J.M. Robinson

When John M. Robinson, a former Manitoba legislator and newspaper editor, came to the South Okanagan in 1898, he found only dry grazing land. Seeing its potential, he introduced irrigation and led in the establishment of peach, pear, apricot, and cherry orchards. His promotion and capital built the communities of Peachland, Naramata and Summerland and founded the area's great tree fruit industry.

From BC's Stops of Interest