Variable weather has made it difficult for cherry growers to maintain their crops.

According to B.C. Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal the hail storm that cut through the Okanagan Thursday didn91裸聊视频檛 affect the crops anymore than the rain this July, which split and washed out the early cherry varieties.

91裸聊视频淲hen a storm comes through and gets everything wet we can usually get in there and dry everything off and then we91裸聊视频檙e usually good. But what I91裸聊视频檝e seen is rain event after rain event, multiple times a day, so it makes it hard to get in there and dry everything up because another rain shower comes back in,91裸聊视频� said Bal.

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He said it has been the worst season he has seen in 20 years and has slashed cherry growers revenue in half.

91裸聊视频淲e are going to make half the money we were expecting and we91裸聊视频檝e put the same amount of costs up to that point as other years, but that91裸聊视频檚 the risk of being a cherry grower. In just a week your earnings could be cut drastically,91裸聊视频� said Bal.

He said there91裸聊视频檚 about half the amount of cherries on market shelves than previous years, which means they are a bit more pricey this season.

READ MORE: 435 insurance claims from Okanagan tree fruit growers so far this season

91裸聊视频淭he positive is with the decrease in supply because a lot of the cherries are damaged there should be an increase in the price of cherries. There aren91裸聊视频檛 that many that survived so hopefully the price reflects on how many cherries there are,91裸聊视频� aid Bal. 91裸聊视频淗opefully we do get a good price for the cherries we do have that did survive the rain.91裸聊视频�

laryn.gilmour@blackpress.ca
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