Pandemic causes turmoil for fruit growers

The B.C. Fruit Growers Association says the Covid pandemic is devastating the province’s fruit growing industry.

A survey of association members shows 67 per cent have cut production, while many more are unsure they can meet pandemic-related safety guidelines or find enough workers to harvest their crops.

Association president Pinder Dhaliwal says scaled-back production raises red flags about the availability of fruit this fall and how much it will cost.

Association general manager Glen Lucas says if the already tenuous state of the industry isn’t addressed, food security and the food supply chain will be “at the mercy” of any other natural disaster that occurs.