite plants are grapes, hops and cherries, which may partially explain their appearance first in southeastern Washington.

The effort to control the spread needs the help of the agriculture industry and residents to report where the beetles are found and take appropriate measures, Crowder said.

“Problems with invasive species are going to get worse and worse with climate change and increased human connectivity. The more coordinated we are, and the more we can identify the early stages of these invasions, the better.”

More information on how to spot Japanese beetles and help prevent their spread can be found at: agr.wa.gov/beetles. ■

Cleanfarms 2023 Unwanted Pesticides & Old Livestock/Equine Medications Collection Vancouver Island – October 2 to 4 Fraser Valley – October 10 to 13

Farmers! Got unwanted pesticides or livestock/ equine medications?

Safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides and livestock/ equine medications – no charge! Take them to the following locations on the dates noted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Vancouver Island

Fraser Valley

CUMBERLAND Mon., October 2 Comox Valley Waste Management 3699 Bevan Rd. 250-336-8083

DELTA Tues., October 10 Evergro, Division of Nutrien Solutions 7430 Hopcott Rd. 604-940-0290

DUNCAN Tues., October 3 Bings Creek Recycling Centre 3900 Drinkwater Rd. 250-746-2540

LANGLEY Wed., October 11 Professional Ag Distribution Inc. #1, 6285 – 205 St. 604-768-5602

VICTORIA Wed., October 4 Hartland Landfill Victoria 1 Hartland Ave. 250-360-3410

ABBOTSFORD Thurs., October 12 Terralink 464 Riverside Rd. 604-864-9044 Fri., October 13 Evergro, Division of Nutrien Solutions 1454 Riverside Rd., Unit B 604-850-9500

• Next Cleanfarms collection in these areas in 2026.

• To view collection site maps or for collection dates elsewhere: cleanfarms.ca/materials/unwanted-pesticides-animal-meds/

Partner

SCAN ME

Cleanfarms.ca info@cleanfarms.ca

@cleanfarms

2023-CF-BC-OrchardandVine-AD-4.75x9.88.indd 1

Fall 2023 |

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2023-08-08 8:02 PM

 NEWS & EVENTS

Study follows bees evolution from ancient continent The first bees evolved on an ancient supercontinent more than 120 million years ago, diversifying faster and spreading wider than previously suspected, a new study shows.

Newly published in the journal Current Biology, the study provides a new insights as to when and where bees first evolved.

The results indicate their point of origin was in western Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent that at that time included today’s continents of Africa and South America.

“There’s been a longstanding puzzle about the spatial origin of bees,” says Silas Bossert, assistant professor with Washing Exaerete smaragdina, State University’s an orchid bee species collected in Paraguay.

Department of Entomology, who co-led the project with Eduardo Almeida, associate professor at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Working with a global team, Bossert and Almeida sequenced genes

WSU scientists Murray, Bossert and Felipe Freitas examined DNA, fossils, and specimens to trace bees genealogy back more than 120 million years ago, earlier than most prior estimates.

from more than 200 bee species.

Previous research established that the first bees likely evolved from wasps, transitioning from predators to collectors of nectar and pollen.

This study shows they arose in arid regions of western Gondwana during the early Cretaceous period. “We now know that bees are originally southern hemisphere insects,” says Bossert.

As the new continents formed, bees moved north, diversifying and spreading in a parallel partnership with flowering plants. Later, they colonized India and Australia.

The tropical regions of the western hemisphere have an exceptionally rich flora, and that diversity may be due to their longtime association with bees, authors noted. One quarter of all flowering plants belong to the rose family, which make up a significant share of the tropical and temperate host plants for bees.

Their findings are a useful first step in revealing how bees and flowering plants evolved together.

“People are paying more attention to the conservation of bees and are trying to keep these species alive where they are,” said co-author Elizabeth Murray. Understanding how bees spread and filled their modern ecological niches could help keep pollinator populations healthy. ■

Gene-edited grapes possess natural preservation properties GreenVenus, LLC, a California agricultural biotech company announced new breeding innovations aimed at revolutionizing the production of high-quality wines without using sulfites.

“We are excited to bring modern breeding technologies such as gene editing to wine grapes,” said Dr. Shiv Tiwari, CEO of GreenVenus. “We are making significant progress in developing new grape varieties that require fewer chemical inputs while ensuring the production of premium-quality wines.”

Oxidation, or browning, during grape juice processing can affect the colour, phenolic content, and overall quality of wines. Sulfur dioxide, commonly used to prevent undesired oxidation, has been linked to adverse health effects for individuals who are sensitive or allergic to

sulfites. As a result, there is a growing demand for sustainable alternatives to address oxidation without compromising wine quality and safety.

The achievement resulted from a collaboration between GreenVenus and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Plant Transformation Facility at UC Davis, who developed a breakthrough platform that allows for the

regeneration of gene-edited plants from single cells of multiple grape varieties.

“These innovations are only the beginning.

Our technologies hold tremendous promise to enhance the resistance of wine grapes to destructive diseases, reduce the reliance on chemical interventions and promote environmentally friendly vinification practices.” ■ Photos contributed

Ontario fruit growers welcome pilot for temporary foreign workers Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers are pleased with a new streamlined application process the recognized employer who hire temporary foreign workers.

“We appreciate the federal government taking this action to support farm employers while ensuring workers’ rights continue to be protected,” says Bill George, grape grower and chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association labour section.

“Fruit and vegetable growers have long been asking for a streamlined application process for employers with a strong history of program compliance.”

The new Recognized Employer Program (REP) launched in September for the 2024 growing season for employers in the primary agriculture sector and includes the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)

and the agriculture stream of the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program.

The pilot will reduce the administrative burden for repeat employers who have a demonstrated history of compliance with program requirements. This includes a simplified Labour Market Impact Assessment that will be valid for up to 36 months.

Every year, Ontario fruit and vegetable growers employ approximately 20,000 seasonal and temporary foreign workers who come to Canada legally through the government regulated programs.

Once here, these legal workers have the same rights and privileges as Canadian workers doing the same work and their farm employers, who are subject to frequent federal, provincial, and foreign government compliance inspections, have the same, and in some

 NEWS & EVENTS

Under the new program, recognized employers will have a streamlined application process when hiring foreign workers.

cases higher obligations to them as they do for their Canadian employees.

“These workers play an essential role in Canada’s domestic food security and REP will help ensure growers can more easily access the labour they need to support the continued growth and viability of our fruit and vegetable production system,” adds George. ■

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 NEWS & EVENTS SOLVERO WINES

Gem of Summerland’s Garnet Valley opens its doors

BY YVONNE TURGEON

The newest winery in Summerland is taking the efforts of two generations as vineyard manager and president Matt Sartor partners with his parents, proprietors Bob and Andrea Sartor to open Solvero Wines on Wildhorse Road.

“I had pictured a nice flat piece of land somewhere,” says Bob. “Then Matt took us to see this piece of land, and I remember thinking, ‘how the heck are we going to farm this? It is very steep.’”

Steep it is. At 600 metres in elevation, Solvero’s estate vineyard in the Garnet Valley is one of the highest wineries in B.C. As Bob tells their origin story, “Matt kept saying, ‘No, this is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; this is the perfect valley, the perfect orientation. This is the one.’ He always had a valid reason as to why it had to be this piece of land. And he eventually got us excited about this piece.”

The name “Solvero” was created by combining the Latin words solo and vero to form the motto “truth in soil.” Integrity and honesty in all aspects of viticulture and winemaking are central to the winery team’s ethos, as are family values.

Matt’s grandparents emigrated from Europe after World War II. “The family has been growing grapes and making wine there for as long as we can remember,” says Bob. “I grew up where, for both lunch and supper, wine was served because my parents were Italian. Wine was always something that was in my life. I jumped at the opportunity to do this.”

For the past two years, winemaker and general manager Alison Moyes worked closely with the family to develop the vision, craft the wines, and establish the state-ofthe-art wine production facility.

Winemaker Alison Moyes joins Andrea and Bob Sartor and their son Matt in a toast to the opening of Solvero Wines.

