Farms.com Home   News

B.C. government boosts funding for Okanagan apple growers

The B.C. government is providing support in four strategic areas to help B.C.’s tree-fruit industry continue to provide locally produced fruit to British Columbians while supporting the economy in the Okanagan.

“B.C. apple growers are an important part of our province’s food security and economy,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We are working directly with the industry, family farms and businesses to ensure they succeed into the future, and putting B.C.’s apple growers in the best position to increase their efficiency, production and profitability.”

Over two years, $2.5 million will support crop health, fruit production, apple marketing and skills training. The actions follow recommendations in the Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan and requests from the tree-fruit industry.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker


Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.