JUDIE STEEVES
Black Press
Orchardist Joe Sardinha of Summerland, a past-president of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, died suddenly Saturday night of a heart attack at the age of 52.
He was president from 2005 to 2011 and had served on the executive for four years prior to that.
Current BCFGA president Jeet Dukhia, of Vernon, said his death was totally unexpected. Everywhere he went, Dukhia people asked about Sardinha, and all had respect for him.
“He loved his family, farming and the farm community. I speak for all tree fruit growers in saying we are deeply saddened by this news.”
Sardinha was pre-deceased just last year by his father and is survived by his wife Julie and two grown children.
