Orchard & Vine Fruit Survey 2016

What was your greatest accomplishment this year?

"Built new picker camp, due to down-sizing was able to pay more attention to details."
"Purchased new farmland for expansion."
"Went from liquid fertigation to granular. Great production and new growth in shoots."
"Surviving the rain. "
"Paying down debt."
"Running a good operation."
"Making a profit even with all the bad weather for cherries."
"Had a great team in the office and in the farm gate operation."

Comments on the future of farming, food safety and production?

Saanich where I farm is generally progressive in farming practices, but I worry about the proliferation of pesticide intensive GMO crops elsewhere.
Growers are losing the access to chemicals which control important pests like cherry fruit fly and swd (lost diazinon this year). This can potentially impact our ability to grow a crop that can be exported.
Happy with direction we're going but don't see young people joining industry at a time when public wanting.
Consumers interested in local food and show willingness to pay.
Labour and cost of labour big concern.
If, when Canadian dollar goes to par we are in trouble.