Okanagan cherry growers could lose millions in European exports

KELOWNA – A pending ban on cherries and other fruit by the European Union could cost the expanding Okanagan cherry industry millions in lost revenue.

The ban is threatened for Sept. 1 so it will not affect this year’s crop since that has already been shipped.

Sales figures are not available yet for this year but totalled about $3 million in 2018, B.C. Fruit Growers' Association general manager Glen Lucas said in an email.

“Production on new plantings is climbing rapidly, so EU sales are expected to increase, especially for our late season, premium quality cherries,” Lucas wrote.

Cherry planting has increased dramatically in recent years, covering about 5,000 acres and surpassing the value of the apple crop in 2016. In that year – the last data available – the cherry crop was worth $78.4 million so exports to Europe made up about four per cent of that total.

Since there are so many young trees, the size of the crop will continue to grow over the next few years as the trees mature, even if no more are planted.

“Yields on those young trees increase dramatically with age, from 3-10 years,” Lucas said.

The EU ban is expected to cover cherries and other fruit like apples and pears, according to a CBC report.

Lucas said the Okanagan has not exported apples or pears to Europe for decades.

“Government is now in discussions with industry to find out more about the ban (or potential ban) and what work will be done to resolve this issue before next season,” Lucas said.

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