The cherry season in the Southern Interior is set to be the biggest one in a long time thanks to favourable growing conditions, after extreme weather events damaged crops for the past three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt looks like it\u2019s going to be a fabulous year, the fruits survived pretty good through the winter with minimal spring frost,\u201d said farm manager at Thompson Farm near Kamloops, Theunis Bester. \u201cWe\u2019re monitoring the flower buds currently, everything is looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owned by Jealous Fruits, Thompson Farm is a 200 acres cherry farm located in Pritchard, 40 kilometres east of Kamloops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the South Okanagan, grower Ravi Dhaliwal at Orchard Hill Estate Cidery is observing the same with his cherry orchard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be a big bloom and a big crop coming this year as we\u2019ve not had any frost damage,\u201d he said. \u201cThat comes with its own challenges, it\u2019s going to be a busy season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of that, there is a growing a commitment from consumers and retailers to buy locally grown produce, according to a media release from the BC Cherry Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTogether, a promising crop and national pride are setting the stage for a standout summer for Canadian sweet cherries,\u201d the release read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n