The long January cold snap is expected to reduce the 2024 crop significantly, promising a sixth season of pain, reports County Life in B.C. magazine.
“If this is the new normal, we cannot tackle these problems on our own,” Bal said.
The B.C. Cherry board voted to subsidize grower costs for the in-orchard cherry fruit fly trapping program required to export cherries to China. This will enable registered growers to continue meeting export requirements, whether or not they have much fruit to export this season.
“I urge you to stick with China, and that is why the board has voted to subsidize the work this season,” said Richard Isaacs, chair of B.C. Cherry’s market access committee.
“If you withdraw from the program, we don’t know if you would be able to get back on the list next year,” he said.
B.C. cherries were well received in the South Korean market last year.
“First impressions were good,” Isaacs said, adding that further export opportunities are limited.
British Columbia cherries face stiff competition from growers in Washington State, Oregon and California, particularly after winter weather also reduced the B.C. crop last year.