The portfolio is very focused, with the initial wine release including a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir Rosé, each made in

At 600 metres in elevation, Solvero’s estate vineyard in the Garnet Valley is one of the highest wineries in B.C.

Winery photos by Jon Adrian, group photo by Yvonne Turgeon

16 orchardandvine.net

small quantities. The grapes are all grown in Summerland on the Solvero’s two vineyard properties, one at the estate in Garnet Valley and the second from a block in Happy Valley. They’re also partnering with local growers.

The site in Garnet Valley was specifically selected for Burgundian varietals. For winemaker Moyes, the flagship is their Pinot Noir. Ten acres are planted with seven different clones of Pinot Noir grapes. Signature berry fruit and spicy notes of this red varietal wine mix with a bit of minerality in the 2019 Solvero Pinot Noir ($35.) The wine barrel aged for 12 months, with 25 percent in new French oak.

In 2023, the winery will have Pinot Noir from all three different sub-GIs (sub-Geographical Indications) in Summerland: Bench, Lakefront and Valley. Moyes says they’re working towards a series of Pinot Noirs that reflect those different sub-GIs. At the winery opening launch, Matt takes a group up the steep hill to see the rows of densely planted chardonnay on a previously forested block of land. The grapes are all Chardonnay Clone 588, a grape that “is particularly good at reflecting its place.” With 3,000 plants per acre, the block will have a lower yield per plant, but should yield good quality.

The elevation and the narrowness of Garnet Valley reduce sunlight hours slightly from the main valley, explains Moyes. “What that translates to here is retaining natural acidity. I haven’t had to acidify any of these wines. They’re all naturally acidic, which is uncommon for the Valley. We get full flavour development and physiological ripeness in the fruit at lower sugar levels.”

“We are in a harsh climate here with our very high elevation,” she adds. “So we get cold temperatures in the winter; the slopes really help because the cold air doesn’t cool in one location. It flows across the vineyard rows.”

For Pinot Gris lovers, the high slopes at Solvero have yielded grapes that, in the hands of Moyes, have been crafted into a stunning vintage. With a full mouthfeel, the textured 2022 Solvero Pinot Gris ($25) greets you with nectarine, peachy and almond notes that carry on to meet up with flavours of green apple. The 2022 Solvero Rosé ($25), made with 100 percent Pinot Noir, presents a subtle pink with a savouriness yearning to be explored.

The dry wine had three hours of skin contact, followed by a gentle press and cool fermented in stainless steel.

Now after almost ten years of vineyard development and building, the newly constructed winery is open for tastings, where visitors are guided personally by winemaker Alison Moyes or vineyard manager Matt Sartor. The grape-toglass wine experience finishes with a seated tasting on the crushpad with wines served in varietal-specific glassware.

Ready to head up the slope? Book in advance at solverowines.ca. ■

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 NEWS & EVENTS

Ag program helps new farmers find their land match More B.C. farmland is being a pivotal role in the province’s food security,” put back into said Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture production, and Food. “By helping to match them with providing affordable and productive farmland, we are increased food supporting producers starting or growing security, with their agricultural business while ensuring more than 4,500 we have more fresh local food available.” hectares (11,300 With the support of regional land acres) leased matchers, the program matched 284 by new and new farmers with land in the past year.

BC Agricuture and Food Minister young farmers Farmers such as Jason Stashko and Pam Alexis through the B.C. Krystyna Delahaye, who began their Land Matching Program. first farming venture in less-than-ideal soil, “The next generation of are now thriving. “When we sought to put B.C. farmers are going to play down our farm roots, we were discouraged

by the unavailability of land,” she said.

The couple were matched to 0.8 hectares (two acres) of fertile farmland in Surrey.

The two are now successfully growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. By supplying local restaurants, stores and farmers markets, they have fostered local partnerships and offer seasonal agriculture boxes.

“Access to land is the No. 1 barrier facing new farmers today,” said program manager Sara Dent, with the Young Agrarians. “With today’s land prices, it is essential that new and established farmers can access affordable land to grow food for the future of our local food systems.” ■

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new Mediterranean-inspired property located on the Naramata Bench, High Note Estate Winey, held its grand opening on August 10.

“High Note is the culmination of a lifelong dream, and we are thrilled to share it with everyone,” said founder Bert Evertt. “Our wines echo the beauty of the Okanagan Valley with a nod to the Mediterranean—places that inspired a life surrounded by fine wines. Each bottle is a tribute to our exceptional terroir and places that inspire our dreams.”

Under the direction of consulting winemaker Pascal Madevon, High Note marks the third addition to the Montalvino family of wineries, following Gadzook Vinery and Uppercase Winery.

With a distinguished career as an accomplished opera singer, Evertt traversed Europe during his youth and fell in love with wines of the Mediterranean region. Decades later, Bert’s love for wine lead him to acquire 20 acres on the Black Sage Bench and construct three distinctive wineries.

The High Note estate is surrounded by a small three-acre picturesque vineyard, planted predominantly to Pinot Grigio. The limited quality portfolio includes 2022 releases of Soubrette Pinot Grigio, Capriccio Riesling, Continuo Rose and 2021 vintages of Verismo Syrah and Cadenza Red Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. ■

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Vineyard

Winter damage cuts Vineyards along the Black Sage Bench in the South Okanagan saw extremes damage from the stark winter temperatures.

Extensive winter damage, on top of weather events the previous two years, signals change for grape growers in B.C. As viticulturists each deal with the state of their vines, some say this might be the time for an industry reset.

22 orchardandvine.net

Reset into yields

BY MYRNA STARK LEADER

O

nly harvest will provide final numbers, but predictions of low yields and dead vines appear to be playing out across much of B.C.’s strongest grape producing region, the Okanagan.

Depending on the situation, growers are nursing the grapes they have, trying to retrain damaged vines, taking cuttings to retain unique varieties, or removing dead vines. If estimates hold true, 30 per cent of vines need replanting.

That means what happens now will set B.C.’s 30-year-old wine industry up for the next 25 years.

Photo by Yvonne Turgeon

What happened?

On December 21 and 22, cold weather across B.C. significantly impacted grape production as 2022 came to an end.

Temperatures in the Interior dropped below -20°C for an extended period, plummeting to -30°C in Kelowna and West Kelowna. This further exacerbated the damage to vines already affected by the 2021 heat dome and bud damage during the winter of 2021- 2022.

Additionally, certain vines didn’t have sufficient time to acclimatize when temperatures rapidly shifted from unseasonably warm to well below normal in late October 2022.

An early 2023 growing season report by Ben-Min Chang from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Summerland Research and Development Centre estimates grape crop losses across the Okanagan to be between 43 and 70 percent.

This region accounts for over 70 percent of B.C.’s historical yield.

Although specific areas and grape varieties are faring slightly better, projections suggest that grape and wine production for the 2023 vintages could decline by as much as 56 percent. White wine grape varieties appear to be less severely impacted

Fall 2023 |

23

compared to reds, which might experience losses of over 95 percent for varieties like Syrah and Malbec.

Economically, studies indicate that industry revenues could drop by $341 million (43 percent), resulting in a $100 million reduction in government tax revenues from B.C. wine sales.

Resilience and risk-tolerance required

In 2014, after soil sampling, watching the weather and doing his due diligence, Matt Sarto planted ten acres of grapes at 680 metres elevation on what was a mountainside forest in the Garnet Valley of Summerland. Although he anticipates a low yielding site, the viticulturalist has since planted another six acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. The vines, plus another five acres belonging to

his parents and some leased acres, will provide the grapes for Solvero Winery. It’s Summerland B.C.’s newest winery, opened in August.

As expected with new plantings, there won’t be much harvest this year. Of the less than favourable weather of recent years, Matt says he tries not to think about weather risks or he’d never sleep again.

“One thing we have in our corner is we get dramatically more snow out here than most of the rest of the valley. So, by the time we hit our first proper freeze last winter, I believe, November 13, we already had a reasonable snowpack on the ground. That does a reasonable job insulating buds at the bottom of the plant so the worst-case scenario for us, for the most part, is not vine mortality so much as the vines being knocked down to the graft union.”

