The cherry harvest in the Okanagan- Similkameen is in full swing, or it would be if there were enough workers to pick the cherries.
Reports from Oliver indicate a shortage of about 200 workers in cherry harvesting and sorting. The workforce is a combination of local and Quebecois youth, as well as foreign workers. This year, the funding for the Okanagan French Employment Service Centre was cut off by the federal government. As a result, fewer Quebecois youth are in the Okanagan and there is a shortage of workers for cherry harvest.
Cherries ripen in the South Okanagan (Keremeos - Osoyoos - Oliver) first. The shortage is currently being felt in the South Okanagan and in the Lower Similkameen.
Workzone Keremeos reported last Thursday that the job board was filled, with a shortage of workers investigating.
“There were 15 job postings that came in this morning alone,” said Lisa Fraser of Workzone.
“We leave the job postings on the window every night, and they are also there on days when the office isn’t open.”
“First, harvest was delayed and that meant pickers did not have enough work. Now, there is so much work that we are short of pickers,” said Madeleine Van Roechoudt, chair of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association Labour Committee. “It will be an enormous help for growers to get local youth out to the orchard to help with the harvest,” she concluded.
Local youth interested in work picking or sorting cherries may call Ron Forrest at 250-859-3354. Forrest is the facilitator for the BCFGA Farm Labour Project and helps match workers with jobs. Forrest advises that the work requires stamina and dexterity.
The BC Fruit Growers’ Association represents 760 family operated farms that provide $300 million in economic activity, and whose mandate is to foster a healthy food system for the long-term prosperity of B.C. tree fruit growers.