Sukhpaul Bal has never seen a soggier, cooler cherry harvest season than now and that91裸聊视频檚 dampening the potential to profit from the fickle fruit.
91裸聊视频淭he constant rain over the whole harvest season has been a real problem,91裸聊视频� said Bal, who has been a cherry farmer for nearly 20 years and is currently president of the BC Cherry Association.
91裸聊视频淯sually we expect a few rain storms to come through, then we will get a stretch of warm weather where we harvest91裸聊视频o we can prepare for some rain, just not this much.91裸聊视频�
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 can91裸聊视频檛 absorb the rain drops without the skin tearing.
They can91裸聊视频檛 be picked earlier, either.
91裸聊视频淵ou can91裸聊视频檛 say 91裸聊视频榣et91裸聊视频檚 get them off the tree early and they will sweeten up in storage,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said, explaining the fruit91裸聊视频檚 ripeness when they are picked is where they will stay. 91裸聊视频淪o we have to pick them when they are at optimum sweetness.91裸聊视频�
This year, timing has ensured that nearly 50 per cent of the crop has been damaged.
It91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e looking at prices starting to climb high because of low supply,91裸聊视频� said Bal.
91裸聊视频淲e still have our fingers crossed for (the later varieties) because the damage there is not as severe.91裸聊视频�
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.