Damages prompt calls for help

While Sarto’s vines might have escaped the worst, the overall vine mortality and limited grape yields prompted Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) to appeal for provincial and federal assistance. During a June press conference in Kelowna, Miles Prodan, president and CEO, declared the situation a disaster.

Winery representatives were on hand to share insights of the significant vine damage—the resulting negative impact on their 2023 wine production. Those speaking out were Dapinder Gill, general manager at Kismet Estate Winery in Oliver, and from Kelowna, David Paterson, general manager and winemaker at Tantalus Winery and Grant Stanley, general manager and winemaker at Spearhead Winery.

Viticulturalist Matt Sarto saw little winter damage in his young vines recently planted on the high slopes of the Garnet Valley in Summerland.

24 orchardandvine.net

Photos by Myrna Stark Leader

Asks included: updating crop insurance models to reflect today’s costs of production/replant, provincial and federal financial support, and, for the short-term, allowing grapes from outside B.C. to help make 2023 B.C. vintages.

B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis, visited the region a week later, responding with assistance.

Highlights include • $15 million Perennial Crop Renewal program, which now includes wine grapes as an eligible crop. (Applications for plant removal were paused on June 16, 2023, as funds were oversubscribed. The cap was lowered from 20 acres to 15 and as of August 4, $8 million has been awarded.)

• A $20 million Agricultural Water Infrastructure program to improve water management and supply for B.C. producers.

• A $4 million federal/ provincial funded Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) program, which opened for applications in August. Running for over 15 years, the program aims to help producers become more resilient to climate change and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Way forward not unanimous At Frind Estate Winery in West Kelowna, they’ve been planting about 100 acres of grapes a year. Owner Markus Frind says they’ll have about half of what they expected and will be short some varieties this year.

Even so, he isn’t in favour of outside grape juice or grapes being allowed.

“If you can bring in grapes from other countries or places such as California and label it as B.C. wine, it will instantly wipe out all of the grape farmers, followed by real estate prices. It will also destroy the reputation of B.C. wine we’ve spent the last 30 years building,” he says.

GROWER DAY

Planning before planting

For growers considering replanting, an expert panel at the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association August Grower Day stressed planning before planting.

Evaluating site suitability is of utmost importance. This involves assessing light exposure, specific weather conditions, nearby crops, potential insect or disease risks, and conducting comprehensive soil analyses (including nematode presence, salinity, pH levels, and soil organic matter content). In soil amendments are necessary, considerations include the types of amendments, application timing, supply sources, and application methods. Furthermore, if previous crops were present, the potential for soil-borne diseases must be weighed.

“Increasingly monitoring soil carbon content is going to be more important, so be sure to get a baseline,” said Dr Tom Forge, researcher in soil ecology and nematology with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada’s Summerland Research Centre.

Dr. Tom Forge

Besides soil considerations, water plays a pivotal role.

Growers need to consider present and future water requirements, water sources and quality, and irrigation systems as well as current and upcoming regulations such as the need for backflow prevention devices.

“Replanting offers the opportunity to redo your irrigation plan, system and design, getting it right from the beginning, like having the water resource in the centre of the vineyard which tends to be most efficient,” says German Barahona of Southern Irrigation, headquartered in Chilliwack, B.C.

German Barahona

Planning should also take into account ecological factors like wildlife habitat retention, native species and plant diversity, invasive species management, cover cropping, crops between vines and machinery.

“Can you have smaller equipment, maybe electric, or that will be less impactful on your soils?” suggested researcher Rhonda Millikin. “Think about having as little bare ground as you can. Can you plant at the end of rows or between rows?”

Rhonda Millikin

Finally, as important as what’s grown are thoughts of insurance, other programs, data collection, record keeping and measuring against pre-determined goals.

“What you measure, you can manage,” Ruth King of Sustainable Winegrowing B.C. reminded growers.

Ruth King

Fall 2023 |

25

Frind’s winemaker Eric Von Krosigk agrees. “Our customers recognize that when they purchase a bottle of B.C. wine, it truly originates and is produced in B.C. Each bottle contributes to the local economy and adds value to the agricultural sector.

Moreover, granting direct access to our markets for locally bottled or vinted international wines would unleash a flood of international legal challenges, ultimately leading to the survival of only the largest commercial B.C. wineries.”

“Often, we see new property owners wanting to grow the grapes they love to drink. As we move forward, it’s going to be more important to plant what’s sustainable — and that might not be the heavy reds.”

— Viticulturalist Jon Furkalo Earlco Vineyards

Naramata Bench escapes much damage

“We’re really lucky,” says grape grower Rod King who cultivates Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris on the Naramata Bench near Penticton. The region seems to have fared a bit better. The thirdgeneration grower says his crop should align with his five-year average, pending the impact of fall weather.

Okanagan Lake moderates the Bench, causing his thermometer to only dip just below the -20°C mark in December. However, at the beginning of November, he had helicopters blowing six to eight inches of snow off his 40 acres of vines. That was followed by four days of temperatures between -9°C to -10°C. Normally, it likely wouldn’t be an issue except a cool wet spring delayed bud break, so come the end of October, he was still harvesting grapes in unseasonably warm conditions.

“Basically, the vines had no time to acclimatize for winter,” says King.

Like others, King is seeing vigorous vine and leaf growth as plants strive to recover, but he expresses concern about their susceptibility to cold weather in the coming fall. He says some of the region’s newer growers may not recall severe cold, such as the one in 1968/69 when the lake froze.

Due to the generally higher market value of wine grapes compared to other fruits, more acres have been planted in places they’ve never been.

26 orchardandvine.net

The loss of vines could mean a $133 million in direct revenue lost to the BC wine industry with 29% of total acreage estimated to be replanted.

Young vines are thriving in the Kismet Winery in Oliver that was replanted this spring.

Top photo by Myrna Stark Leader; lower photo by Yvonne Turgeon

Retraining vines

Viticulturalist Jon Furkalo, Earlco Vineyards, favours retraining vines over replanting. Consulting since 2016 in Naramata, Penticton and Summerland, Furkalo now manages about 150 grape acres in addition to 50 acres of his client’s vineyards.

Furkalo notes reestablished vines will likely produce grapes sooner than new plants, and even with insurance and perhaps some government funding, replanting can be expensive. Demand for vines is likely to increase prices. Labour is costly and hard to find, and the biggest issue may be plant availability.

He thinks the combination of this year’s weather damage, coupled with weather impacts over the past two or three years, might be enough to cause a reset in vineyard varieties, particularly winter-hardy Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

“A lot of people move to the Okanagan with a notion of this picturesque valley and region that can produce wine and perhaps with less knowledge of the realities of growing,” he says. “Often, we see new property owners wanting to grow the grapes they love to drink. As we move forward, it’s going to be more important to plant what’s sustainable — and that might not be the heavy reds.”

Insurance supports

Currently, growers have four national insurance programs, , that they can access: AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest and AgriRecovery.

Each has specific criteria.

“In speaking with our clients, pretty much everyone has been hit (by weather impacts) as far away as Creston,” says wine industry business adviser Geoff McIntyre, from MNP Kelowna.

While most grape producers carry AgriInsurance, basic production insurance, less participate in AgriStabilty, a program intended to protects Canadian producers against large declines in farming income

Photo by Myrna Stark Leader

One way to speed up new vine production may be sourcing greenvine rootstock compared to dormant vines. However, living vines need special consideration like water, fertilizer and time to adapt to their new location. Shipping costs will be higher because vines are packed differently than dormant vines. One suggestion is for growers to speak with other growers who’ve imported live vines to learn from their experience.

for reasons such as production loss, increased costs and market conditions.

The government recently extended the deadline to apply to the program to June 2024.

“The government is going to be looking at AgriStability to see who is enrolled,” says McIntryre, calling it a factor in any further government assistance.

He says the upside to events like ever winter damage, is the reexamination of policies and programs that follows, leading to clarity about who can participate and how.

As it stands today, wineries haven’t been involved in insurance in a big way unless they are growing most of their own grapes. He says true estate wineries are typically eligible for all these programs but other wineries are out of luck.

“We’re trying to get the government to understand that there will be wineries that don’t qualify for existing programs. Often the vineyard business is separate from the winery corporation. But there is little clarity about how businesses like this will be treated under AgriStability.”

