The Kelowna Farmers91裸聊视频� and Crafters91裸聊视频� Market started with a strong summer, but the majority of it was marred by an unprecedented heatwave, wildfires, and heavy smoke.

Award-winning market manager Frances Callahan said everyone felt good at the beginning of the season.

91裸聊视频淲e started off very strong this year. It was a really really good season to start. June, July, good season,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淏ut then the heat came, fires came, and we really saw a big difference in the farmers91裸聊视频� market.91裸聊视频�

Compared to last year, Callahan said that the market was starting to buzz with activity and people again like it used to before COVID-19 restrictions came back to the Central Okanagan, followed closely by the wildfire season.

91裸聊视频淚n July, the tourism was so strong and the market was so busy,91裸聊视频� she said.

However, despite the seasons91裸聊视频� trials, this year still yielded a better profit for the market91裸聊视频檚 vendors compared to last year, according to Callahan.

91裸聊视频淚 think that91裸聊视频檚 because it felt more open. People felt they could come out more, people felt happier this year compared to last year.91裸聊视频�

Vendors at the market shared Callahan91裸聊视频檚 statements. Steve Forbes, co-owner and co-operator of the Forbes Family Farms based in Oliver, said the summer started out very well for everyone.

But once the heat set in, it became difficult to manage the crops while also selling at the market.

91裸聊视频淔or sure, the heat affected the quality and volume of crops. The ground crops, especially, were a big issue this year,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淲e were all wilting in the heat and so was the produce. There was the lack of customers too because no one wanted to come out in the heat as well as the smoke.91裸聊视频�

Forbes added, that there were also challenges with picking the produce due to the lack of fruit pickers who could help.

Gambell Farms owner Andrew Gambell said, the heat took a toll on his crops, losing 20 to 30 per cent of his apples, and between 30 to 50 per cent of his cherry harvest, depending on the variety.

91裸聊视频淚t was a real tough year. As a cherry grower, normally, we worry about rain damage,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淏ut we learned this year that heat damage is way worse than rain damage.91裸聊视频�

His farm lost some crops as well due to the drought: the farm ran out of water but when the water did come back, some of the trees weren91裸聊视频檛 absorbing enough water to restore them, leaving them no choice but to get rid of them.

The farmers91裸聊视频� and crafters91裸聊视频� market will close out its season at the end of October but despite more time to recoup, Gambell said he doesn91裸聊视频檛 see it getting better by then.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been coming to the market for 25 years or so and from experience, October91裸聊视频檚 definitely a slow one,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淏ut there91裸聊视频檚 next year. That91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檙e looking forward to.91裸聊视频�

The Kelowna Farmers91裸聊视频� and Crafters91裸聊视频� Market is located at the corner of Dilworth Drive and Springfield Road, across Orchard Park Mall.

READ MORE: Harvest a mixed bag for Okanagan fruit growers this year

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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