BC Tree Fruits is expecting 12 million pounds of cherries this season. (Photo submitted)
This year could see record cherry volumes for BC Tree Fruits.
A combination of ideal weather conditions through bloom and post-bloom periods, as well as new production coming on, has resulted in an estimated 12 million pound cherry crop this season.
The 12 million pounds of BC Tree Fruits cherries estimated for this season matches the estimate from last season – although the crop in 2017 came in short of the initial estimate at 10.1 million pounds due to weather challenges across the region.
In addition to cherries, BC Tree Fruits is anticipating a very good peach, nectarine, prune, plum and table grape crop with volumes either slightly up or similar to last year.
“Mother nature served our growing regions with ideal weather conditions through bloom into the post-bloom period, which has resulted in a lot of fruit on the trees,” says BC Tree Fruits Marketing Manager Chris Pollock.
“Our growers are excited and prepared for great summer fruits crop this year.”
The primary market for BC Tree Fruits summer fruits remains Western Canada. BC Tree Fruits also exports increased volumes of cherries to the Unites States and key export markets.
In the South Okanagan, cherries are expected as early as within the next week.
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