Inspection report to be issued on fruit packing plant near Kelowna

'Inspectors have recently visited the site and found effluent from the company’s fruit washing and packing operation had been discharged into the environment,' said the ministry.

A fruit company at the centre of a smelly controversy near a Central Okanagan neighbourhood was fined two years ago for releasing wastewater from a septic system and disposal field.

In 2022, the Ministry of Environment levied a $32,000 fine against Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. for violating waste discharge regulations. According to the ministry, the dates of contravention spanned from Aug. 17, 2019, to April 12, 2022.

“After the cherries and apples are picked, they are taken to the Sandher facility to be washed and packaged,” said the ministry and specifically pointing to the company’s facility at 3231 Old Vernon Rd.

“During the fruit washing process, wastewater is discharged from the facility into (a) disposal field via a septic tank system.”

The ministry said Sandher Fruit Packers does not have authorization to discharge wastewater into the environment.

“Sandher acknowledged that no authorization had been obtained,” said the ministry. “During the inspection, the Ministry observed that the septic system was malfunctioning and leaking effluent to the ground.”

The ministry also noted that in February 2018, Sandher received a $575 violation ticket for the unauthorized discharge of waste. The ticket was said to be paid on April 25, 2018.

Prior to issuing the $32,000 fine, the ministry said, “Since the unauthorized discharge was first identified in 2017, Sandher has continued to discharge waste into the environment while producing and selling products, resulting in “ongoing growth of the company” to the point where additional property has been purchased to expand the operation.”