Fall 2023 |

27

The push continued for governments to announce an AgriRecovery more targeted disaster relief program for B.C. In mid-June 19, the Canadian and Ontario governments announced an AgriRecovery Program for Ontario growers who lost vines in winter 2021-22.

Access to financing

Whether producers need to wait for vines to re-grow or choose to they replant, seeing grape production come back to average levels will take two to five years and additional investments.

In Kelowna, Todd Glassman, agproduction senior relationship manager

with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) says 75 per cent of the growers he’s reached out to will be using FCC special programs. Programs like: payment deferrals, which will be capitalized back into the loan and extend amortization by one year to minimize the payment increase; a two-year line of credit up to 500k, over and above their current line of credit; or a growing loan which all producers can utilize.

“We are being proactive in reaching out to see if and how much they would need for replanting. says Glassman. “However, the bigger issue is sourcing the vines.”

Glassman’s colleague, senior

relationship manager Camilla Diaz also works with agribusinesses.

“On the commercial financing side, we have only done deferrals (no capitalization, and only up to six months), and extension of the amortization by the length of the deferral. We have done some new financing to cover replant expenses and will likely look at additional working capital, depending on the need.

“All are on a case-by-case basis.”

Diaz adds that some clients face additional expenses managing plants due to top loss, expenses that don’t qualify under replant, but in those case, FCC may be willing to finance.

Many vines that pushed through the cold have produced lots of green leaves and shoots this year as they try to renew themselves, making them appear healthy to untrained eyes. However, the growth of greenery has meant the quantity of fruit on the vines is limited.

28 orchardandvine.net

Photo by Myrna Stark Leader

Replacement vines, buyer beware

Replacing vines sounds easy but may prove challenging.

Along with B.C. growers, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Washington will also be sourcing vines. Canada has limited capacity to supply all the vines that might be required.

“We’re at a crossroads for certified Canadian plant material,” Ross Wise, Canadian Grapevine Certification Network member and winemaker at Black Hills Estate Winery told growers during a vine sourcing panel at the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association Grower Day held August 3.

Since testing standards and what is tested for are not consistent across countries, it’s up to growers to ensure they source clean vines. For example, France doesn’t test for grapevine red blotch disease. Blotch and leafroll disease are the two most common issues in B.C. “The onus is on the grower,” says Wise. “You need to know what certification is for everywhere you get vines from.

What are they tested for? How many are tested?”

To truly see how a grape variety is growing, Andrew Peller’s senior viticulturalist, Devin Methven, encouraged growers to visit the nursery they intend to purchase from, inspect the vines and build an on-going relationship.

Winemaker Severine Pinte of Le Vieux Pin and Lastella wineries shared how she once sourced vine she assumed clean from a U.S. nursery only to find snails and be denied planting. She urged growers to “read the fine print and demand to know what each nursery certifies.”

Wise says there are early discussions occurring about testing plants from outside Canada in Canada but nothing is currently in place.

Dr. Sudarsana Poojari, principal scientist at Brock University, CGCN’s testing facility encouraged growers to randomly test roots and scions which can be done without damaging the plants.

“If you graft onto rootstock that has disease, it might take one to two years to see a virus like Red Blotch that moves very slowly.”

Signs of hope

At the end of August, the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association is expected to report to government addressing what needs to be done by government and industry to set the industry up for the future. While the report wasn’t final at the time of writing, authors Cascadia Strategy Consulting suggest there are still huge opportunities to grow the 100-percent B.C. wine market, pointing to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as international markets.

Some ideas the report may put forward as next steps include replant support, expanding grape acreage, ensuring clean plant material, disease spread prevention, variety selection expansion and more research like variety trials. Another suggestion may centre around data, more of it, modernization of how it is collected and stored, and better sharing by involved organizations. “We need to improve the breadth, frequency and quality of data and then we need to better use this date to help people make decisions,” says Liam Elsworth of Cascadia. ■

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Fall 2023 |

29

Oliver

Expansion Looking for increased returns and maximum efficiencies, BC Tree Fruits invests millions to install the latests fruit grading and packing technology at its expanded Oliver plant.

30 orchardandvine.net

CEO on Leave

BC Tree Fruits board chair Andre Scheepers

BY YVONNE TURGEON

A

$40-million investment by BC Tree Fruits is adding the best-in-class optical sorting, robotics, enhanced water filtration, and improved fruit transfer systems to an expanded plant in Oliver.

“The changes being made will result in better fruit handling for our growers, greater energy efficiency, reduced water usage and improved health & safety for our employees,” says Craig Ogilvie, vice president of supply chain with the cooperative.

Local politicians and the cooperative’s leadership gathered to break ground on the expansion in early July.

“These are the types of investments that will create a sustainable future, said BC Tree Fruits CEO Warren Sarafinchan. “For a business to have the scale and magnitude we ultimately need, we need world-class equipment that will allow us to produce at the lowest cost and best possible quality.”

“The new technology that we are putting in place is second to none,” he adds. “We have traveled the world looking at equipment, talking to different organizations of our type, and we are confident that with the packaging lines and the grading lines that we’re putting in, there will be no one in this industry that will be as efficient as us.”

The first phase of upgrades was put in place for the 2023 crop, with construction and installation happening alongside the summer fruit daily operations. The expansion is also adding additional cold storage rooms and pre-grading lines.

The project is slotted for completion for the 2024 crop.

Original plans for BC Tree Fruits to build a so-called “super plant” near the Kelowna International Airport were earlier shelved in 2022 as the cooperative shifted its plans to Oliver.

The management team cites a sharp rise in construction costs and interest rates.

“When you factor in increases in construction costs, increases in interest rates, and the level of urgency to get our returns to a more sustainable level for our growers, we can start to increase grower returns and see benefits from this project as early as next year.”

However, the decision enraged many growers, particularly those with farms in the north, who launched a determined drive to replace the CEO and board of directors. At the November 2022 meeting, those growers fell short of meeting the requirement for a 66.6% majority.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, board chair Andre Scheepers said, “BC Treefruits made a courageous decision, as did the members at a meeting that made this decision, that in order to thrive in an ever-evolving economy, we recognize the need for change. We understand that failing to adapt would result in us being overshadowed by emerging competitors.”

Scheepers acknowledged that change takes work. “To undertake such a monumental decision requires trust, trust in the leadership and

BC Tree Fruits Cooperative CEO Warren Sarafinchan is taking a break after what anyone would concede was a tough year.

BC Tree Fruits says Sarafinchan took an extended leave of absence starting on August 5, partly due to a battle with COVID-19, and partly due to the toll taken by four years of transformation and intense controversy within the Cooperative.

“This decision comes as he focuses on recovering from COVID and takes some much-needed time to rest with his family,” co-op chair Andre Scheepers said in a letter to staff and Cooperative members.

“He is also taking that time to consider his future with BC

Tree Fruits Cooperative.”

The Co-op’ Chief Financial Officer, Doug Pankiw, will take on the role of acting-CEO in Sarafinchan’s absence.

Sarafinchan was hired at a time when grower revenues and profits were in decline. He sought to reverse that trend by introducing minimum pricing for fruit sold through the BCTFC, sold off some unneeded or money-losing assets, and helped make changes to the organizations board of directors.

However, it was the decision to cancel the building of a new, state-of-the-art fruit packing plant in Kelowna that caused a major rift between many growers and the leadership of the BCTFC. Sarafinchan told Orchard & Vine that the decision was made due to major increases in the cost of the project due to inflation, and a desire to more quickly increase the returns growers were getting for their fruit.—Gary Symons

Photos by Yvonne Turgeon

Fall 2023 |

31

Orderly Marketing Project A new website has been launched to inform commercial apple growers in B.C. about the concept of ‘orderly marketing.’

Glen Lucas, general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association, says the idea of orderly marketing is being looked at as a way to stabilize prices for growers.

“In recent years many apple growers report they have faced significant financial stress as evidenced by continued poor grower returns, shrinking acreage, and reduced market share, even in British Columbia,” said Lucas. “One possible solution is orderly marketing.”

