What is there to do in Regina in November

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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There are some members of the BC Fruit Growers Association coming to Regina
for the Agribition in November.

Can I come?

 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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Today I finished the radio commercials, they are written and scheduled to be produced
and sent to Regina on Wednesday. Petros you look like you are ready for a day at the
event. The background looks a little like the town of Wawota.Sask. I have seen a lot of
that town, but in summer. My wife is from Wawota, my sister owns a house there even
though she lives in Calgary.
I am really looking forward to meeting a lot of people in the Regina area it promises to be
a great event from what I have heard about it.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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They will be running on the Big Dog. We are also working on being live on air at some point
with the morning crew hopefully. The BCFGA President and I will be bringing a bunch of
goodies for them, and doing some promo. Haven't got it finalized yet but it looks pretty good
so far. I think this is going to be a fun event. BCFGA is getting into promotion and public
relations in a much bigger way. Its a mix of information and fun.
As the Public Relations portfolio on the BCFGA Executive, I hope it works, it could be the start
of a whole lot of activity. We have been getting involved in a series of fairs and festivals helping
organizations promote their events and we take booths at these and promote the fruit industry
to kids and of course the parents. Media coverage has been great too.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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Here are some answers to questions about BCFGA being in Regina at the Agribition
Some wanted to come by our booth, we will have two booths side by side, they are
Booth 128 and 129 in the main Agribition building.

We will be doing some promotion on the Big Dog country music station. and we always
have a good time at those especially live program stuff, its more about fun than anything
else.

Yes I will be voicing the commercials myself, it has been a long time since I did any out of
market voicing.
 

Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
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Ron we have accommodation and a truck load of apples for this event. The
BC Fruit Growers Association is experimenting with promotion and Public
Relations. We are hoping to make this an annual event, some others include
taking soft fruit to Calgary for Stampede, and Edmonton for Klondike Days
and also to the PNE in Vancouver. I thought the Agribition would be a good
start. It is a challenge to plan, logistics are a challenge and I have to make
some serious decisions on the fly. We are booking radio time and I am
currently writing and producing the radio commercials, In fact I will be
voicing them this week, to play on radio in Regina There is a couple of other
media events planned for the event as well. We have two booths and we
have farmers coming to answers peoples questions. we will feature taste
testing of Ambrosia and Spartan apples, and in future years we will bring
other varieties as well. There will also be really good quality fruit for sale.
I want to know where the Regina Roughrider store is, I was told there is a
store specifically for their stuff. As a Rider Fan I want to take that in for sure.
We have to keep our farmers happy, so we are looking for entertainment
good places to eat, have a few drinks and yes we will check out the Warriors
hope they have a home game. I will be there on the 19th to do radio promotion
and interviews, sure would be nice to take in a Riders game.
I will be there Nov. 19th through the 27 and heading home the 28th.
Ron you will have to come by the booth

Hi Damngrumpy: The Rider store is right outside Mosaic Stadium. I was there this summer and as a Rider fan it was like landing in Rider gear heaven. Do go, you won't be disappointed. Also check out riderville.com as they post the Rider practice schedules and games days.
If you are interested in doing some touristing the Plains Museum and the RCMP Museum are both worth a visit.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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All the suggestions are good ones i will be sure to pass those on. And I will be going
to Rider Heaven.

Here is a question for you, If you were going to ask any question about the
Tree Fruit Industry in British Columbia, or you wanted to know something
specific what would it be, It would give me an idea of what kind of questions
I can expect when we are in Regina.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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bliss
For me (even though I'm not in Regina), it would be 'what eating apple varieties have proven themselves hearty enough to grow well in my climate?'
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Don't forget to drink some Pilsner!
Pil. Oooo yuck. Bohemian is the true hardcore SK beer. 3 gold medals for brewing excellence.

Don't forget to drink some Pilsner!

All the suggestions are good ones i will be sure to pass those on. And I will be going
to Rider Heaven.

Here is a question for you, If you were going to ask any question about the
Tree Fruit Industry in British Columbia, or you wanted to know something
specific what would it be, It would give me an idea of what kind of questions
I can expect when we are in Regina.
Who is protecting the orchards from developers? I grew up in Winfield in the early 70's-80's and it's nothing like it once was in the OK today.
 

Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
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Eagle Creek
All the suggestions are good ones i will be sure to pass those on. And I will be going
to Rider Heaven.

Here is a question for you, If you were going to ask any question about the
Tree Fruit Industry in British Columbia, or you wanted to know something
specific what would it be, It would give me an idea of what kind of questions
I can expect when we are in Regina.

Here are some questions I might ask DG.

