After a disastrous 2024, cherry and apple crops in British Columbia (BC) are looking promising this year. Sukhpaul Bal, a Rutland cherry grower and president of the BC Cherry Association, is optimistic about the upcoming harvest. "It looks really nice here in the orchard. By summer, these pea-sized green cherries will be big and red, a real delicacy," he said.
Last year, a severe cold snap in January destroyed most cherry buds, slashing the Okanagan's cherry harvest to just 25% of normal. Bal's 100-acre orchard in Rutland produced no cherries. Typically, his yield is around one million pounds. This year, he expects a record 100 million pounds of cherries from BC's 2,832.8 hectares of orchards.
BC cherries are set for domestic and export markets, including China, Japan, Korea, and Europe. Bal is involved in the Cross-Commodity Leadership Support Project, a new initiative funded by $900,000 from the provincial government through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. The project supports the tree fruit industry in areas like awareness, marketing, and rebuilding after five years of hardship, including the pandemic, heat domes, deep freezes, and Trump tariffs.
One initiative under the project is Canadian Cherry Month, promoting local cherries to retailers across Canada. "Canadian buyers are showing incredible support for local," Bal said. "There's a sense of pride in choosing Canadian-grown."
Apples, the Okanagan's largest cash crop, were unaffected by last year's cold. Around 110,000 tons of apples are harvested annually from 6,700 acres. Apple futures are performing well in both domestic and export markets. Pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums—crops devastated in 2024—are also looking strong this season.
Despite the positive outlook, the tree fruit industry still faces significant challenges, including a labor shortage, high production costs, climate change, and potential tariffs.
"But overall, I would say the mood is hopeful and optimistic," said Kellie Garcia, director of the Cross-Commodity Leadership Support Project. "Our progress shows what's possible when we work together. Even with limited capacity, we're solving problems and creating momentum."
Source: NowMedia