Okanagan fruit growers raise concerns over mislabeled stone fruit on local shelves

Fruit this year should be in short supply following a difficult growing season, but some fruit stand shelves are full.

Some Okanagan fruit growers are raising concerns about some produce at local fruit stands being mislabeled as locally grown.

Following a tough growing season, most if not all Okanagan farmers were unable to grow stone fruit and only a few varieties of cherries survived.

“It’s hard because we only have the cherries that are local, people only have cherries,” said Gill.

“But it’s hard because people think that we’re lying to them saying there is no stone fruit but there really isn’t.”

But at some local fruit stands, the shelves are fully stocked with peaches, nectarines, and several varieties of cherries.

The stone fruit has likely been imported from the United States or Ontario, even though the display signs say local fruit.

“It’s quite a serious problem at the moment because we don’t have any local fruit. So, this year is easy to spot,” said Cawston Organic grower and independent packer Jarnail Gill.

“The consumer trust is really important. And we need to give them a clear vision of where the fruit is coming from. Where the fruit is displaced, there should be a very clear sign on it showing where it came from.”