The concept is being explored by the Orderly Marketing Project Management Committee, which is a volunteer group made up of growers and industry representatives. The Committee has now launched an information website at AppleOrderlyMarketingForum. wordpress.com.

“Orderly marketing is simply a way to describe how B.C. apple growers may achieve better results. For example, in marketing and promotion—by working together rather than apart,” said Lucas. “Several other commodities have benefitted from some form of orderly marketing, each designed to serve the unique needs of that sector.

The purpose of this new website is simply to begin sharing information.

Growers will begin to receive more information over the next few months.

The program is part of The Path Forward project created by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which created an advisory group to look at a range of critical issues facing the industry, including marketing. Some of the world’s leading economists have been engaged to help examine the question of marketing.

Their research will be provided to growers once it’s completed.

“We are asking growers to get involved: check out the website, meet with other growers to discuss this idea, and ask lots of questions,” said Lucas.—Gary Symons

32 orchardandvine.net

“To undertake such a monumental decision requires trust, trust in the leadership and trust in the people that make decisions on on your behalf.”

— Andre Scheepers, chair, BC Tree Fruits board of directors

trust in the people that make decisions on on your behalf. We understand the importance of this privilege, and we do not take it lightly.

“Countless hours and resources have been invested in transforming the very fabric of BC Tree Fruits—reshaping our business practice and reimagining our future. Our goal is been to establish a foundation that allows our company to thrive.”

While the move to centralized operation in the south comes with some increased transportation costs, BC Tree Fruits reported that “operating with one facility with world class packing and grading equipment far outweigh the small increase in transportation costs,” as earlier reported in Orchard & Vine.

An analysis undertaken by the cooperative focused on the transportation costs, and if fruit would incur damage in transit to the Oliver packing house.

“There was a question that growers had about, ‘will our fruits be damaged more by transit from the north to the south?’

And the answer to that is ‘no,’” Sarafinchan said.

Welcoming the investment in the Southern community, Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen said, “It’s not just an investment in the town of Oliver, but it’s also an investment in the South Okanagan and the surrounding community. It is exciting news for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative and for their the grower families in the area that bring their fruit here. This investment is going to strengthen our economy and create jobs for residents.

“I think the most important thing is it’s going to serve to ensure the future viability and success of the cooperative.” ■

BC Tree Fruits broke ground on the the expnsion to the Oliver facility this July. Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary Similkameen; Warren Sarafinchan, president and CEO of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative; Richard Cannings, Member of Parliament for the South Okanagan, Martin Johansen Mayor of Oliver; Andre Scheepers, chair of the board of directors for BC Tree Fruits were on hand fro the ceremony.

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33

H GRASS OPPE Innocents among the guilty pests

BY RONDA PAYNE

A

s the tractor drives between rows in the vineyard, hundreds of hungry devils go flying.

This year in B.C., most farmers facing the wily herbivories have had enough, but sadly have to wait until next year to gain any control over the situation according to Susanna Acheampong, entomologist with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

“Last year I got a few reports [of excessive grasshoppers], but not a lot,” she says. “This year is quite high.

“To control them effectively, you have to get them when they are young, before they start flying. Once they start flying it’s very, very difficult for farmers to control them.”

34 orchardandvine.net

She says outbreaks have been most significant in the ThompsonNicola region, Summerland, Cawston and Christina Lake.

However, there are innocents among the vandals.

Of the more than 60 grasshopper species in B.C., Acheampong says only four cause damage. Hopefully, the 56 others make it between the tractor treads. Yet, damage or not, the problem is annoying for people like Eckhard Zeidler, owner and winemaker of Cliff and Gorge Vineyards in Lillooet.

“Well, we’ve got about eight billion of them; if I’m out on the tractor, they are landing all over me,” he says. But he’s able to feed his friend

Carl the ones he catches. “Carl, the 25-year-old lizard is very happy.

He’s getting a big feast this year.”

Because the property also includes about 100 acres of alfalfa, it would take far more than a fly swatter to keep the grasshoppers from moving into the eight acres of vines.

“They are very, very rarely in the canopy,” he says. “If I see them on the vines, they’ve pretty much just landed there by accident, but they are not impacting our vines.”

Acheampong says the destructive ones are most preferential to a diet of grasses and broadleaf plants, but when the buffet gets scarce, they find new culinary delights. They make

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Grasshoppers are causing chaos but not all that appear are to blame for crop damage.

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their way into orchards, vineyards and cultivated fields like teenagers heading into a 7-Eleven at lunchtime.

She’s seen damage in all kinds of crops and their ravenous appetites are causing serious concerns for livestock farmers this year as they munch through grazing and forage lands.

Cut flower grower Rachel Nichols of Fern’s Field in Princeton has seen far too many of the four damaging varieties get fancy with food choices. Edible flowers are fine for humans, but this is just too much.

“We normally have a small problem with them that usually minimal interventions can deter, but this year, it’s a mega problem,” she says.

Photo courtesy of BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Fall 2023 |

35

While grasshoppers prefer grasses, as their regular diet is consumed, they move on to trees, flowers and vines.

“When they are young it’s hard to see them. They are less than a half inch long.

Controls are needed if their numbers are above 13 per square metre. We want the farmers to be using an integrated approach.”

— Susanna Acheampong Entomologist with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food

“Walking through the field and grasshoppers are flying in front of you in a cloud of grasshopper. You have to shake them off a stem to pick flowers.

It’s fine if they hit you, but when you start feeling their scratchy legs, it’s a little more yuck than normal.”

It wouldn’t be so bad if it was only shaking them off stems to pick flowers, but some grasshoppers are speeding up the process.

“First, they start with defoliating certain types,” she says. “They defoliated our yarrow crop. They’ve gotten into all the gladiolas. After they get through the greens, they started chewing the petals.”

If they don’t like those options, Nichols says they go for “the juicy bits”—the stems—leaving the flower head to die. She estimates damage to be about 30 to 40 per cent of the crop.

“It’s very discouraging,” she says.

“We have some bag netting which

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36 orchardandvine.net

is keeping out some. But it’s not on all our crops. We prioritize.”

Zeidler is grateful the invasion isn’t as bad as about eight years ago when he lost a significant portion of the alfalfa.

He’s not seen any correlation between the winter damage in his grapes and grasshoppers finding a shady spot to hang out and rub their legs.

Now is the time to watch where they are congregating and laying eggs, like a massive future newborn ward.

Mark areas and start monitoring for hatching in May and June with a sweeper net and other tools. It’s the best time to get control, but this too comes with challenges.

“When they are young it’s hard to see them. They are less than a half inch long,” says Acheampong. “Controls

are needed if their numbers are above 13 per square metre.

“We want the farmers to be using an integrated approach.”

Parasitoid flies, wasps, ants, beetles, spiders, birds and rodents all like grasshopper larvae and/or adults. Plus, they are easily diseased and killed in wet conditions.

Additional controls include cultural, biological and chemical.

“It’s weather dependent,” she says of the flux of grasshoppers. “If we get an early winter, cold weather, then the females can’t lay all of their eggs before they die. But, if we have dry, hot weather for a couple of years, then you have these outbreak situations.”

If grasshoppers have knobs on their antennae, have red, yellow or orange hind wings and sing or cackle, they aren’t destructive.

Turns out silent is deadly. ■

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Photo courtesy of BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food

 WORD ON WINE | KELLY JOSEPHSON

Greg Berti of Andrew Peller, representing large member wineries

Wine Growers British Columbia welcomes new Board of Directors

W Mike Dowell, Liber Farm and Winery, representing small member wineries

Christa-Lee McWatters, Time Family of Wines, representing medium member wineries

Chris Turyk, Unsworth Vineyards, representing medium member wineries

Sheila Whittaker, Nostalgia Wines, representing small member wineries

ine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) hosted its Annual General Meeting virtually on September 6, 2023. The meeting commenced with a keynote address from the Honourable Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food speaking to B.C. winery proprietors and operators, continued with the presentation of the WGBC fiscal year in review, and culminated with the election of new directors to the Board.

The WGBC Board comprises of nine voting directors representing all full member wineries. The election for two seats available nominated by small member wineries took place between Erin Korpisto of Terravista Vineyards, Mike Dowell of Liber Farm and Winery, and Sheila Whittaker of Nostalgia Wines. The member winery vote determined Dowell and Whittaker will serve three-year terms representing small member wineries on the Board.

