$5M for wind machines, heaters to protect tree fruit in Okanagan, Kootenays

Following some extremely challenging years for B.C. farmers the provincial government has allocated $5 million for tree fruit growers in the Okanagan and Kootenay regions so there can be more local fruit for everyone to enjoy.

“Earlier this spring, I visited the Okanagan to meet with growers. Many of them spoke about the challenge of a changing climate that has impacted their livelihoods and affected local food security,” agriculture minister Lana Popham said in a press release. “Extreme weather events are a major concern, and this investment will help farmers install much-needed equipment to protect their orchards and the delicious, quality fruit British Columbians rely on and enjoy.”

The money is going to 64 projects in the Okanagan and three in the Kootenays to help reduce damage from extreme weather. Farmers are getting equipment like wind machines and heating and cooling systems to help prevent damage from extreme weather conditions. One farmer is getting hail netting to help prevent winter storm damage.

“Working together with the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association and the B.C. Cherry Association has been crucial in developing a robust response to support our province’s dedicated tree-fruit growers. They have faced numerous challenges over the past few years,” Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu said in the release. “I know from my visits to orchards and meetings with growers how much these projects can help, and I am excited to see growers using this technology to protect their crops and increase production of the renowned Okanagan fruit that B.C. takes pride in.”

There are 49 projects for cherry growers, 52 wind machines, 10 energy-efficient heaters and a project to build a freeze chamber to test bud hardiness.

The funding is part of the Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program that was announced back in January. The cold snap last winter heat waves in the summer and the closure of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative made 2024 a particularly challenging year for a lot of farmers, so the government set up the program.

The projects covered by this funding cover roughly 380 hectares and are expected to be finished by March 2027. The program gave 80 per cent cost-share funding for eligible projects up to a maximum of $100,000 per farm business.

It was oversubscribed within 20 hours of its launch.

“The B.C. Cherry Association was very pleased to see the high uptake by industry in this program. After five consecutive years of extreme climate events, we needed to take a proactive approach,” B.C. Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal said in the release. “The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program allows growers to make investments in their farms to better protect against future events, and we look forward to building on the success of the program to ensure the long-term sustainability of the cherry sector.”