Market Watch


Weather problems include difficulty dealing with SWD infestation.


M


ore than $1 million in losses were reported by cherry growers early in the season, mostly from steady rains in June and storms during the latter half of July that resulted in splits, soft fruit, low sugars and low prices, predominantly in the southern half of the Okanagan Valley.


However, late cherries were big and firm and sound and, as early fruit left the shelves, later fruit attracted better prices.


Hank Markgraf, field service manager for the Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative, reports that prices for cherries did increase from the beginning of the season.


Although initially a big crop was forecast in both the Okanagan and Washington State, June’s rain and July’s storms knocked that down until the B.C. crop stabilized at about 7/8th of a normal crop.


A early prediction of eight million pounds was reduced to 6.5 to seven million, while in Washington State, early estimates of a 20-million carton crop dropped after similar weather events there.


Because there is no home for cull cherries, diverted fruit is disposed of at the dump, where it is covered every day at a satisfactory depth to discourage the survival of Spotted Wing Drosophila.


With the constant rain, it was challenging for growers to get adequate, timely sprays on to combat SWD this year and the packinghouse received infested cherries again this year, said Markgraf.


Two years ago, because of its no- worms policy, the packinghouse had to turn away crops from some farmers too.


Only cherries from the affected variety were turned away and the same growers were permitted to bring in cherries from the next-ripening variety, Markgraf explained. Fewer quantities were rejected than two years ago, he said. Last year, growers had a less-challenging season


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2012 5


By Judie Steeves Cherry prices rise after rough start


combatting SWD and timely sprays were successful in keeping it in check. Markgraf suggested growers focus


on careful pruning, which can be critical in a year such as this, when rain and spray programs can be affected by poor pruning. It is especially important that pruning include large limb removal in order to permit adequate light penetration. This was a telling year, when those who pruned well made it through the season, while it went sour for other growers.


“Those who farm stem to stern through the rain and all season made it. Orchardists have to farm all through the year,” he commented.


Even growers with crop damage who are unable to ship fruit still must control SWD and cherry fruit fly by stripping fruit and disposing of it as required by the agriculture ministry: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/swd.htm Because SWD is fairly mobile, it is particularly important that every grower control the pest on their property, in order to protect neighbouring crops.


B.C. Tree Fruits marketing manager Chris Pollock reports that 93 per cent of the crop is marketed in Canada while the remainder was shipped to California. “We grow the last cherries in North America, including the late varieties Sweetheart, Staccato and Sentennial.”


On the apple side, Markgraf reports the early Sunrise summer apples turned out to be a good size, despite June’s rainy weather. Temperatures were not so low that cell division was retarded.


Quality overall is looking good, he


said, and growers stayed on top of insect and disease issues. The crop is a similar size to last year,


estimated at about 216,000 bins, and it is hoped that disastrous spring frosts in the east, which decimated production, will have a positive effect on prices for B.C. apples.


Prices are already up from end-of- season prices the previous year. Varieties such as Macs and Goldens are in demand in those eastern markets, so are particularly likely to fetch higher prices, noted Pollock. The U.S. crop was earlier forecast to be around 120 million cartons, but hail damage July 20 lowered that by 10 to 25 per cent. Crop size in easter U.S. areas such as Michigan is down to 20 or 30 per cent of normal because of late spring frost.


Here in the Okanagan, apricots were a smaller crop than usual this year, while peaches were also smaller, as well as small in the size of the fruit, Markgraf reports.


Prune plums were good, without the mite issues of the previous year. Bartlett pears were also a smaller-sized crop, but the fruit looked good, he said.


Overall, “It’s certainly a different year than last,” but critical that growers do all they can to get a good crop off, he added.


“The consumer wants a nice piece of fruit, so it’s important that proper maturity be reached before harvest. Good fruit always sells,” he said. “Let’s get it all into the house in good shape.”


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