How has free trade helped or hindered your industry?
Do you feel that the price you get for your product is fair? If not, why not?
What could be done to increase the price you get for your products?
How far do you ship your products?
Do you just sell fruit or do you also produce and sell other items such as juice?
Is your produce completely organic - grown without the use of pesticides, etc?
How long does it take for a shipment of apples, for instance, to get from the orchard to the market in Regina?
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Moving
All the suggestions are good ones i will be sure to pass those on. And I will be going
to Rider Heaven.

Here is a question for you, If you were going to ask any question about the
Tree Fruit Industry in British Columbia, or you wanted to know something
specific what would it be, It would give me an idea of what kind of questions
I can expect when we are in Regina.

Bring extra gas as the return trip is all and i mean all uphill.

Hope you enjoy yourself as i am sure you will.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
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kelowna bc
Some answers and I'll do them individually as concise as I can, some require some
serious explanation. First Karrie, the first thing you look for in developing an apple
tree in colder climate is the rootstock it is attached to. If you are in Saskatchewan,
probably a Russian rootstock. that is what they call it. A newer variety you might
look at seriously, is Honeycrisp. This variety originated in Minnesota, and it grows
well in Ontario and Nova Scotia We also produce it in BC but in my view it is not
suited to warmer climates. I have personally eaten them from other regions of Canada
and I think we should only grow them in small amounts. The Prairie might work.
For those who don't know, Saskatchewan has a fledgling tree fruit industry and there is
a grower in Davidson who you might like to talk to his name is Charles Moore, he has an
orchard planted just outside of Davidson, between Regina and Saskatoon.
The University in Saskatoon has a tree fruit experimental program.
It should also be noted the BC Fruit Growers Association is willing to help this industry
grow as well. If you are also serious about planting something, PICO you can find their
Website, is at the Summerland Experimental Station in the Okanagan. PICO not only
develops apple varieties, we also produce 80% of all new cherry varieties world wide.

Many may not know but in BC we have what is called the Agricultural Land Reserve.
The problem is the system saved farmland but not he farmer. Many properties are
seeing trees removed and hay grown, and that is because of other problems in the
agricultural industry. Government lack of investment in programs, and free trade
have caused no end of problems at the moment. BC is the Province that spends
the least in agricultural investment programs. The one thing BC has done right is the
is the school snack program. All across the province schools are opting into the
program. Students are given snacks during school time. Teachers and school staff
also receive the snack. The education system, informs students as to where the
food was grown, how it was grown, the food value and some of the ways the food
can be prepared as a snack or in a lunch.
The rules about farm land are being tightened and diversity of crops are making some
changes in the farm industry. There are some other things coming that I think will in
the future will put much of the land back into production.
Petros where in Winfield did you grow up? I grew up in Winfield and Oyama, attended
both Winfield Elementary and George Elliot High School but I left earlier in the sixties.
Left the valley, came back, left the valley, came back. You know the routine, there is
something about the Okanagan that draws one back.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
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kelowna bc
Mowich, you raise some really interesting questions I will try to be brief. There are a lot
of problems for the industry, but I tend to look at it from the point of view there are a lot of
solutions to be found. First Free Trade has been a disaster for Agriculture in general.
Imported food is not subject to the same food safety regulations as food grown in Canada.
We face a lot of additional costs to pay for food safety programs, and that is fine I just think
all product should face the same regulations and pay the same costs and keep the same
records. Also the prices have been driven down,there is another reason that I will address
later as it is connected to a much bigger problem.

No in the last couple of years we have not even received the cost of production.. The big
reason is lack of competition in the marketplace. There used to be about one to two
dozen wholesale and commodity buyers that has now been reduced to about six in the whole
market place. I am talking major buyers who tend to set the price. Governments allow all
competition for institutional buying. Hospitals, schools, and so on. In America and most other
countries institutions must buy products from their own national farmers but outsiders are in
fact allowed to bid on ours. And the outside product is not subject to many of the same rules.
I do not want government to pay farmers for everything they can grow, it would be a disaster.
I think there are many programs, where government can invest in infrastructure, and the
research and development of industry practices. I believe the tree fruit industry needs a marketing
system, not like the dairy industry but some protection is needed. For example, I think farmers
should get their income from the marketplace, by growing quality product. If we are going to
allow competition for institutional and other components, of society there needs to be some areas
reserved for Canadian farmers. Allow Canadian Fruit Growers 50% of the Canadian market and
the rest would be open to competition. We would have a secure food source and farm land mass
in case we face food shortages, and at the same time food prices would stabilize and the farmer
would make a descent living. It would also ensure that Canadians owned the land on which their
food is grown. Recently in some countries, China, India and other countries are buying farmland
and it times of shortage they will be able to ship food to the home country, to me it amounts to a new
form of colonization.at our expense..
Mowich, I have addressed two of your questions here. You have asked seven questions in all. So
as not to have this get way to long I will answer a couple more later today. Good questions though
and they add to a great food debate going on in this country at almost every level. It might help to
engage more people when the issues are known by consumers.