B.C. tree fruit growers get new $10M fund to help fight U.S. tariffs, climate change
Provincial money comes on heels of difficult season
British Columbia has launched a new $10-million fund to help tree fruit farmers facing proposed U.S. tariffs on the heels of years of devastatingly low crop yields.
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture says the money will be handed out as one-time payments to farmers and can be used to help with needs like tools, training, capital for farm improvement, farm debt repayment and farm wages.
The ministry says approximately 720 tree fruit growers will be eligible for a payment on a per-acre basis, up to a maximum of 28.3 hectares.
The promise of a cash injection is welcome by Summerland peach grower and vice president of the B.C. Fruit Grower's Association, Deep Brar.
"The amount of texts and calls I've had this morning is all positive. Everyone is just pumped," he told CBC News.
The funding comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, though that plan is paused until March 4 — the same day the province is set to release its budget.
Extreme weather has led to multiple bad years recently for B.C. farmers, including a cold snap last winter that wiped out almost all of the province's stone fruit.
Brar said financial losses at his family's peach farm were huge.
"The crops have never been the same," he said, noting that last year was the first time the family has not been able to grow a single peach.
"We had zero peaches. Not even one for our family to eat," said Brar.
Danial Shahroknian is the manager of Danial Market in Vancouver's West End. He said suppliers had to source fruit from out of the country last year.
"When we don't have it in our local environment ... we have to rely on international partners," he said.
"They were bringing peaches in from places like Georgia, North Carolina."
The province says the latest funding is part of more than $237 million it has spent on support for tree fruit growers since 2020.
"These past years have been very challenging for B.C. tree fruit farmers, and we want to make sure they are ready for this season and seasons to come," Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham said in the statement.
"We want farmers to be successful and this $10 million will help them rebuild to ensure a resilient, sustainable future for B.C.'s tree fruit industry."
Brar said he already has plans for how to use the money.
"I'm going to drop it in the bank and pay off some credit lines," he said. "Everyone is going to put this money straight back into their farm."
With files from the CBC's Brady Strachan and Camille Vernet