B.C. Tree Fruits: Life is a bowl of cherries for growers this year

KELOWNA – Okanagan growers are seeing the benefits of early summer weather conditions as they anticipate a banner year for fruit production.

The combination of ideal weather conditions this spring during bloom and post-bloom, in addition to new production coming on line, has resulted in a forecast for a 12 million pound cherry crop this summer.

B.C Tree Fruits Cooperative said in a press release issued today, May 24, valley cherries should be hitting store shelves by the end of June.

Weather challenges last year cut a similarly estimated crop size down to 10.1 million pounds, but this year’s spring weather has resulted in a lot of fruit on the trees. B.C. Tree Fruits is also anticipating a good peach, nectarine, prune, plum and table grape crop this season, with volumes up slightly or similar to last year.

“Our growers are excited and prepared for a great summer fruit crop this year with harvest starting at the end of June for cherries in the south,” B.C. Tree Fruits Marketing Manager Chris Pollock says in the release.

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