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As I write this, the sun outside my window is beating down harshly on my orchard. The same sun that once nurtured our fruit trees is now threatening their survival. Our family farmers, the backbone of British Columbia’s fruit tree industry, are in the midst of a crisis that requires immediate attention.

Over the past four years, our orchards have been subjected to relentless climate events. Scorching heat waves, unprecedented cold snaps and hailstorms have battered our trees. Blossoms are wilting, young fruit is shriveling and hope is fading. Our once thriving orchards now resemble a battlefield.

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The joy of biting into a crisp apple from a local orchard or the delight of a sweet cherry fresh from the tree are experiences that are woven into our lives. These moments, made possible by the tireless work of our family farmers, are at risk. Without action, the livelihoods of our farmers and the entire British Columbia fruit industry could be lost. Just last week, the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, a cooperative that has been in operation for 88 years, closed, and I fear this is just the beginning.

We cannot afford to wait. Our farmers will not survive another five-year replanting program – in its current form, the replanting program will not cover the true costs of planting, labor, irrigation, or the loss of revenue for the years it takes the orchards to grow and produce fruit. The provincial and federal governments must make investments to support the entire replanting cycle. Without this support, the damage will be irreversible and our farms will close.

The reforestation program is just one tool to help fruit growers. The government needs to step up emergency assistance – it’s not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. We only have to look south to our neighboring farmers in Washington state to see the difference a presidential disaster declaration can make in providing emergency loans to growers recovering from natural disasters.

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The provincial government must establish a climate disaster horticulture recovery and resilience fund to provide adequate financial assistance following extreme weather events. Immediate assistance is also needed through a one-time stabilization fund to secure the future of British Columbia’s fruit industry. Our farmers need direct financial and policy support to weather this storm now, before it is too late to save our once-thriving sector.

Long-term planning is also crucial. Let’s invest in research into climate-resilient practices – drought-resistant varieties, precise irrigation and soil health management can make our orchards more resilient. Meaningful changes must be made to companies’ risk management programs to address the new climatic realities of consecutive years of increasing losses.

There is also the problem of imports from Washington State.

Canada, and by extension British Columbia, continues to allow Washington State to export apples to Canada duty-free and tariff-free. Agriculture in Washington State is heavily subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars, which directly allows farmers in the U.S. to undercut local farmers.

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Finally, farmers deserve fair payment for their crops. Fruit growers are paid less per pound of crops grown, even as grocery stores continue to make record profits. These record profits are not getting through to the farmer, who is facing rising production costs and the additional costs of climate change.

Every British Columbian benefits from the province’s agricultural production. They benefit in dollars, in nutrition, in food security and in the global benefit of being a positive food producer. In many ways, BC is defined by our agricultural products. BC apples, peaches and cherries are known around the world. It’s time we started investing to secure the future of BC’s food production.

Our orchards are more than just economic assets; they are part of our cultural fabric. Let’s act together, demand action, and ensure the sweet taste of British Columbia’s tree fruit continues to grace our tables for generations to come.

Together we can save our orchards and preserve the heart of British Columbia’s agricultural heritage.

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