As local tree fruit growers finish winter pruning their trees, the Board of Directors and management of BC Tree
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Fruits Cooperative are putting in place multiple changes to the organization, turning over a new leaf and setting the Cooperative on a new path to modernize its business model.
Significant changes have been made to modernize the way the Cooperative works, including how the business is governed by its Board and membership. “In the last 18 months we have taken significant steps to turn over a new leaf,” says Warren Sarafinchan, CEO of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative. “We have accelerated the process of right sizing the Cooperative assets by selling under-utilized properties, we have made capital investments in equipment to improve efficiencies, and we are relentless in our pursuit to reduce costs.
The fruit industry in the Okanagan Valley is plagued with low grower returns – not enough money is getting back to the growers for their fruit. “As an industry, ultimately we need to improve grower profitability. If we don’t, there simply won’t be local fruit to buy in the future”, says Sarafinchan. “Our first installment of apple payments back to the growers saw a significant increase over last year.”