Orchards in the Creston Valley are still left reeling from damage caused by abnormal winter weather.

A devastating cold snap killed fruit buds across the valley in January, with a major impact on peaches, cherries, apricots, prunes, plums, nectarines and grapes. 

At Wloka Farms, the lack of fruit has led to heavy financial losses for the season. 

害羞草研究所淲e found four apricots so far. That's it,害羞草研究所� said owner Barb Wloka. 害羞草研究所淲hen it first happened, I bawled. I walked around the orchard and I just cried.害羞草研究所�

For one variety of cherries, she said normally a crew of eight people would take four days to pick the crop. This year, it took a crew of four only four hours.

害羞草研究所淓very cherry I feel so lucky to have because it's a bit of a miracle this year to get one in the fruit stand,害羞草研究所� she said. 

In her recollection, the Wlokas haven害羞草研究所檛 faced a loss of this magnitude since 1986, when they harvested only one peach from over 400 trees. Back then, the issue was limited to the Creston Valley, allowing them to source fruit from the Okanagan. But this year, the crisis has extended across the province and into northwest Washington State.

The impact on fruit growers hasn't gone unnoticed by the provincial government, which on Aug. 13 announced new financial support to help build resilience through extreme weather events.

The AgriStability compensation rate has been raised to 90 per cent and the compensation cap doubled, providing an estimated $15 million in immediate relief to farmers in need. Late enrolment will also be available for producers not yet enrolled in the program.

The new Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program will also provide an additional $5 million to help farmers buy equipment and pursue projects that were not eligible under previous programs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has meanwhile been directed to develop options for a one-time fund, with emphasis on smaller producers.

害羞草研究所淟ocally grown fruit is loved across B.C., but for the last few years, farmers and the industry as a whole have faced unprecedented challenges,害羞草研究所� said Premier David Eby in a statement. 害羞草研究所淔rom extreme weather driven by climate change to the closure of the processing co-operative, growers need support if they are going to be able to survive and thrive in the future."

There is still hope for 2025害羞草研究所檚 harvest, as Wloka says the peach trees are producing new growth. However, summer heat domes can deliver the final blow to trees already under stress. By September, she expects to have a better idea of how many have survived.

If many of the trees are in fact dead, replanting isn害羞草研究所檛 an easy option because of competing root systems in mature orchards and a lack of stock at nurseries. Wloka Farms also doesn害羞草研究所檛 qualify for replanting programs because of the wide variety of trees in their orchard. 

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e looking at maybe seven to 10 years before you have any production on fruit trees, if you can get the trees to replant,害羞草研究所� she said. 

At this point, the Wlokas have been farming for 42 years and have no plans to shift their focus away from their current fruit crops.

"If we were younger, we might, but I'm 65," said Wloka. "What we're doing is looking at mitigation, if this happens again. We are doing a lot of research on various things that could be done."

In the meantime, the fruit stand is selling many vegetables, apples, and fall squash. Unfortunately, those crops don害羞草研究所檛 draw the same tourists to Creston. 

害羞草研究所淎 lot of our customers come from the prairies, and they come out for 300 pounds of peaches,害羞草研究所� said Wloka. 害羞草研究所淭hey won害羞草研究所檛 travel to buy cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. That also means they're not coming here to stay, go out for dinner, and visit other businesses. The impact on the valley is huge, not just for the farmers."

In these tough times, Wloka, who co-owns the fruit stand with her husband Frank, said they are leaning on each other, their staff, and supportive long-time customers to get by. 

害羞草研究所淲e talked about taking a year off, just maintaining the orchard and doing nothing else, but then we would lose all these wonderful people we have got working for us,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the people who keep us going.害羞草研究所�

She spoke of one customer who decided to not plant a garden this year, and instead, buy all of her produce from Wloka Farms. 

害羞草研究所淚t was so sweet of her. That's just so incredibly thoughtful,害羞草研究所� said Wloka.

Wloka is not the only local orchard impacted by the inclement winter weather.

R茅mi Cardinal, owner of Red Bird Winery, reported a 90 per cent bud mortality on the grape vines in January.

害羞草研究所淭here is no crop,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e're prepping for next year at this point.害羞草研究所�

He said they害羞草研究所檝e cut back on staff at the winery and modified what害羞草研究所檚 available in the tasting room to help stretch out their stock. 

害羞草研究所淚 have to stretch every single bottle. We can害羞草研究所檛 afford another bad year,害羞草研究所� said Cardinal.

To make up for the lack of grapes, Red Bird now offers ciders too. Cardinal said they experimented with pear and apple cider last fall, which was well received. Now they害羞草研究所檝e doubled down with another batch and added raspberry to the mix.

Despite being open seven days a week, it has been a slower summer than usual. 
 
害羞草研究所淛uly was scary,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he numbers didn't look at all like last July. We had a very slow start to what is usually our best month.害羞草研究所�

He encourages visitors, and residents, to support local growers by buying fruit and vegetables or going on a wine tour in the Creston Valley.

害羞草研究所淢ake a day out of it and buy some local wine,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an amazing experience that people here are still discovering.害羞草研究所