Canada's BC Tree Fruits cooperative has announced it has applied for an expansion of the Winfield packinghouse to allow space for a new apple bagging line.

If approved, the new line would be designed, installed and ready for operation prior to the 2017 apple crop starting this upcoming fall.

The British Columbia-based entity said the new line would allow it to expand packing capacity by 30%.

The construction and installation of the line will provide 66 new jobs to the District of Lake Country and helps ensure locally grown apples continue to be handled and packed by local employees, it said.

“We are excited to begin the work on this expansion,” says BC Tree Fruits CEO Stan Swales.

“This facility handles the majority of our grower member’s apples grown in the Kelowna and Vernon area so this expansion is imperative to ensure the quality and packing capacity of locally grown apples.”

The Winfield packinghouse is one of four packinghouse facilities for BC Tree Fruits and only handles apples during the entire crop season (fall into the following spring). The other three facilities are located in Kelowna, Oliver and Osoyoos.

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