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Tree Fruits F.A.Q.s |
Where can I get information about starting or buying an orchard?
Orchard listings are available through many realtors in the Okanagan, Similkameen and Creston regions. Potential buyers should examine the gross farm income and farm expenses from farm income taxes when making purchasing decisions. In addition, varieties and age of trees need to be known. Consultations with horticultural consultants are useful for the potential buyer. Yields from higher density plantings of apples and soft fruits tend to be higher that traditional lower density plantings. New varieties tend to pay more than traditional varieties. There is a fact sheet on the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries website that outlines some of the factors to consider when purchasing an orchard. http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/treefrt/index.htm
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Where can I get money to start an orchard?
Starting an orchard will require a significant amount of capital, which might be obtained from a number of sources, including personal equity, borrowed funds, leasing or possibly venture capital type arrangements. Most of the major financial institutions have loans available for farmers.
Farm Credit Canada has specific loan programs for agricultural commodities.. Visit their website at: http://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/index.asp.
It is important to develop a sound financial plan for your orchard prior to assessing finance options. Section B.1.2 and Section B.2.1 of the Tree Fruit InfoBasket community has information and links on business planning, investment and various sources of financing.
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How much money can I expect to make growing tree fruits?
There are many variables and risk factors associated with producing and marketing tree fruit crops that impact the gross and net returns. Commodity and variety, fruit quality and size, and market options all play a role in the price received. As well, the size of the orchard along with variable and fixed costs will impact on net income. Section B.3 of the Tree Fruits InfoBasket community has information on financial projections that can be used to develop plans.
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What government support is available for tree fruit growers?
In terms of specific financial programs, there are government programs in place that support the industry in various aspects. Programs such as NISA (Net Income Stabilization Account) and WFIP/CFIP (Whole Farm Insurance and Canadian Farm Income Program) deal with variation in farm income over time. Crop insurance offers financial protection against crop losses due to uncontrollable weather through development of affordable risk management tools for growers. The Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority's Orchard Replant Program provides assistance for tree fruit orchards to replant to new varieties and tree fruit commodities. Information on these programs can be found at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/finance/index.htm
There are other development type programs that are supported by government. These include the:
There are also a number of government-funded research, education and extension programs that support the agriculture industry. You can find more information within this InfoBasket community in Section A.5.
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Where do I find information about farm labour?
Penticton, Summerland and Naramata Areas
The Open Door Centre in Penticton offers seasonal employment services to orchardists and orchard workers in the South Okanagan (Penticton, Summerland and Naramata). The free services include:
For more information please call:
The Open Door Centre
13-1301 Main Street in the Penticton Plaza
Penticton, BC V2A 5E9
Phone: 250 492-8447
Fax: 250 492-8455
Email: knockknock@opendoor.bc.ca
Kelowna Area
The Ki-Low-Friendship Society, located in downtown Kelowna, offers free agricultural employment services to Okanagan orchardists and other employers in the agricultural industry. The program, which began in 1996, matches employers with potential employees. If you are in need of agricultural workers or casual employees, phone, fax or email your requests.
Phone: 250 763-4905
Fax: 250-861-5514
Email: Marvbaker@home.com
Website: http://www.kfs.bc.ca
Mailing Address:
442 Leon Ave
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6J3
Oliver Area
Two students are acting as farm labour coordinators in assisting growers to connect with orchard help in the Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos and Similkameen areas.
When you require extra workers or pickers you can contact the farm labour coordinators. They have made contact with farm labourers who want to work and can arrange for them to contact you for work.
The farm labour coordinators work out of the Employment Benefit Centre, located at 34630 - 95 street, Oliver (behind Oliver Mall). They can be reached between 8:30 and 4:30 by contacting 250 498-7282. The service will continue until August 31, 2002. Please give them a call to get the workers you need.
This service is a cooperative project organized by the Town of Oliver, the Oliver & District Chamber of Commerce, Human Resources Development Canada, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.
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What are my options to market my fruit?
Growers have several alternatives to consider marketing/packing options:
Process fruit is primarily sold to Sun Rype Products Ltd through the various packing facilities.
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Where can I get current tree fruit market and price information?
