It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year. It’s peach season in the Okanagan!
Fun peach fact: Not every peach makes it to the grocery store shelf, as some don’t meet commercial grading standards for size, shape, or appearance, even when the flavour is exactly what it should be.
For a long time, an enormous volume of perfectly good fruit was left without a destination as a result of this grading system, so we decided to do something about that. Use upcycled fruit!
What “Upcycled” Actually Means
Upcycled refers to the purposeful use of ingredients that would otherwise go to waste, including peaches and other produce that missed cosmetic grading standards, surplus from the harvest, or fruit that’s nutritionally sound but commercially overlooked
In the case of our Okanagan Peach Yogurt, this means the use of organic peaches that didn’t meet retail appearance requirements, but are every bit as ripe, flavourful, and nutritious as the ones in the produce section.
Why We Source From the Okanagan
The Okanagan Valley is one of Canada’s most celebrated growing regions. Its combination of hot summers, cool nights, and distinct terrain produces stone fruit with genuinely concentrated flavour, the kind that tastes as if it came from somewhere specific, because it did.
It’s also close to home for us. Sourcing from the Okanagan means we’re working with Canadian growers, keeping our supply chain within BC, and shortening the distance between orchard and kettle. That matters to us the same way the family farms on Vancouver Island matter when we think about our milk supply.
Five Years as the Largest Buyer
Tree Island has been the largest buyer of upcycled Okanagan peaches for five consecutive years.
That’s something we’re genuinely proud of because it means we’ve built real, consistent relationships with growers, not a one-season transaction, and that our purchasing volume is significant enough to actually move the needle on what might otherwise go to waste.
It also means the growers know we’re coming back, which lets us maintain the kind of quality consistency that matters when you’re putting fruit directly into a food people eat every day.
Why Upcycled and Local Makes Sense for Us
Upcycled Okanagan peaches are organic, they’re Canadian, and choosing them directly reduces food waste at the source. That’s a better answer in every direction for the growers, for the environment, and for what ends up in your container.
If you haven’t tried it, now is a wonderful time of year to start.
Find Tree Island Yogurt near you using our store locator.
