Karma and Kuku Gill have been farming in the Okanagan for the last 25 years, but their children weren香蕉视频直播檛 as keen to continue the family business, as is. They wanted to innovate, expand, help their parents build on years of hard work.

Avi, his wife Binny and his younger brother Sumeet decided to use the fruits their parents already cultivated to make something new 香蕉视频直播� fruit soda.

Binny said the reason for the new venture was to help stabilize the family香蕉视频直播檚 income after they saw the financial uncertainties farmers faced.

香蕉视频直播淪ome years are great and others, not so much. But we wanted to do this because then we can grow our own fruit, we turn it into a product which we then can have some control over what the retailer is marking it up for,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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Avi said they started with apple soda, first selling it at the Kelowna Farmers香蕉视频直播� and Crafters香蕉视频直播� Market. Eight months later, their apple soda can now be found in 400 grocery stores across the province, including Safeway, Buy-Low, Thrifty Foods, Save-On-Foods, Your Independent Grocer, and Nesters Market. Soon, they香蕉视频直播檒l be releasing cherry and peach sodas as well.

He said it was the support of local residents and local retailers that set him and his family on the right path.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think we香蕉视频直播檇 ever give up-selling and going to the farmers香蕉视频直播� market. That香蕉视频直播檚 where we really get to interact with our local community members, who have been awesome and encouraged us to stick with it while we were figuring out the formula,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淥utside of the farmers香蕉视频直播� market, we started out with Peter香蕉视频直播檚 Your Independent Grocer. Peter is awesome and he really mentored me. He actually helped me get from the production side of things into retail, pointing out who to talk to and what kinds of conversations I needed to have.香蕉视频直播�

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Besides the fruit soda, Avi, Binny and Sumeet also launched a tasting bar at the family香蕉视频直播檚 McKenzie Road property. But just as they were ready to open, COVID-19 hit, affecting not just the tasting bar香蕉视频直播檚 performance, but the sales in grocery stores as well.

香蕉视频直播淭he thing is, we just have to roll with the punches. It香蕉视频直播檚 been difficult because we香蕉视频直播檝e had our store closed for the majority of (the pandemic) and even when things started loosening up, we香蕉视频直播檇 rather err on the side of safety so we香蕉视频直播檝e been cautious with opening,香蕉视频直播� Avi said.

Karma said the younger generation香蕉视频直播檚 new venture is exciting, but he said local farmers need help from the government, provincial, federal and municipal governments.

香蕉视频直播淭his year has been difficult香蕉视频直播� we need support from the government. The federal government香蕉视频直播檚 aid only helps the dairy, egg and meat farmers,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey need to look at fruit growers too. We have problems too and it香蕉视频直播檚 been difficult for us too.香蕉视频直播�

READ: Orchardists face challenges from COVID-19 pandemic