A group of growers and other individuals gathered in front of City Park on Friday morning (Aug. 16) asking government to save the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC).

Approximately two dozen people held up signs saying 鈥淪ave Tree Fruit Co Op鈥� and 鈥淲rong Decision.鈥�

The BCTFC is currently seeking creditor protection in BC Supreme Court. The action follows the sudden closure of the BCTFC on July 26, leaving apple growers limited options to get their produce to market.

The BCTFC is made up of more than 230 Okanagan growers and has been operating for nearly 90 years.

An Aug. 13 statement from the Co-Op said the decision to file for creditor protection 鈥渟tems from BCTFC鈥檚 current liquidity crisis.鈥� 

It also cites several factors that led to the crisis including decreasing tree fruit volumes, an increase in local packing house competition, aging facilities and equipment, market pricing pressures locally and from Washington State, a reduction in contracted growers/members, and impacts from a changing climate.

Member growers have held several protests over the past few months claiming financial mismanagement and poor communication by the BCTFC.

The next hearing for the BCTFC鈥檚 creditor protection petition is Aug. 23.