Welcome to “the Cherry Pit”with news and views at the
heart of the BC Cherry industry.
As well as information about employment opportunities in our sunny BC
cherry orchards, this site now includes current and past OKCGA newsletters,
updates on current projects, events (see What's Up below), and issues, and a members’area
providing access to full research reports from completed projects and
reports. Membership is open. Join us! Click here for Membership Form.
LOOKING FOR WORK? Go to WORK IN OUR ORCHARDS to find a complete listing of the best orchards to work in. For foreign applicants requiring work visas, please be aware that Working Holiday visas are available from some countries.
Recent News
Read the latest June newsletter with research briefs, GA news, important dates and other news.
The Minimum Residue list (MRL) has been updated by Hugh Philip for insecticides as of June 12, 2009. The Excel spreadsheet should be downloaded for your use. Please note that revisions will be updated to this site if and when available. Please read the note on Taiwan issues.
Yes!! We have a new GA registration approved which TerraLink will be distributing under the name FruitSize for the 2009 season at a substantial saving over alternatives. Watch for it - your research contributions have been worthwhile!!
Thanks to all presenters who made the Research Meeting and AGM so interesting. There was a great turnout and lots of interesting discussion. The presentations have been uploaded to this website and will be available here for the rest of the year. Click on the following to see the Research meeting AGENDA and AGM AGENDA.
The 2008 Research Project Reports are also available in the Members Area on this website. Please note the new 2009 password is now in effect.
2009 Membership Renewals and contribution of 2008 Crop Levies are now due. If you have not recieved it by mail, please print out the current membership form and mail it in to us as soon as possible. And remember, the rebate of 40% of it through SR&D Tax Credits means a penny a pound for research really only cost you 0.6 of a penny! Most of us had very poor production last year, so budgeting for research for 2009 is going to be really tight - but just as important as ever! Please support this essential part of our industry. Cherries are our business!
Scientific Research and Development Tax Credits for 2006 levies spent on 2007 research projects were mailed out in November. If you have not recieved yours, please contact Christine Dendy.
This tax credit makes your effective cost of contributing to valuable research for our industry even lower, so please take advantage of it - and feel even better about sending in your important levy contribution on your 2008 production.
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) program is continuing in 2009, however the co-ordinating association of Western Agricultural Labour Initiative (WALI) has discontinued due to lack of financial support from all sectors. A new WALI is in development. Please contact the BCFGA (250 762-5226) for further information as they are setting up grower services for the Okanagan.
What’s Up...
- Thursday July 30, 6:00 PM: PARC Cherry Varieties Day - Summerland Research Station gardens. This is a great annual event to see and taste the latest promising varieties in the breeding program. It has been scheduled as an evening event to help growers attend during the busy harvest season.
- November 15-20, 2009, VI International Cherry Symposium: Santiago (Chile): Info: Dr. Marlene Ayala, Departamento de Fruticultura y Enología, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Casilla 306 Correo 22, Santiago, Chile. Phone: (56)6864159 , Fax: (56)5534130, E-mail: mayalaz@uc.cl or Prof. Juan Pablo Zoffoli, Av Vicuna Mackenna 4860, Dept. Fruticultura y Enologia, Santiago 30622, Chile. Phone: (56)2 686 4159, Fax: (56)2 5534130, E-mail: zoffolij@uc.cl
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