As a time-limited measure, wineries have been permitted to produce wines using non-B.C. grapes while retaining the mark-up concessions and rebates normally reserved for B.C. VQA wines and 100 per cent B.C. grape wines. Photo by Shawn Talbot Photography

Some B.C. grape growers are questioning why the provincial government continues to allow wineries to import out-of-province fruit while their crops wither on the vine. But others say Victoria needs to help the industry recover despite a surprisingly large crop this year.

The debate, which has the B.C. wine industry in a tizzy, highlights the uncertainty that increasingly accompanies agriculture in B.C. and the limits of government support.

The province first announced an exemption to allow B.C. wineries to import some fruit from outside

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