Sarbjeet Kaur Khela inspects her damaged cherry crop on Fairview Road following the devastating hail storm on May 26. She and other farmers in Oliver are reporting 100 per cent damage.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Sarbjeet Kaur Khela from Oliver was so happy to see her cherry crop flourish this spring. But now she has trouble even looking at her fruit on Fairview Road.
The single mother of three children estimated she lost 100 per cent of her crop from the devastating hail storm on May 26. The hail pounded the Oliver area for nearly 15 minutes, leaving behind flooded homes and damaged fruit.
Many long-time residents said it was the worst hail they’ve ever seen.
“I’m very upset,” said Khela, who was anticipating the money she was going to make from her five acres of cherries.
She estimated her loss to be $95,000, noting her crop insurance will only cover about $10,000 to $15,000. She pointed out that growers have already spent $15,000 on sprays.
Khela knew her crop would sustain heavy damage once the hail started. Her cherries would have been ready to pick by June 23, she said.
“It will be very hard to survive now.”
Down the road from her, brothers Kamalpreet and Manpreet Gill reported a similar tale of woe.
Kamalpreet said his crops (apples, cherries, peaches, nectarines and apricots) suffered severe damage, up to 100 per cent. He estimated his losses to be $450,000, and only $150,000 will be covered through crop insurance.
Kamalpreet said the hail was so bad it left deep cuts in his Royal Gala apples on Sumac Street.
“I’ve never seen hail like that before in my life.”
The grower said it only took 15 minutes to destroy all of their hard work, which began last November. “I’m not happy to go work in the orchard . . . a lot of farmers feel like quitting and starting a new business,” Kamalpreet said.
He noted that farmers have been hit hard every year for the past four years with rain, frost and hail. He worries about climate change and the extreme weather patterns that farmers are seeing every season.
As far as getting help, Kamalpreet isn’t holding his breath. He said MLA Linda Larson verbally supported farmers during last year’s hail storm, but no government help came.
“I hope they will help this year.”
Colleen Misner, Larson’s constituency assistant, said they have not had any calls from growers that she is aware of.
Pinder Dhaliwal, vice-president of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association, said they tried to get “disaster funding” after last year’s hail storm damaged apple crops, but that didn’t happen.
Unfortunately, all growers have to fall back on is crop insurance, which doesn’t cover the full value of your crop, Dhaliwal said.
He admitted the recent hail storm was “wicked,” the worst he has seen this time of year.
Robert Boelens, communications officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, said claims adjustors have been busy visiting orchards around Oliver to assess the severity of the damage.
He confirmed that some growers have reported heavy damage.
Spring and summer hail storms occur regularly in the Okanagan, and the ministry urges growers to manage their risk by including hail insurance in their business plan.
Hail insurance is available to all growers, but not all farmers choose to purchase it. Coverage exists for up to 100 per cent of the crop.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chornicle
