An Okanagan cherry farm was in hot water with the province’s environmental regulator after it was caught burying excess cherries on the orchard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workers at Sandhu Fruit Farm in Summerland dug trenches and buried roughly 1,000 pounds of cherries that weren’t going to be sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the BC environment ministry, it’s an “agricultural by-product” that should’ve been taken to the landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministry found it’s unlikely the cherries posed any actual risk by “leaching” into Okanagan Lake tributaries, but burying them without a permit “undermines the basic integrity of the overarching regulatory regime,” according to its June 3 report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The farm, owned by Mangal Capital Inc., was already warned about burying cherries after a 2023 inspection. They weren’t yet covered with topsoil that time and environmental inspectors found cherries, 2 plastic bags and boxes in the trench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The farm did not deny that it buried the cherries and they knew they weren’t supposed to do it. Instead, it argued an “unauthorized individual” made the decision on-site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company added that it now sells “non-grade” cherries for juicing to Nature’s Touch, and it would alternatively drop off any excess at the Summerland landfill, according to the ministry report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to environmental regulations for BC farmers, “non-grade” cherries are considered a by-product and must be “managed accordingly,” like having them dropped at a landfill or sold off for processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After initially considering a $22,000 fine, the environment ministry reduced it to $15,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
iNFOnews.ca reached out to Sandhu Farms for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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