In British Columbia’s interior region, a vital hub for cherry and other stone fruit cultivation, growers are grappling with the aftermath of disruptive weather patterns that have severely impacted this year’s harvest. According to the outlet Daily Kos, factors such as flooding, diminished protective snow cover, fluctuating temperatures, and unexpected cold snaps have dealt a significant blow, particularly to cherry crops.
Cherries from British Columbia are highly prized and find their way to various international markets including the United States, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union. With the United Kingdom navigating the aftermath of Brexit and Spain’s produce industry feeling the strain of climate change, the global demand for fresh fruits and vegetables has intensified. Consequently, farmers find themselves facing substantial losses and are seeking support from their respective governments.
Farmers across British Columbia’s Interior are reporting devastating losses in their peach, grape, and cherry orchards due to erratic winter weather. This unfortunate turn of events is expected to translate into a noticeable shortage of locally grown soft fruits on grocery store shelves this summer.
Emily Chambers, co-owner of Blue Canoe in Creston, lamented the absence of viable flower buds on any of her orchard’s lapins cherry trees this season, as Daily Kos reported.
Peter Simonsen, President of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, described the weather-related damage as the most severe the industry has witnessed since the devastating floods of November 2021.
“The recent erratic weather, characterized by a sudden shift from warm to extremely cold temperatures in January, has had catastrophic effects akin to frozen pipes in a house. The flower buds are killed off, and the long-term health of the trees is compromised,” Simonsen explained.
Simonsen, who cultivates apples, pears, and peaches on his 25-hectare farm in Naramata, expressed doubts about the survival of his peach crops for the upcoming summer season, despite some of his apple and pear flower buds managing to endure the extreme conditions.
Adding to the challenges, the looming threat of tropical pests like fruit flies poses further risks as temperatures continue to rise unchecked. California has already reported escalating populations of fruit flies in traps, with species such as Mexican, Oriental, and Mediterranean wreaking havoc by laying eggs in fruits like apples, avocados, and oranges. The hatching larvae tunnel through the fruit, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.
Source: Daily Kos. Read the full article here.
