Federal funding for Canada’s tree fruit industry

The federal government has announced an investment of up to $4.2M under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), AgriScience Program to the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association. This funding will support the Association in developing innovative, commercially successful Canadian-bred apple and sweet cherry cultivars that enhance the profitability of Canada’s tree fruit sector.

Canada’s tree fruit industry is large and growing, with apples representing 41.5 per cent of the total marketed production of Canadian fruit in 2017, valued at $224.6 million, and cherries representing a farm gate value of $88.2 million in the same year. The Government of Canada and Canadian tree fruit farmers know the importance of research and innovation to ensure this industry continues to grow and prosper.

This project, which builds on research funding received under the previous agricultural policy frameworks, consists of ten activities, with research and testing taking place in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

“As the fruit industry expands into new markets, producers will need to develop new varieties of products that grow in Canada’s diverse climate to ensure they can meet consumer demands here and around the world. Our Government is committed to ensuring the industry and our producers have the tools they need to succeed, ” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“Research enables change.  The CAP funding provided for this project will help the industry develop and adopt the exciting new varieties developed at Summerland Research and Development Centre.  The funding includes a number of activities to improve yields and quality of apples and cherries as well as to test the new varieties in a range of climates across Canada.  This research project will help growers increase profits and production,” said Pinder Dhaliwal, president of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association.

The British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association is a non-profit industry association established in 1889 to support a prosperous, sustainable and innovative tree fruit sector.