been for growers such as Hugh Dendy, who decided he could grow and sell them.


“It was the industry that decided it was ready for innovation,” he emphasizes. As a result of the cherry breeding program at PARC, which was headed up by Kappel for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2011, the industry has grown exponentially in the past couple of decades. It moved from a short season in July to one that encompasses the entire summer, with the last fruit often harvested now in early September.


Cherries don’t store well, so lengthening the season is key to the industry’s growth.


Work continues into techniques for keeping them fresh longer after harvest, and improving quality for shipping and storing longer. The industry has grown from virtually nothing in terms of exported fruit to one that brings more than $40 million back into the country, from exports, Kappel points out.


Along the way, researchers at PARC have also worked to resolve challenges such as Little Cherry Disease and Pear Psylla, and continue to work on the latest pest and disease issues facing the industry.


The breeding program also produced the Coronation table grape. And, considerable research work has gone into wine grapes since the industry’s revolution following implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the decision to move to planting premium vinifera grapes here instead of the hardier labrusca varieties.


Research continues today into food safety issues, nutraceuticals, virology, wine-making, insect and disease pests and other issues of tree fruits and grapes.


The current Summerland facility was built in 1986, consolidating the collection of buildings that had served a variety of functions in the past. An open house—Celebrating a Century of Science—will be held there on Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will include guided field tours; introduction to some of the up- and-coming selections from the apple breeding program; a discussion of insect friends and foes; viewing some of the historical equipment; demonstration of the freeze drier; sensory lab tours; and introduction to


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2014 9


some of the climate change research conducted there.


Next up in the speaker series that is part of the anniversary celebration is Water: the Foundation of our Agriculture, past, present and future supply, with research scientist Denise Neilsen and Brian Symonds, director of the water stewardship branch for the natural resource operations ministry for the province.


It begins at 7:30 p.m., Tues., Sept. 16 at PARC and will explore the history of the valley’s water supply system; historic changes in irrigation technology and practices, along with potential future impacts of climate change on water resources, including modelling techniques that can inform water managers of the options and risks that lie ahead.


Next up is Exploring the Value of Agricultural Land and Landscapes, with PARC soil scientist Scott Smith and Richard Bullock, chair of the Agricultural Land Commission. That session will be held at Okanagan College in Penticton, beginning at 7 p.m., Mon., Sept. 29. It will explore the meaning of agriculture land, its social, economic, ecological and spiritual value to Okanagan residents and how those various values shape the different perspectives of Okanagan Valley landscapes.


Ridding the worm from the apple: the codling moth nature war is the topic of the next session, Tues., Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at PARC with researcher Gary Judd and orchardist Robert Dawson of Cawston talking about the Sterile Insect Release program, from its roots in 1992, a culmination of 30 years of scientific research at PARC. The history of the tree fruit breeding program at PARC will be detailed by its


Suitably attired for the time, a team of apple pickers during the early years of what is now known as the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre.


current researcher, Cheryl Hampson on Tues., Oct. 21 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at PARC, and on Tues., Nov. 4, Micro- organisms and agriculture: the good, the bad and the ugly will be the topic discussed by researcher Pascal Delaquis and UBCO biology professor Louise Nelson.


They will look at their impact on soil health, plant growth, and their role in protecting plants from environmental stresses and inhibiting plant and soil pathogens, as well as harnessing micro- organisms to improve productivity. Others can be dangerous to human health and threaten food safety. PARC’s contributions to the cherry industry and new ways of dealing with Little Cherry Disease will be the topic of the Tues., Nov. 18 session by researcher D’Ann Rochon and agriculture ministry plant pathologist Gail Jesperson.


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