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Access to nursery trees grown in BC and the US has been problematic in the most recent years. The issue with BC grown trees is climate impact on the tree in the nursery fields. If percentage survival or quality of the nursery trees falls due to climate, then so does profitability.
Another issue in the past has been disease incidence, especially for nurseries in the Lower Mainland of BC. Losses have been heavy in recent years and there are fewer BC nurseries willing to invest and take the chance.
That means that dependence on imported trees will increase, but foreign nurseries have a unique hurdle in selling trees into BC, namely, the issue of fumigation.
Fumigation of imported trees is required due to the absence of Oriental Fruit Moth in the Okanagan.
In order to minimize this risk, imported trees are fumigated with methyl bromide to ensure the pest is not introduced to BC with the imported tree stock. A side effect of fumigation is that not only are insects killed, but the methyl bromide also weakens the tree. Weak trees lead to more losses.
Not only does the importer face the effort and cost of using methyl bromide, but higher claims are also expected. As a result, importers have been less willing to do business with BC growers.
The BCFGA has partnered with other organizations to help replace the fumigation requirement with a Oriental Fruit Moth control method that is more benign and easier to manage. To start, the BCFGA commissioned two reports to assist with an industry initiative, including Commercial Examination of the Supply of Nursery Stock in British Columbia, by James Calissi, P.Ag, and Request to Remove Fumigation Requirements for Nursery Fruit Trees that are Shipped into British Columbia, Directive D-87-29: Import Requirements; and Domestic - 7: Domestic Requirements, by Don Magnusson, P. Ag.
These documents are available on the BCFGA.com website, under News and Events (More)\Publications\Presentations and Reports.
In addition, the BCFGA has benefited from its 2020 experience in developing a systems approach for export of apples to the European Union. A systems approach would rely on trapping results, an IPM program, and other practices to minimize the risk of introducing the pest, in this case Oriental Fruit Moth.
We also looked at what products are registered for use on Oriental Fruit Moth, and noted that there is a broad range of products currently available to assist with eradication or control.
The following organization have been involved in the process: Molly Thurston, Okanagan Horticultural Advisors Group; Jesse MacDonald, AAFC; Lindsay King and Adrian Arts, BCMAF; and the BCFGA.
It has been a team effort. The intent is to have a systems approach in place for Spring 2023, but that will require two steps:
- The importer group will need to make a formal request of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Washington State nurseries have engaged a contractor-consultant to put together a formal request and commence development of a Systems Approach.
- The CFIA will need to study and make a decision on a systems approach.
With continued effort, the BC tree fruit sector will see the elimination of the fumigation requirement for imported nursery trees.
In summary, the BCFGA is taking an active role to eliminate the fumigation requirement for imported tree fruit nursery trees to BC. A new, IPM-based systems approach would take the place of the fumigation requirement. Together, we and the many organizations involved are hoping and planning for improved access to imported nursery trees for next Spring. Growers can help by placing tree orders early, to avoid last minute disappointment.