For two seats available, nominated by medium member wineries, the vote took place between Chris Turyk of Unsworth Vineyards, Christa-Lee McWatters of Time Family of Wines, and Angela Lyons of Quails’ Gate Estate Winery. Turyk and McWatters, were elected to serve three- and two-year terms respectively. Nominated for the one seat available by large member wineries, Greg Berti of Andrew Peller was elected by acclamation.

Continuing their directorships are Paul Sawler of Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Josh Stewart of Arterra Wines, Samantha Collins of Mission Hill Family Estate, and Adam Woodward of Privato Winery & Vineyard. Miles Prodan, CEO & president will continue as an ex officio non-voting member.

The WGBC Board of Directors will provide strategic guidance and effective oversight for the organization and B.C. wine industry, informed by current opportunities and challenges including recently released data on the economic impact of B.C. wine, the impacts of climate change on the B.C. wine grape crop yield, and rising inflation pressures.

“The pandemic was tough on B.C. wineries and over this past year we saw inflation and extreme weather events become added barriers to recovery.

Despite the challenges, the recently released data measuring the economic impact of BC wine at a substantial $3.75 billion annually demonstrates the potential of the industry,” said Prodan.

“We look forward to working with our new and continuing Board members to grow back stronger and realize the full potential of the BC wine industry on the road to Wine BC 2030.”

The full report on the economic impact of the BC wine industry is available on WineBC.com, as is the Wine BC 2030 Long-Term Strategic Plan, a visionary roadmap central to the future growth, vitality, and profitability of the BC wine industry.

WGBC would like to thank outgoing member Charlie Baessler of Corcelettes Estate Winery, for his contributions to the Board and wish all of BC wine country a fruitful harvest season. ■ Kelly Josephson is communications manager for Wine Growers BC which represent the interests of B.C. wineries dedicated to producing 100% B.C. grape wine. Follow @WinesofBC or find them on the web at winebc.com.

Fall 2023 |

37

 MONEY MATTERS | GEOFF MCINTYRE

AGRISTABILITY AND PRODUCTION INSURANCE

How the government business risk management programs supplement each other and why grape growers need to participate in both

T

he 2023 crop year for wine grape growers in B.C. is shaping up to be like no other — and not in a good way.

The deep freeze in December 2022 had a severe impact on both vines and buds.

Even if the vines survived, a Member Survey commissioned by Wine Growers of B.C. earlier this year estimates that the 2023 crop could be down as much as 54 percent. That estimate does not include the possible impact of smoke damage to grapes from this summer’s widespread wildfires.

It all adds up to a pretty ugly scenario for B.C. grape growers and wineries.

The Federal/Provincial Agriculture risk management program suite contains two key programs that allow primary agricultural producers like grape growers to manage their risk: Production (crop) Insurance and AgriStability.

Most, if not all growers will be familiar with Production Insurance as a means to insuring against lost yield caused by natural perils, including freeze and fire events. Grape crops can be insured at levels of 50, 70 and 80 percent of the crop value. For example, a 50 percent level means at least half of the crop must be lost before a claim is paid.

The second program is, which is much less utilized and understood by growers. AgriStability protects a producer’s margin, which is basically revenue from crop sales less certain allowable expenses as defined under program guidelines.

For a grape grower, the main allowable expenses will be labour, crop inputs like fertilizer and chemicals and machinery fuel. The producer’s margin is calculated for the program year and the previous five years. The previous five years determine an average reference margin. If the program year margin drops more than 30 percent from the

38 orchardandvine.net

historical reference margin, then a payment will be triggered. For each dollar below the 30 percent threshold for margin drop, the government will fund $0.80 (or 80 percent).

Any revenue received from Production Insurance for the year is added to crop revenue for purposes of calculating the program year margin.

This adjustment ensures the producer is not funded twice for the same loss.

This last point often causes growers to believe that having Production Insurance coverage is sufficient and that AgriStability program enrollment is unnecessary.

However, there are several good reasons why a producer should enrol in both programs to maximize risk coverage.

AgriStability covers a broader range of perils than Production Insurance

Production Insurance yield loss coverage for wine grapes will cover losses in crop value due to hail, spring frost, drought, flood, wind, landslide, fire, rain, or freeze. AgriStability protects growers against margin declines due to market conditions, production loss, or increased production costs.

So, for instance, AgriStability will provide additional financial coverage in circumstances where yield losses may be compounded by poor market prices or rising crop input and labour costs.

AgriStability may be triggered even if the Production Insurance yield loss threshold isn’t met

AgriStability is triggered by a percentage drop in margin, not a percentage drop in revenue. This point is easy to miss when developing a risk management strategy.

The high-cost of grape growing Wine grape growers have a relatively high-cost structure driven mainly by the cost of labour. Using typical

financial information for a B.C. wine grape grower, we have calculated that it may only take a 10 percent revenue drop to reach the 30 percent margin drop threshold to trigger an AgriStability payment.

In other words, if your grape revenue drops only 10 percent and is below your chosen Production Insurance threshold, you may still trigger a payment under the AgriStability program.

AgriStability may fill in the gaps of Production Insurance coverage

Some of our clients are worried they may not reach the loss threshold for Production Insurance coverage this year despite some of their individual vineyards being a complete loss.

Production Insurance calculates the yield loss on a whole farm basis, not property by property. A 100 percent loss in one vineyard may be offset by having no yield loss in other vineyards operated by the same producer.

If an expected Production Insurance claim is not triggered, AgriStability will still potentially address the loss of revenue and margin.

AgriStability may provide an added safeguard in questionable loss situations

There may be potential damage and crop losses that are not completely obvious at the time of the event.

Smoke taint is one example. A grower may fail to provide notice of loss under Production Insurance by the required deadline and later determine there has been a loss in value.

The grapes might be refused by the purchaser under contract or otherwise be determined to be of no value for wine production. In cases like these, AgriStability coverage for the loss in value of the grapes may still be possible even though a claim under Production Insurance has not been made.

AgriStability – what does it cost?

The annual program enrolment fee is based on the historical reference margin. For each $100,000 of margin covered, the fee is $315. An added consideration is the cost of professional fees for assistance in preparing the annual information required and responding to follow up requests from Program Administration.

In all but the most basic situations, an advisor who is knowledgeable about the history of your operation and the program guidelines can easily add value by ensuring you receive the maximum benefits you are entitled to under the Program guidelines. A good AgriStability advisor should be able to estimate the expected payment, review the assessment, and follow up on any discrepancies on your behalf. For some winery operations, there may be added complexity involved in separating your Program eligible farming revenues and expenses from your non-farming amounts related to winemaking.

It is important to remember that AgriStability is designed to provide whole farm income protection in

years where you have had a significant decrease from your historical reference margin. Just like Production Insurance, it is not a subsidy or grant which should be expected every year.

individual farm circumstances. It is not a one-size-fits-all model.

• The right advisor will explain AgriStability to you in detail.

They will help you understand your accrued financial statements and how the results tie into the AgriStability program.

• Your farm has several potential risks. The right advisor will help you analyze the risks so you can fully maximize AgriStability in the event of a loss.

AgriStability – is it too late for 2023?

April 30 is normally the deadline for AgriStability enrolment and payment of fees for the a given program year.

However, the B.C. government recently approved late enrolment for 2023 given the circumstances currently impacting several agriculture sectors in the province.

Producers can submit a 2023 Late Participation Initial Declaration and Authorization form by June 30, 2024.

However, a $300 late participation fee will be charged and any 2023 benefits with be reduced by 20 percent.

AgriStability can be a key component of your vineyard’s overall risk management strategy. There are a few key points to remember:

B.C. grape growers have been facing multiple challenges in recent years.

Normal crop years are becoming few and far between. Growers need to ensure they are taking advantage of all available opportunities to manage their financial risk. This means adding AgriStability to Production Insurance in order to broaden and deepen your level of income protection.

