Health & Education

 Locally grown food is better for your health, better for the environment and the right choice to support BC farmers and producers make a sustainable living.

Your BC Fruit Growers: Strong Supporters of Healthy Living Choices

Promoting healthy eating will provide enormous savings in health care budgets. Childhood obesity is leading to concerns that the current generation of children may have shorter life expectations than their parents, for the first time in recorded history.

The Canada Health Guide recommends that we eat  more fruits and vegetables to improve  our health, and combined with regular exercise, our children could live long healthy lives.

Additionally, the Conference Board of Canada issued its Annual Report Card on Health Care on September 28, 2009.  Healthy eating and exercise are key determinants of the performance of the health care system, yet are often overshadowed by a short-term focus on health care treatment and intervention.

The BCFGA supports the BC Government School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program. This program aims at reducing health care costs. As a matter of fact, an August 2009 report by the McGill World Platform for Health and Economic Convergence, entitled “Building Convergence, Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada”, notes the importance of improved nutrition to reducing health care costs.

The School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program is also a key investment for the Ministry of Health.  During the current budgetary challenge, the Ministry of Health might be tempted to reduce it’s investment in this program. However, doing so would simply increase long term health care costs due to an increased level of poor nutritional choices of the public.  We appreciate the Minister of Agriculture’s ongoing support for the School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program that seeks to introduce our impressionable youth to healthy eating choices.

BC Tree Fruits: Healthy, Nutritious, Available

An apple a day keeps the doctor’s away…

Apples and other tree fruits are packed with good nutrients and health benefits.

An apple is 85% water. The remaining portion is made of phytonutrients and antioxudants. It also contains fibre and vitamin C, plus other vitamins and minerals.

Today’s researchers echo that theme as they continue to discover the health values antioxidants and other natural compounds in apples. Studies link apples and other tree fruits to a long list of health benefits including reduced risk of asthma, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, heart disease and diabetes; and boost your immune system.

Browse through some great articles about nutrition and health, and find out just how good “an apple a day” really can be by visiting BC Tree Fruits Ltd website at www.bctree.com

When and Where

In spring, the Okanagan Valley turns to a splendid scenery as millions of orchard trees blossom. And because we grow so many tree fruits, somtimes it's hard to remember which ones are in season and which ones aren't.

Harvesting begins in June with cherries, and run until mid-October with the final yields of apples.

Many farmers' markets, farms and orchards welcome visitors. To find your closest farmers' markets, visit the BC Association of Farmers' Markets at www.bcfarmersmarket.org

Contact Us

Hours: 9am - 4pm weekdays.
880 Vaughan Ave
Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4

t: 250-762-5226
f: 250-861-9089
e: [email protected]