Okanagan cherry crop will take $36 million hit

It’s estimated April’s record-breaking cold has caused $36 million in losses to this year’s cherry crop in the Okanagan Valley.

Adjusting agrologist Trevais Mellum, who works out of the agriculture ministry’s Kelowna office, says he’s looked at what’s on the trees from the south of the valley to the north, and he expects growers will only pick about a quarter of their normal production.

The worst damage is in the Central Okanagan, where most of the large cherry orchards are located, so that’s where the biggest economic hit will be felt, Mellum says.

Because many cherry growers pack fruit in the orchard, rather than shipping it to a central packing plant, it’s difficult to estimate the value of the total crop.

But Mellum estimates a normal crop in the valley is worth $50 million on the retail market.

Cherry growers are finding more damage was done than had been initially thought, although it’s patchy and varies by variety, so final figures could be different once the crop is in the box.

But East Kelowna grower Christine Dendy admits, “it’s going to be a tough year.”

Dendy figures she has about 35 per cent of her crop left, after the cold damaged the blossoms, the remaining ones weren’t properly pollinated and there was a heavy drop in early June.

Although she has crop insurance, she says it doesn’t begin to cover the losses.

Now, she’s worried about keeping pickers happy with such a light crop, and how she’ll plan for labour when she’s not sure how much fruit is on the trees.

“I still have to maintain the orchard; spray the same sprays, yet I won’t have the cash to pay for it this year,” she said.

“It will be much more expensive to produce the fruit that’s there,” she added.

Her only hope now is that there will be better prices for cherries, since crops are way down in Washington State as well.

She’s also hopeful there could be better sized fruit because there will be more strength in the tree, which is nurturing less fruit.

But, there’s a concern that the poor pollination has resulted in runty fruit too, she says.

It’s expected cherries will mature a week or so later than usual too, she adds.

Grower Dave Stirling figures he has 40 to 50 per cent of his usual crop, less than he’d figured after April’s cold snap, but he’s hopeful fruit size will be better, which will make pickers happier.

He’s concerned about the additional fuel costs and the exchange rate with the high Canadian dollar. A small crop as well, “adds a new dynamic to it,” he said.

He admits there are some blocks of trees where it will be challenging, but says, “In my experience there’s always one thing, whether it’s rain or mildew or frost...”

The local economy can’t escape feeling the loss, with at least one grower in the Central Okanagan who normally hires 300 seasonal workers.

Mellum said many growers who had initially thought they had crops of 70 to 80 per cent of normal are now finding—after the June drop—they have closer to 20 or 30 per cent of a crop.

“We’re looking at a lot of (crop insurance) claims this year,” he commented.

Cherries are a risky crop to grow, so most growers buy at least basic crop insurance, even though the rates are higher. The frost damage rate for cherries is three times higher than for apples, he said.

He expects crop insurance will pay out $5 to $6 million this year for cherry losses.

It varies, because growers buy in at different levels, from 50 per cent up.

The first local fruit is expected to be ready to pick about July 24, but some cherries in the southern part of the valley are already being picked.

jsteeves@kelownacapnews.com