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Okanagan growers debate marketing future of Ambrosia apple

November 19 2015 07:55 AM

OKANAGAN – Producers of the Ambrosia apple are considering whether to extend a levy used to market the new varietal.

Ambrosia producers have paid a $.25 per lb. levy since 2001, shortly after the new apple was introduced, used to promote the fruit to consumers and further its research.

The levy was renewed in 2006 and 2011 and is up again for consideration during a plebiscite to be held in June, 2016.

Ambrosia apples have enjoyed great success since their introduction, grown now on over 1,000 acres in B.C. with that number expected to double by 2020, according to a media release from the New Tree Fruit Varieties Development Council.

However, council chair Bruce Currie says the Ambrosia apple needs to expand into untapped markets to continue that growth expansion.

Currie says meetings with growers over the future of the apple will be held in advance of the June plebiscite.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca