British Columbia-based Jealous Fruits starts its cherry harvest today, July 12 with the Satin variety. This variety is from the company’s earliest ripening blocks. Volume will be limited during the first ten days of production, but will increase significantly with the start of Lapin harvest.
Photo: Satin variety on July 9
“Timing of Lapin harvest has been brought forward slightly and we now expect a start date of approximately July 23rd,” says Julie McLachlan with Jealous Fruits. “We are now expecting to start our Sweetheart variety around August 1st.”
The weather forecast for the Pacific Northwest is hot weather over the next two weeks. Excess heat is a concern for the cherry industry, especially for those cherries approaching harvest. “Fortunately, the majority of our Satin and Lapins are grown very close to Okanagan Lake and we are appreciative of the cooling effect this body of water provides,” mentioned McLachlan. “Later ripening fruit such as our Sweetheart and Staccato cherries are still quite green at this point and are thriving under the temperatures now prevailing.”
Photo: Home farm on the shore of Okanagan Lake
Northern latitude
Historically in the north Okanagan, with its northerly latitude and temperatures moderated by Okanagan Lake, the area typically experiences maximum daytime temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in more southern cherry growing regions. “This year is shaping up to be one of those years where our moderate climate will set us apart,” concluded McLachlan.
For more information:
Julie McLachlan
Jealous Fruits
Tel: 250-766-0738