BC Cherry Association holds AGM

KELOWNA — Close to 140 members of the cherry industry, including, growers, scientists, brokers and suppliers, attended the AGM of the BC Cherry Association on Thursday in Kelowna.

Keynote speaker Matt Whiting from Washington State University spoke of the need for precision pollination, especially in view of the widespread collapse of bee colonies, and climate change.

Lynn Long of Oregon State University reported on his trials of various types of rootstock as related to cherry variety, pruning practices and training systems.

Ministry of Agriculture scientist Susanna Acheampong asked attendees to be on the lookout for the recently introduced pest, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

A voracious pest on fruit trees, grapes and vegetables with a taste for ornamental plants, the bug was first reported in the Okanagan (Penticton and Kelowna) last year.

Sukhpaul Bal was elected president of the association, David A. Geen vice president, Graem Nelson as secretary and David H. Geen treasurer.

Eight members were elected to serve on the board of directors.

GroSpurt, a manufacturer of plant enhancing growth products, presented Bal a cheque of just over $11,000 in support of the association’s research programs.

The export program to China is running smoothly with approximately onethird of the cherry producing acres in the province registered in the program.

Efforts are underway to expand export into the Japanese market with sights set eventually on South Korea.