Optimistic outlook for 2023 apple, pear, cherry crops: B.C. Fruit Growers Association – Okanagan | 24CA News
A cool begin to spring isn’t chilling projections for this yr’s fruit-growing season.
This week, the B.C. Fruit Growers Association issued a press release saying they’re optimistic for 2023 regardless of the rising season being round two weeks not on time.
“Blossom and harvest times can vary as much or as little as three weeks from season to season,” mentioned the BCFGA, which mentioned apples and cherries comprise about 90 per cent of all fruit grown within the Southern Interior.
“Despite the delayed season, grower expectations are for a normal crop, with the exceptions of apricots and peaches.”
Temperatures within the Okanagan for April trended round 7.7 C, beneath the common of 8.4 C, although the mercury is anticipated to rise to the mid-20s Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Looking additional forward, the BCFGA mentioned the cherry crop was subjected to some bud harm, however that the remaining cherries will probably be bigger in dimension, so the general tonnage will doubtless not be impacted.
“Apples and pears appear to have not suffered too much damage and we will likely have a normal harvest this year,” mentioned the BCFGA. “So far, everything is looking great for these hardier tree fruits.”
The BCFGA estimates the apple acreage within the Southern Interior at 6,700 acres, with 600 million apples being harvested for a complete of 240 million kilos.
The cherry acreage is estimated at 4,800 acres, with 48 million kilos of cherries being harvested yearly.
Types of fruit, and once they’re usually harvested:
(Harvest occasions can fluctuate two to a few weeks from the Shuswap to the South Okanagan)
- Apricots: Mid-July to mid-August
- Cherries: Late June to late August
- Peaches: Late July to early September
- Pears: Mid-August to late September
- Plums: Mid-August to late September
- Apples: Mid-August to mid-November
The BCFGA mentioned this yr’s apricot crop will probably be mild, as a result of bud harm from excessive chilly in November and December 2022.
It additionally mentioned the peach crop suffered harm final winter, although the extent varies from orchard to orchard.
“Considering the heat dome in 2021, the extremely cold 2022 winter and 2022’s cold, wet spring, tree fruit growers have had a wildly weather-challenging past two years,” mentioned the BCFGA.
“The current predictions for an almost-normal growing season in 2023 are a much-needed ray of hope for growers.”
Organization president Peter Simonsen thanked customers for “shopping B.C. local.”
“The last few years have been tough, but we are committed to producing fruit of the highest quality for your tables.”
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