Approximately 30 growers gathered in front of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Ramada Inn on Wednesday morning (June 5) where members of the BC Tree Fruit Cooperative (BCTFC) were meeting.

The gathering followed a protest at the BCTFC offices on May 29.

READ MORE: Growers and farmers protest at BC Tree Fruits Cooperative in 琉璃神社

Growers鈥� concerns are numerous, including less than promised payment for crops, and a lack of communication from the BCTFC.

Speaking on behalf of growers, Amarjit Lali said that the average packing house price for apples this year is 13 cents per pound, but the cost of production is 34 cents.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen a 12 per cent decrease in the value of my crop, and some growers have seen drastic reductions of up to 50 per cent. The crop was mishandled and the growers are paying for it.鈥�

Lali added that growers were promised 40 cents a pound when a new packing house was built in Oliver in 2023, despite their objections.

鈥淲ell, the money has been spent and the return is 13 cents. Somebody has to be held accountable.鈥�

The average price has been running between 13 and 19 cents a pound for the past five years, Lali said.

READ MORE: Farmers protest BC Tree Fruits surprise facility move from 琉璃神社 to Oliver

Growers are not paid up-front for their crops instead the BCTFC provides a projected price and farmers are given four advances throughout the year.

Some growers 琉璃神社 spoke to said they got a bill when Co-op projections were not realized.

鈥淣ow they鈥檙e being told to give the money back,鈥� Lali explained. 鈥淪o, the grower spent the money to grow the apples and at the end of it we鈥檙e getting a bill.鈥�

Lali said BCTFC management has become complacent and no longer has the trust of growers.

鈥淭here have been a lot of irregularities regarding the rules of the cooperative and how they鈥檙e being followed. The group (growers) have asked for investigations to be done. The board has refused.鈥�

Lali has asked Premier David Eby to appoint an overseer to look at whether the BCTFC is following its own rules, adding growers are still open to dialogue.

鈥淭he last resort is pulling the plug and taking our fruit somewhere else,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want to communicate, but there has been no communication from the cooperative.鈥�

Speaking to media outlets Wednesday afternoon, Eby said his government will continue to hear growers鈥� concerns.

鈥淲e understand that without the farmers, we don鈥檛 have food and without food, we鈥檙e not going too far. So we鈥檙e going to make sure we鈥檙e supporting our farmers in the province.鈥�

Capital News has reached out to the BCTFC for comment.

READ MORE: 鈥榃e need to fight鈥�: Farmers rally in Okanagan as BC NDP gather for retreat