Depending on where you market fruit, you could check with local packinghouses and direct marketers. There are statistics available on prices and volumes on tree fruit crops from some agencies. For example, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada has an InfoHort section that provides market information for horticulture crops in Canada. It is located at: http://infohort.agr.gc.ca/index.cfm?action=dspWklyWhlsl&lang=eng.
The Global Agri-business network has wholesale market prices listed at: http://www.agribusinessonline.com/
Section C, Marketing and Trade, of the InfoBasket's Tree Fruit community has additional information and links.
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What information is available on varieties and rootstocks grown in BC?
Variety information is available in the Tree Fruit Production Guide and is updated annually. Okanagan PICO is a source of new variety information and has propagation plant material for new varieties available for sale. Tree fruit nurseries are a source on variety information. Horticultural advisors are also valuable sources of variety information.
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Where do I find information about Growing With Care (integrated fruit production)
Information on the BC Fruit Growers' Association project to implement an integrated fruit production system under the title 'Growing With Care' can be found at http://www.bcfga.com/index.php?sectionID=2&pageID=11
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Where do I find information on organic tree fruit production?
Information on producing trees fruit using certified organic methods is available by contacting appropriate organic associations listed at the Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia web site http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/.
Additional information is available at the following web sites:
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What crop advisory services are available?
Each tree fruit packinghouse provides advisory field services to growers who ship fruit to the packinghouse. Private pest/crop management consultants are available on a fee-for-service basis to provide crop monitoring and advisory services. Local farm chemical suppliers and retailers also provide horticultural advisory services for clients. Growers can also obtain some horticultural advice from local nurseries and garden centres that propagate and/or sell fruit trees.
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Where can I get insects, diseases and weeds identified?
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Plant Diagnostic Lab provides identification of parasitic and non-parasitic disorders and insects affecting commercial crops in BC. Information about sample submission, fees and submission forms may be found on our website at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/lab.htm. Weed samples may be submitted to the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands weed specialist in Abbotsford or the weed technologist in Kamloops for identification.
Most packinghouse fieldmen and private horticultural consultants also offer basic diagnostic services for their clients, with the more difficult samples being referred to the provincial laboratory. There are also many nurseries and garden centres which offer pest identification services for the home gardener.
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Where is information available about pests, diseases and weeds?
Refer to the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Tree Fruit Production Guide for Commercial Growers for information on the major tree fruit pests and diseases in BC, including symptoms, life cycle and management. Also refer to the Tree Fruit Pest Management section of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands website at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/tfipm/treefruitipm.htm and the weed section at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weeds.htm. In addition, refer to the Plant Health Management folder on InfoBasket for pest management information from around the world.
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Do I need licenses to apply pesticides and how do I get it?
You must have a current pesticide applicator certificate to:
To obtain a certificate, you must pass the provincial pesticide applicator exam. Certificates are valid for one year or five years, depending on your exam marks.
There are several different categories of certificates. You can prepare for the exam by taking a course offered by a community college or private trainer, or by studying on your own. Contact your local community college for information on training courses. For more information, visit the Ministry of Environment web site at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/ipmp/pest_certification/certif_main.htm
Also visit the Ministry of Agriculture and Land's Pesticide Wise website for pesticide information. http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/pesticides/h_1.htm
Farmers registered by the Workers' Compensation Board must also have a Pesticide Applicator's Certificate if certain pesticides are used on the farm. For more information on Workers' Compensation Board requirements, visit http://www.worksafebc.com/ Information on what pesticides require applicator certification under WCB regulations in published in the latest edition of the Tree Fruit Production Guide for Commercial Growers - Interior Districts.
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What publications are available and where do I get them?
Tree fruit publications are generally not available from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. A few publications are still available in ministry offices in Kelowna, but more are available through the Queens Printer in Victoria. See the Crown Publications website: http://miva.crownpub.bc.ca/
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Where do home gardeners get information?
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is no longer able to support requests for information from home gardeners. There are some basic resources and contacts for tree fruit in the home garden on our Web site at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/treefrt/homegdn/homegdn.htm. For further information, contact your nursery or garden center.
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