Canadian apple growers are accusing their US counterparts of dumping and are now considering making a complaint to trade officials.

The British Columbia Fruit Growers Association said that excess fruit on the market is damaging their business and claim prices last season were halved as a result.

According to one grower, the Canadian Horticultural Council requested that Canadian trade authorities collected price and volume information on US imports in March, and growers, armed with the data, are now discussing how to proceed.

Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima, Washington, has dismissed the concerns: "Whenever there are difficult economic times in an industry, looking to blame imports is always an option. We certainly aren't selling fruit there at reduced prices and disadvantaging them.”

He also said that low returns on Red Delicious apples were down to the fact that China had become a strong market player in the country.

Canada is the second largest export market for Washington apples after Mexico.

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