• AgriStability is customized to your farm’s accrued financial accounting data. Its results and benefits are specific to your

Geoff McIntyre is the Regional Leader Agriculture Services, at MNP. Reach him at 250-979-2574 or by email at geoff.mcintyre@mnp.ca

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39

 SIPPIN’ PRETTY | YVONNE TURGEON

THE GALLERY WINERY

For the love of art & wine T

he sunlight streaming into the tasting room is framed by the panes of glass in the large windows. The ceiling is high, the rafters are open, and large chandeliers hover above—on all the walls, artwork, at the counter, wine.

Welcome to the Gallery Winery, the latest family-owned winery and event venue to open in West Kelowna.

Its unique terroir is already bringing success with well-ripened grapes transforming into delicious wines.

Sun-drenched silty slopes lead down to Gellatly Bay, offering stunning views from the expansive winery patio— and the exceptional micro-climate for grape growing. The southern site warms early during the long summer

The Gallery wines features artwork by propietor Natasha Campbell (left). From the patio, patrons can see the young vines growing on the silty slopes above Gellatly Bay.

40 orchardandvine.net

days but minimizes the high heat of west-facing sites at mid-summer.

Their vines are thriving with the maximum sun exposure combined with excellent airflow from the lake.

Just a few city blocks from the busyness of the West Kelowna centre, the little farm of 25 acres offers a sanctuary of stillness.

This new spot on the Westside Wine Trail is truly a family affair.

“Back in 1980, our parents were driving past this parcel of land that had a for sale sign on it, 25 acres in the middle of nowhere,” says owner Kirstin Wakal. “My mom says to my dad, ‘we should buy the property.’ So fast-forward to 2015,

and my sister (Natasha Campbell) and I are both living on the property.

“We decide to plant a vineyard to get some farm status, save money on some taxes, and try out farming.”

The enthusiastic sister duo of artists-turned-farmers pouring their first vintage this spring (customcrushed under another license).

The nicely balanced blend of Riesling, Ehrenfelser and Muscat Orange is aptly called 2018 Under the Chandelier. Kirsten presents it as “a really, easy sipper. Nice patio wine: Not too dry, not too sweet.”

The chandelier features prominently in the artwork by Natasha, which hangs throughout the expansive

space. Each wine also features an original painting of hers.

As their slogan goes, the sisters are in it for “the love of art and wine.”

The space beckons, and as the labels promote, you will want to share stories in the space with a bit of Between Friends Riesling. Visitors can enjoy a vertical tasting, samples of the same wine from different years, with the 2020 Riesling expressing itself as the drier wine with a lovely nose of peach notes. The 2021 Riesling fetched the sisters their first wine awards medal.

Kirstin and Natasha laugh when they recall their very first crush.

The “sisterhood of travelling tanks” headed down to Oliver to work with Michael Bartier to make wine their first year at the Bartier Bros facility.

Caught up in the passion of winemaking, the sisters have also decided to sparkle it up. The 2019 Inspiration is a traditional method, sparkling wine. The wine label is an antique family heirloom and is worthy of a visit to the tasting room to hear the story.

The labels for the Malbec red features a series of portrait ladies. The original paintings hang on the Gallery’s walls. The vineyards boast one of the most northern plantings of Malbec in the world. This red grape definitely likes its new home. The dark cherry and blackberry flavours will not disappoint in the 2021 Alexandra Malbec. The beautiful magenta-purple wine finishes smooth with enough tannins to make a steak extra juicy. Attractive vegetative and pepper notes that complement the fruit-forward profile.

2021 marked the first vintage wines under The Gallery Winery license. The sisters send out a special acknowledgment to the mentors that have helped along the way, including Gary Strachan, Michael Bartier (Bartier Brothers Winery), Daniel Bontorin (Botegga Wine Studio) and Jason Parkes (Crown and Thieves Winery). ■ O&V publisher Yvonne Turgeon shares her Sippin’ Pretty wine and bevvy column every second week on Thompson Okanagan Trends website trendsmag.ca.

Photos by Yvonne Turgeon

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Wealth management and family farm transition advice Raised in an orcharding family in the Okanagan, Ben knows the joys and challenges shared across the industry.

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 STEWARDSHIP | VALERIE MAIDA

Eco-Friendly Farms Riparian zones support sustainable agriculture

F

armers are naturally stewards of the land, taking care of the soils and water on their properties to ensure their land will continue to be productive long into the future. Many farmers are searching to implement good habitat management practices but also want to avoid impacts on their bottom lines. Taking care of riparian habitats – the lush forested areas around creeks and wetlands - can be a simple and satisfying place to start.

Caring for these habitats is also particularly impactful due to their proximity to water and the sheer amount of biodiversity they can support. Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship (OSS) uses its Wildlife Habitat Steward program to support farmers and landowners with natural areas on their properties to care for them through useful advice, knowledge, and sometimes technical assistance with habitat management. These

management practices often have additional benefits for the farm as well.

Some of the benefits that riparian areas give to farms and surrounding areas include water quality improvement and erosion and sedimentation control.

The dense root systems of trees and shrubs help filter out excess nutrients, pesticides and other pollutants from soil and runoff before they reach the water, and these roots also capture and hold sediment to help increase water clarity and reduce sedimentation. This not only improves water quality for human and livestock consumption but also benefits aquatic wildlife too.

The same root systems and plant cover also help prevent soil erosion by forming an underground lattice that stabilizes the streambank and upland area to reduce or prevent undercutting and slumping. During periods of heavy rainfall or flooding, riparian areas

also act as natural sponges, absorbing and slowing down water flow.

The flood mitigation function helps reduce the severity of flooding events and help reduce the damage to agricultural fields and adjacent properties.

In 2016, the Haywire Winery joined the Wildlife Habitat Steward program to steward their Garnet Valley Ranch property and get assistance restoring a fallow hayfield to an original riparian floodplain.

The decision proved to be a good one. In both the 2017 and 2018 floods, the floodplain fulfilled its purpose and held onto millions of litres of water when Eneas Creek overflowed its banks, reducing the torrents of water flowing downstream. As the plants in the restoration project grow, the capacity of the riparian area to mitigate flooding will only improve.

The riparian area in the back of this vineyard helps mitigate flooding during times of high water levels.

Photo contributed

42 orchardandvine.net

Having intact habitat areas on the farm can even help improve the orchard or vineyard itself.

It is no secret nowadays that native pollinators such as mason bees are just as effective as honeybees at pollination. When natural habitats are kept intact, the diversity of trees, shrubs, and flowers can maintain a high level of pollinator and beneficial insect diversity with little to no outside effort.

The habitat naturally provides hiding spots, nesting areas, and winter refuge for countless insects such as mason bees, lacewings, butterflies, and ladybugs.

The reduced need for chemical intervention can lead to healthier soils and improved sustainability.

Willis and Bronwyn Brown of Brown-Schneider Farms in Cawston decided in 2019 also joined the stewardship program to improve the biodiversity of their farm and orchard. They planted native trees and shrubs around a small wetland at the back of their property to and continued the planting further down into the farm to create hedgerows for pollinators and insects.

Once grown up, the planting area and hedgerow will also provide shelter for insect-eating birds and roosting areas for birds of prey to hunt voles and starlings.

Healthy riparian habitats play an essential role in supporting the sustainability and environmental health of the farm. From flood management and erosion control to pollinator refuge and predatory insect habitat, embracing natural riparian areas provides a lot of benefits with not a lot of effort.

Initiatives like OSS’s Wildlife Habitat Steward program can help farmers improve and care for all-natural habitat areas while still maintaining all land use rights and decisions. ■ For more information about Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship, or to inquire about a becoming a wildlife habitat steward, contact them at info@osstewardship.ca or 250-770-1467.

Fall 2023 |

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 SEEDS OF GROWTH | GLEN LUCAS

Orderly marketing for apples A new path forward?

O

ver the past year, B.C. apple growers, along with industry partners, have begun looking for new and better ways to market B.C. apples.

Why? Because in recent years many apple growers reported that they have faced continual and significant financial stress. At the same time, almost every industry data point shows the B.C. apple sector in decline: poor grower returns, shrinking acreage, and reduced market share even in British Columbia. If left unattended, the iconic B.C. apple industry will continue to decline.

