B.C. to ensure fruit growers impacted by co-op closure are paid for past harvests

The British Columbia government says it is taking steps to ensure tree fruit growers are compensated for past harvests after the closure of a co-operative that had served farmers for almost 90 years.It says the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC is “redirecting” about $4-million in provincial funding that will be used to ensure co-op members receive money they are owed.The province says the foundation will pay growers in the coming weeks and then recoup the funds at the end of the court process involving the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative that filed for creditor protection last month.