Sukhpaul Bal has never seen a soggier, cooler cherry harvest season than now and that香蕉视频直播檚 dampening the potential to profit from the fickle fruit.
香蕉视频直播淭he constant rain over the whole harvest season has been a real problem,香蕉视频直播� said Bal, who has been a cherry farmer for nearly 20 years and is currently president of the BC Cherry Association.
香蕉视频直播淯sually we expect a few rain storms to come through, then we will get a stretch of warm weather where we harvest香蕉视频直播o we can prepare for some rain, just not this much.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檛 absorb the rain drops without the skin tearing.
They can香蕉视频直播檛 be picked earlier, either.
香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 say 香蕉视频直播榣et香蕉视频直播檚 get them off the tree early and they will sweeten up in storage,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he said, explaining the fruit香蕉视频直播檚 ripeness when they are picked is where they will stay. 香蕉视频直播淪o we have to pick them when they are at optimum sweetness.香蕉视频直播�
This year, timing has ensured that nearly 50 per cent of the crop has been damaged.
It香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e looking at prices starting to climb high because of low supply,香蕉视频直播� said Bal.
香蕉视频直播淲e still have our fingers crossed for (the later varieties) because the damage there is not as severe.香蕉视频直播�
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.