How did we arrive at Orderly Marketing as a possible solution for discussion within the B.C. apple sector? In 2021, the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, issued The Path Forward: A Blueprint for B.C.’s Tree Fruit Industry which contained a set of recommendations designed to assist the industry.

The initiative arising out of the report is the Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan (TFISP). Since the report was released, the TFISP Advisory Group, a committee of growers and industry representatives, began organizing into TFISP subcommittees to work on solutions.

Arising from a packer group experience in 2022, a larger TFISP advisory committee including grower organization reps was formed in early 2023.

The packer-grower advisory committee conducted a March 2023 workshop that explored the issues and to see where the different groups could agree on actions to be taken.

One potential solution to address some of these common concerns A list common concerns and issues and issues could be from the March “Orderly Marketing workshop can views at the above link. for B.C. Apples.”

Arising from the advisory committee’s work, BCFGA emerged as the sole organization able to put together an Apple Orderly Marketing Project to develop more detail and provide an opportunity for grower and industry organization input on the Orderly Marketing alternative.

The Apple Orderly Marketing project application was approved first by the Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Advisory group and then by the Investment Agriculture Foundation

BCFGA particpates in: ❶ The BC Agriculture Council’s Labour Committee and Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI) ❷ The Canadian Horticulture Council’s Labour Committee ❸ Intergovernmental Seasonal Agriculture Worker negotiations

of B.C., with funds provided by the Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Fund. A project management committee was established later by the province to guide the BCFGA’s Apple Orderly Marketing Project.

A website has been launched to begin sharing information about what Orderly Marketing is. And what it isn’t.

Provide your input to the process (a grower survey can be accessed through the website at appleorderlymarketingforum. wordpress.com) and visit every week or two to see updates and provide more input on new questions.

In addition to the website, small grower meetings (e.g. kitchen table, tailgate meetings) will be a way to reach out to growers with information and provide an opportunity for input.

If you are interested in hosting a meeting, send an email to jim56campbell@gmail. com or mcary@bcfga.com.

The issues facing B.C. apple growers are complex. There are no quick or easy answers. And there are no guarantees.

But there is one thing that’s always been true: growers have always been better off if they stand together.

The BCFGA is proud to support the exploration of possible Apple Orderly Marketing solutions by conducting the Orderly Marketing Project. The Project Management Committee guides the project work, and together we encourage all growers and packer organizations to engage and adopt a future-oriented vision for a successful, growing and sustainable apple sector in B.C. Glen Lucas, P.Ag. is the executive director of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association.

The BC Fruit Growers’ Association supports farm labour • Provides assistance to members to complete Labour Market Impact Assessments for the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program, backed by an accredited registered Canadian Immigration consultant • Offers a discount to members who engage Green Spark Consulting Services to assist growers to navigate municipal bylaws and Agriculture Land Commission rules for farm worker housing

1-800-619-9022 | info@bcfga.com 44 orchardandvine.net

www.bcfga.com

 MARKETING MIX | LEEANN FROESE

Budget-friendly marketing I

n the world of beverage alcohol, marketing can take a backseat due to tight budgets.

Blossoming in the B.C. scenic landscape, winery, cidery and brewery businesses face a unique challenge: how to effectively market themselves without breaking the bank. Here’s a handful of cost-effective marketing strategies that I hope can help you breathe some life into your brand, while on a budget.

Create a Unique Brand Identity Every drop of your cider carries a piece of your story. Captivate your audience by crafting a compelling brand identity. Your brand should reflect your values, history, and workmanship. Distinguish yourself through your label design, packaging, and narrative, creating an emotional connection with your customers.

Create Smart Content Leverage the power of visuals and storytelling.

Armed with a smartphone, you can capture stunning images of your vineyards, orchards, and production processes. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, engage your audience with the journey of your creations, and repurpose content across different platforms for maximum impact.

Be Social Focus your efforts on a relevant social media platform and be consistent. Interact meaningfully with your audience, responding to comments and messages promptly. Amplify your reach with strategic use of hashtags, and utilize free scheduling tools to maintain a steady online presence.

Collaborate for Elevation Forge collaborations with local eateries, influencers, and complementary businesses. Cross-promote each other’s offerings, exposing your brand to new audiences.

Engage through Email Engage Build a loyal customer base through email marketing. Send personalized newsletters that include exclusive offers, engaging stories, and product updates.

Utilize free or low-cost email marketing platforms to streamline your efforts.

Showcase User Reviews Transform happy customers into your brand advocates. Encourage reviews by offering incentives and proudly display them on your website and social media, building trust and credibility.

Directory Domination Be sure to keep your business information current on platforms like Google Business and local directories, making it easier for potential

customers to find you. And always remember to keep your own website hours and information up to date.

Let Data Drive Decisions Don’t overlook any insights hidden in data. Utilize free analytic tools to monitor your website traffic and social media performance. Adjust your strategies based on the data to refine your marketing approach.

Collaborative Brainstorming Gather your team and embark on a brainstorming session.

Encourage innovative thinking to address challenges unique to your brand, and assemble a marketing plan that seamlessly blends these budget-friendly strategies.

With these budget-conscious strategies, you’re well-equipped to take on marketing challenges while preserving the essence of what makes your winery or cidery exceptional.

Remember, it’s not always about the size of the budget— its about being smart and creative with what you have. ■ Leeann Froese owns Town Hall Brands, a marketing and graphic design agency with 25+ years’ experience in food and hospitality branding. Visit townhallbrands.com and follow @townhallbrands.

ARE YOU MAKING WINE, SPIRITS OR CIDER?

We have the equipment, supplies and ingredients you need. ecom.bosagrape.com • orders@bosagrape.com 6908 Palm Ave Burnaby BC - Phone 604-473-9463 - Toll Free 1-866-554-7273 - Web ecom.bosagrape.com Fall 2023 |

45

Winemaker Jim Faulkner checks the clusters of Pinot Noir grapes in the Lake Country vineyard in August 2023.

Jim Faulkner: Winemaker at ExNihilo Vineyards

J

im Faulkner joined Ex Nihilo in 2020, bringing a wealth of experience from his time at CedarCreek Estate Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, and Church & State Wines. Before joining Ex Nihilo, he served as head winemaker at West Kelowna’s Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery since 2009.

Notably, Jim crafted wines with Ex Nihilo during its early years.

The Ex Nihilo team recently captured four medals in the Thompson Okanagan Trends Top BC Wine Awards, including a gold medal for the dark and delectable 2020 Ex Nihilo Night ($54), a Meritage blend of 43% Merlot blended with Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Grapes were harvested from their vineyards on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile.

In 2023, the Azhadi Family became sole proprietors of Ex Nihilo and continue to build on the founders’ passion for creating beautiful wines with a sense of place and people. Anwar Sarderis is the vineyard manager.

46 orchardandvine.net

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

Jim Faulkner: To be honest, I fell into it. I had managed nightclubs for the previous 20ish years, and I thought it was time for a change, so I took some time off to contemplate the future.

While I was off work, my wife was about to start the winery program at OUC, so I joined her for something to do.

After I finished the first course, I got a crush position at CedarCreek (my first vintage) and that’s where I realized how much I enjoyed the physical part of the job.

I volunteered to dig out the tanks every time I had a chance.

The winemaker at the time, Tom DiBello, told me that I had a natural talent for wine and that when I grow up, I should be a winemaker.

O&V: Well, we’re so glad you grew up.

Have you worked in any other countries?

JF: No, just Canada.

I have travelled to six different counties and tasted wine.

Does that count?

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

JF: This is a really hard question, but I would have to say Chardonnay.

Unless I get a red also, then I would add Pinot Noir or Merlot.

Like I said, it’s a hard question.

O&V: What is the best/ or most challenging part of your job?

JF: The best thing about the job is its diversity. Some days I am walking around in suits at tastings and some days I am wearing rubber boots cleaning out tanks. Every day is different, never boring.

The most challenging thing about the job is the weather- and weatherrelated problems, I have zero control over that.

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

JF: I really don’t have a favourite vintage or wine. There is always something to be proud of in every vintage. 

Photo by Yvonne Turgeon

 CANADIAN WINEMAKERS | JIM FAULKNER

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