Farmers drive tractors across Bennett Bridge to protest potential sale and break-up of BC Tree Fruits

[Castanet News]

A group of apple farmers trying to prevent the sale and break-up of BC Tree Fruits gathered again at the corner of Harvey Avenue and Abbott Street Monday...

[Jim Dixon]

Why do protesters always take their protest out on innocent people who are just trying to get to work on time, drop the kids off at the sitters, get to the dental appointment without losing their place in the line, and so on? I think it's these kinds of protests that interfere with the public sour any public support. It is after all, in most cases it's the taxpayers money that helps bail them out.

We need an investigation in to where all the money went, why it went to wherever, and especially who earned a big wage while there was no money.

Time a govt body stepped in and make sure this never happens again, arrest anyone that played in any criminality and get the show on the on the road before we totally reliable on the US food banks - I mean food farms.

~j

[Jim Dixon]

Why do protesters always take their protest out on innocent people who are just trying to get to work on time, drop the kids off at the sitters, get to the dental appointment without losing their place in the line, and so on? I think it's these kinds of protests that interfere with the public sour any public support. It is after all, in most cases it's the taxpayers money that helps bail them out.

We need an investigation in to where all the money went, why it went to wherever, and especially who earned a big wage while there was no money.

Time a govt body stepped in and make sure this never happens again, arrest anyone that played in any criminality and get the show on the on the road before we totally reliable on the US food banks - I mean food farms.

~j

[Tallerinstaller]

How do you “save” a floundering co op drowning in debt ? At least a major player has come forward to buy the huge storage facility and offer up a safe haven for local apple/pear crops. The time to raise the red flags and shout foul play has come and gone sadly, as it appears the members of the co op that want it to survive, were not vocal and pro-active in the years prior to it accumulating all the debt and bad leadership. Put your collective heads together and start anew, just like the guys did back in the beginning of BC Tree Fruits. Maybe invite the Jimmy Patterson Group to your meeting, after all, SaveOn has to get their fruit from somewhere. Good luck.

[AuDiO_JacK]

Why do protesters always take their protest out on innocent people who are just trying to get to work on time, drop the kids off at the sitters, get to the dental appointment without losing their place in the line, and so on? I think it's these kinds of protests that interfere with the public sour any public support. It is after all, in most cases it's the taxpayers money that helps bail them out.

We need an investigation in to where all the money went, why it went to wherever, and especially who earned a big wage while there was no money.

Time a govt body stepped in and make sure this never happens again, arrest anyone that played in any criminality and get the show on the on the road before we totally reliable on the US food banks - I mean food farms.

~j

So you become aware of it.
If the farmer had gone to "Kelowna's Designated Protest Zone", would you even know about it?
If this inconveniences you, think about what drove the farmer to this action. What is Kelowna doing to our Orchards? What are they doing to help Farmers? Upping land taxes so they can slowly wittle away the owners ability to stay afloat? What about when the stores place American fruits and veggies on the shelves, while leaving Canadian fruit to the very last moment, where it reaches the shelves rotten?

Would you rather Monsanto own everything?

[wellcoboy]

if castanet was really interested , they would dive in to see how this co-op was run into the ground ? big bonus , big wages, or mismanagement ?

[okgrower]

Why do protesters always take their protest out on innocent people who are just trying to get to work on time, drop the kids off at the sitters, get to the dental appointment without losing their place in the line, and so on? I think it's these kinds of protests that interfere with the public sour any public support. It is after all, in most cases it's the taxpayers money that helps bail them out.

We need an investigation in to where all the money went, why it went to wherever, and especially who earned a big wage while there was no money.

Time a govt body stepped in and make sure this never happens again, arrest anyone that played in any criminality and get the show on the on the road before we totally reliable on the US food banks - I mean food farms.

~j

Make sure this never happens again? How? Why?

Mismanaged business fail. The goverment should let them. Everyone loses when the government uses tax dollars to prop up a company that cannot create value

The land is in the ALR so its not going anywhere. Someone else will figure out how to pack or grow the fruit once the dead weight is cleared aside

[Jim Dixon]

Why do protesters always take their protest out on innocent people who are just trying to get to work on time, drop the kids off at the sitters, get to the dental appointment without losing their place in the line, and so on? I think it's these kinds of protests that interfere with the public sour any public support. It is after all, in most cases it's the taxpayers money that helps bail them out.

We need an investigation in to where all the money went, why it went to wherever, and especially who earned a big wage while there was no money.

Time a govt body stepped in and make sure this never happens again, arrest anyone that played in any criminality and get the show on the on the road before we totally reliable on the US food banks - I mean food farms.

~j

So you become aware of it.
If the farmer had gone to "Kelowna's Designated Protest Zone", would you even know about it?

That would depend on the so-called news medium around here. How did you find out?

If this inconveniences you, think about what drove the farmer to this action.

Think about the people that had appointments, a job to get to on time, a schedules surgery, --- what the H, you don't care. You just wanna beak off and support the farmers. Well, I support local farming too, and buy local when and if I can find it. Protesting by blocking one's customers is never a good idea.

What is Kelowna doing to our Orchards? What are they doing to help Farmers? Upping land taxes so they can slowly wittle away the owners ability to stay afloat? What about when the stores place American fruits and veggies on the shelves, while leaving Canadian fruit to the very last moment, where it reaches the shelves rotten?

Land taxes going up? What about what the City of Kelowna is costing taxpayers after their last self-elected wage increases?
That's the kind of politicians that were elected.Talk to them.

Mismanaged business fail. The goverment should let them. Everyone loses when the government uses tax dollars to prop up a company that cannot create value

When govt steps in, people complain. When they don't, people complain.
You blame US foods on our shelves - take it out on 'Free Trade' and the federal Conservatives - they cooked up those agreements.

@okgrower claims that ALR will be around forever. Don't count on it. The BC Liberals opened that up and gave local authority more clout to make a decision if it's in or out. Talk to them about that. What happens when we pave our food baskets?

Would you rather Monsanto own everything?

Bayer bought Monsanto out. Talk to those that manage the purse strings.

BTW, I disagree bailing out the farmers is the way to go - we bail out enough already. Anyway, it's the fruit packing buildings that need to be around to pack and store the food so it ends up on our shelves, and shipped to buyers elsewhere as well.

If it happens, as suggested, to let the farmers fail, will that stop or increase fruits from the US in USD?

~j
Gee, I hope I got the quotes right.