Orchards, vineyards and farms will be able to apply for replanting support again, as the fall intake opens for the provincially funded Enhanced Replant Program.
The application period for berry replanting is currently open, with the period for tree fruit replanting opening on Oct. 28 and wine grape replanting on Nov. 18.
Applications for funding for berry replanting are required to be submitted by Nov. 3, at 9 a.m.
The program aims to support B.C. growers with replanting their crops using climate-resilient species to support long-term productivity and local food supply.
“British Columbia is so fortunate to have the people we rely on for the berries, wine grapes and tree fruit that our province is so well known for,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, in an Oct. 21 news release. “This support is helping producers replant their orchards and farms, providing jobs, revitalizing their businesses and strengthening the economy.”
About 200 projects across the province received support in 2024, which saw approximately 809.4 hectares (2,000 acres) of unproductive or damaged trees and vines removed and replanted with new varieties. The target for the 2025 intake is to cover the same acreage.
Overlooking Okanagan Lake, The View Winery, a family-owned and fifth-generation estate, received replant funding to switch to a hardier grape that produces a crisp white wine.
“The funding we received through the Enhanced Replant Program enabled us to replace a less cold-hardy grape variety with Chardonnay vines, which are better suited to withstand the extreme cold-weather events that have become more common in our region,” said The View Winery president Jennifer Molgat. “We are thrilled to add Chardonnay to our portfolio and are thankful to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for its support.”
The Enhanced Replant Program was announced in 2024 with a $70-million commitment from the province, following two years of devastating weather events including a heat dome and severe cold snap.
The 2025 intake is the second of five years for the program, which aims to replant approximately 3,600 hectares (8,900 acres) of perennial fruit plants by the time it is complete.
The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC delivers the program on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
To find out more about the Enhanced Replant Program and how to apply, visit: iafbc.ca/enhanced-replant-program.