throughout the Okanagan and some stores elsewhere.


“I sold out in one week and had only favourable comments,” said Melinda Polesello, manager of Blossom Fruit Stand in Summerland.


“We had one customer from the Kootenays who called to ask if there was anywhere in Trail where she get Okana,” said Lucy Wright, who with her three sisters operates Fernandes Fruit Market in Osoyoos.


Roland and Sharon Martens stopped by the market on their way home to Beaverdell.


“We read an article about Okana and want to try it,” Sharon said. “Buy Low Foods agreed to promote Okana in the province,” said Tom Fernandes, who runs Fermandes Packing House in Osoyoos.


The grocery chain bought close to 30 bins of 113 size and larger apples, waxed and in tray packs, that went initially to their distribution centre in the Lower Mainland. “David doubled his return this year,” Fernandes said. This increase is especially impressive, considering this year’s harvest was not nearly as good as that of 2012, meaning Fermandes had many fewer apples to sell. Fernandes also said he has had calls from people asking if they could buy the tree. A nursery also called to inquire about getting stock. All of this is music to Evans’


ears.


He has contacted several nurseries about carrying Okana stock and plans to speak with owners of as many nurseries as possible. A large volume of bud and scion wood is available. “I’ll also be speaking at growers’ meetings to tell them how easy Okana is to grow. It’s important to have both grower and public demand,” he said.


Evans is fully aware that fruit tree nurseries and especially apple growers take considerable risks with new varieties. But he is also confident.


“If it keeps going as it has been, someone will pick it up and help me get it into production,” Evans said.


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2013-14 9


Reflecting on success to date, Evans


said, “I’m proud to have found and developed Okana myself and at a low cost.”


“David may have started something. I’ve had a few growers come in to say they have a new variety,” Fermandes said.


OKANACHARACTERISTICS As compared to Spartan:1 The curvature of the main axis of the leaf of Okana is medium to strong whereas it is very weak or weak on Spartan.


At balloon stage, the petals of Okana are dark pink, whereas they are light pink on Spartan.


Pressed in the horizontal position, the flower diameter of Okana is small, whereas it is medium size on Spartan. The relative area of over colour on the mature fruit of Okana is very large


whereas it is medium on Spartan. The pattern of over colour on the fruit of Okana is a solid flush only whereas Spartan has a solid flush with weakly defined narrow stripes. In packing house:2


Fruit delivered beginning in third week of September. Storage finished by January with no storage disorders found. Apple firm, juicy and tasty. Okanas easily distinguished from other short stem varieties. Packing a pleasure with fancy and extra fancy grading and very few culls, e.g., in a bin lot of 8239 lbs minus 3


percent shrinkage only 226 lbs culled. 1Canadian Food Inspection Agency,


Summary of Variety Description. 2Written communication, Tom Fernandes, Fernandes Farms Ltd., Osoyoos.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28