Sukhpaul Bal has never seen a soggier, cooler cherry harvest season than now and that害羞草研究所檚 dampening the potential to profit from the fickle fruit.
害羞草研究所淭he constant rain over the whole harvest season has been a real problem,害羞草研究所� said Bal, who has been a cherry farmer for nearly 20 years and is currently president of the BC Cherry Association.
害羞草研究所淯sually we expect a few rain storms to come through, then we will get a stretch of warm weather where we harvest害羞草研究所o we can prepare for some rain, just not this much.害羞草研究所�
Cherries, he explained, are delicate. About two weeks before they are ready to be harvested, they become susceptible to splitting. They are already full of sugar and water, and they can害羞草研究所檛 absorb the rain drops without the skin tearing.
They can害羞草研究所檛 be picked earlier, either.
害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 say 害羞草研究所榣et害羞草研究所檚 get them off the tree early and they will sweeten up in storage,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said, explaining the fruit害羞草研究所檚 ripeness when they are picked is where they will stay. 害羞草研究所淪o we have to pick them when they are at optimum sweetness.害羞草研究所�
This year, timing has ensured that nearly 50 per cent of the crop has been damaged.
It害羞草研究所檚 particularly upsetting because this was forecast to be a banner year for cherries.
Not all is lost for Bal. Some of the damaged cherries are being sent to a processor in Abbotsford. Some are going to be used in yogurts and other products.
The trouble is that they are getting penny returns on a product that costs 25 cents a pound to harvest.
It means the great hope of the Okanagan cherry farmer is with the later harvested varieties, which are expected to come off trees in the next few weeks, nearly three weeks ahead of schedule.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e looking at prices starting to climb high because of low supply,害羞草研究所� said Bal.
害羞草研究所淲e still have our fingers crossed for (the later varieties) because the damage there is not as severe.害羞草研究所�
If Mother Nature co-operates, local cherry farmers may be able to make up their losses.
Environment Canada is predicting the cooler than average temperatures that have dominated July are about to turn around.
The 14-day forecast indicates temperatures near typical 30 C days. Friday is still expected to be cooler and rainy.
