BCFGA Optimistic For Better Harvest After Series of Difficult Years

The 2023 growing season in the BC Southern Interior region is off to a delayed start, with blossom and harvest times running about two weeks behind schedule.

While apple and cherry trees make up the majority of the region’s tree fruit acreage, the BC Fruit Growers’ Association says this season’s expectations are mixed for different crops.

Apples and pears appear to have suffered minimal damage, and growers are optimistic about a normal harvest for these hardier tree fruits.

On the other hand, apricots and peaches have been affected more severely due to bud damage from last winter’s extreme cold.

Apricot growers expect a very light crop this year, while the extent of damage to peach orchards ranges widely from orchard to orchard.

Despite these challenges, cherry growers are hopeful for a promising season, the BCFGA says.

Although bud damage is predicted to have impacted 10-20% of the cherry crop, the remaining cherries are expected to be larger in size, resulting in an overall tonnage that is not significantly impacted.

Over the past two years, tree fruit growers in BC have faced challenging weather conditions, including the Heat Dome in 2021 and the extremely cold 2022 winter. Despite this, the prediction of an almost-normal growing season in 2023 is a much-needed ray of hope for growers.

BCFGA President Peter Simonsen says growers are also more confident of a generally good year due to the strong affiliation BC consumers have for buying local produce, which as helped growers literally weather the storms of the past few years.

“We thank consumers for shopping BC-local,” Simonen said. “The last few years have been tough, but we are committed to producing fruit of the highest quality for your tables.”

At BMO Private Wealth, our team works with farming families to provide comprehensive investment, lending, retirement and estate planning, and insurance solutions every step of the way. Whether you are looking for ways to finance increased crop production or you would like to pass the business on to the next generation, we can help.

Born and raised in an orcharding family in the Okanagan, Ben is very familiar with the joys and challenges shared across the industry. He has worked in Wealth Management in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Luxembourg and speaks French and German.

Contact him today at 778-594-3359 or benjamin.neitsch@bmo.com