The sale of the remaining assets of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTF) is a pivotal moment according to the CEO of Wildstone Construction鈥攁 Penticton firm that was part of the purchase.
鈥淭his next chapter for BCTF is powered by a strong partnership with our family, local investors and our strategic partner, Algoma Orchards Corp. and the Kemp family, who will operate the packing plant and bring BC Tree Fruits products back to Canadian and international consumers,鈥� Mark Melissen stated in a LinkedIn post.
Algoma Orchards is an Ontario-based company that partnered with Wildstone on the $23 million deal which includes a packing house in Oliver, fruit receiving facilities in Summerland and Keremeos, all equipment, and remaining intellectual property including the brand and logo.
The deal was approved by the Supreme Court of BC on May 16.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just an investment,鈥� Melissen added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a commitment to local agriculture, communities, and the future of B.C. fruit. We鈥檙e excited about what鈥檚 ahead and deeply proud to be supporting growth, jobs, and innovation in a sector that means so much to this province.鈥�
Founded in 1936, BCTF was a grower-owned organization based in Kelowna. At its peak, it supported over 230 member farms, providing services such as fruit processing, storage, packaging, and sales. The cooperative was widely recognized for its bright green leaf logo and the slogan "Look for the Leaf."
In 2022, a decision to y sparked significant unrest among growers. That unrest eventually led to protests in May 2024, including 30 growers and farmers who gathered at . They held signs reading 鈥淒ictatorship,鈥� 鈥淐orruption,鈥� and 鈥淲e Have No Voice,鈥� demanding accountability and transparency from the cooperative's leadership.
In July of that year, due to declining fruit volumes, increased competition, aging infrastructure, and adverse weather conditions. The 鈥攐wing $50 million to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
The closure left many Okanagan growers scrambling to find alternative avenues for packing and marketing their produce. In response, the to support local growers in getting their produce to market. Farming Karma, a Kelowna orchard and juice company, .
The court-ordered liquidation of BCTF's assets led to the sale of several properties, including the Vaughan Avenue site in Kelowna, which was , and the .
The Sexsmith Rd facility was initially listed for $39 million. After a significant price reduction, it was . The company plans to invest $2 to $3 million into modernizing the building and continue apple storage operations at the site.
