Grower rebellion quashed at B.C. Tree Fruits special meeting

About 150 of 217 members of the B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative attended a special meeting today, Nov. 22, and voted down resolutions to remove the board of directors and make other changes.

The meeting was forced when 34 members demanded it. They had a number of resolutions to not only remove the board but to make changes to the way the cooperative operates.

At the core of the dispute were plans to close the Lake Country packing house and move operations to Oliver.

“Overall, we had a very productive dialogue,” B.C. Tree Fruits CEO Warren Sarafinchan told iNFonews.ca.

READ MORE: Dissent among Okanagan growers puts gains by tree fruits cooperative at risk

The votes were by secret ballots but none of the resolutions received the 2/3 majority needed to pass, he said.

“Growers told us they need improvement in the returns they’re getting from the cooperative and we’re working really hard to do that,” Sarafinchan said.

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