Abnormally warm temperatures this spring are having a significant impact on fruit trees and vineyards across the South Okanagan Valley. Many longtime growers are predicting that this year’s harvest will be one of the earliest in history. (File photo)
Abnormally warm temperatures this spring are having quite an impact on fruit trees as blooms are early, signaling an early harvest.
This can be good or bad, depending on who you talk to.
Fred Steele, president of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association, said the early bloom is not the problem itself, other than being inconvenient.
“The problems continue through the season.
There can be a frost, which would create problems, but as far as I know that didn’t happen.”
Steele said an early bloom means an early season; the bugs and fungal problems come earlier, throwing out spraying timetables.
He added that thinning comes early and soft fruit picking comes early, meaning more stress on finding pickers.
“If we have an early season and high heat it creates agriculture water stress on the irrigation supply system.”
Steele said it could also mean early picking of apples, which means picking in the heat that could cause colour problems (because you don’t have the chilly fall evenings that help colour the fruit.
“Right now in the Central Okanagan, in my view, we are about the same as last year and I would like to see some cooler weather for sure.”
Steele said seasons that are early are very unpredictable, and people should be buying their crop insurance early, anticipating storms.
“We all know the problems of last year, so be prepared and get coverage now.”
Steele admitted that early seasons put a strain on the entire growing system, but he noted that farmers are a hardy breed and can adapt.
Pinder Dhaliwal, a local grower and vice-president of the BCFGA, said the situation is almost identical to last year at this time.
He agreed it depends on who you talk to whether you think being early is good or bad.
“I think it’s good so that the season is over earlier. It’s a good start for the cherries.”
But Dhaliwal said the many youth who come from Quebec to pick fruit in the South Okanagan might miss the boat if the harvest is too early.
And if there is a freak frost, you will start to see some damage, he stated.
If the warm weather continues, they could start picking cherries during the first week of June, Dhaliwal said. Last year they started picking on June 8, he noted. Historically, cherries are picked on June 13-14, he pointed out.
“When I was a kid, the first cherries (harvested) were on July 1.”
With early harvests, such as the cherry crop, the fruit stands might not be happy because the tourists will be asking where the cherries are, Dhaliwal said.
Overall, the crops are looking very good, he said, noting the blossoms are heavy and there has been no frost.
Veteran cherry grower Greg Norton said it could be one of the earliest harvests, noting his crop is progressing fast.
Norton said he has already contacted his picking crew to inform them that they’ll likely be picking earlier this year.
“The BCFGA needs to get the word back to Quebec,” he stated, but said the word will likely get out soon enough through social media. However, some pickers will still be committed to finishing their schooling before they come out west.
Historically, hundreds of young transient workers from Quebec make the long trip to the South Okanagan to pick fruit.
Many of them arrive in early May for the start of cherry picking season, but many arrive once school is over to find work picking apples and other varities of fruit.
Historically, an early harvest is not a good thing, Norton said, but noted that this season’s pollination was “marvelous” and the trees are in perfect shape.
“The leaves look good, there has been no winter problems … it looks great.”
If the warm weather continues, Norton predicts Osoyoos will be picking cherries in the first week of June, while the Oliver area will start in the second or third week.
Normally it’s July 2-4, he pointed out.
Norton has been phoning his buyers, saying the cherries are going to be “rolling” soon.
As for the tourists, Norton said there will be plenty of cherries (later varieties) left for them to enjoy.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
