tree fruits, for production of 274,348,000 pounds, worth $60 million. By 2014, there were 5,000 fewer acres in tree fruits in the Okanagan, yet production was slightly higher, and the value of the crop had risen to $106 million— a clear indication of the value of replanting. One of the reasons is higher returns for apple varieties such as Ambrosia and Honeycrisp, compared to Red and Golden Delicious, at 50 cents and 53 cents a pound, compared to 12 and nine cents a pound.
And, Sovereign cherries return $2.47 a pound, while Staccatos return $1.39.
Campbell points out that
production in B.C. orchards needs to be increased with replanting to high- density and newer varieties because the average yield per acre here is 32 bins of apples, while in neighbouring Washington State, it’s 46. Mostly, it is growers such as the Witzke family in Kelowna who have already ordered trees for this year who will be able to take advantage of
this first year of the program. Shane Witzke, who has returned to
the family farm from working away from home, says they had ordered 6,000 trees to plant over the next two years to replace the last old blocks of Macs and Spartans, so the assistance program is a real help in borrowing the funds to continue. This will mean their entire 30 acres will be planted in high-density apples, with emphasis on such new varieties as Ambrosia and Honeycrisp, along with Galas. Shane is the third generation of his family to work on this orchard land, which was bought by his grandfather in 1946. He now works as field manager of the family operation, with his father Brian.
Because they had planned ahead and continued replanting, the Witzkes likely will be in the minority of orchardists able to take advantage of the start-up year of these replant assistance funds.
John Byland of Byland’s Nurseries in West Kelowna, says the company had almost no extra fruit trees available for planting this spring, but
has a few available for 2016. The plan is to double production
for the 2017 planting year, but he says Byland’s is gambling that growers will order them. “We’ve been burned before on growing new varieties for growers, who then didn’t buy them,” he notes. The best bet is for growers to plan now if they wish to put trees into the ground in 2017 or beyond, then commit to the nursery so they know they’ll have what they wish to grow, he says.
If growers order enough trees in advance, contract pricing is available to help them out with costs, he says. Two years’ notice is needed to allow the nursery to get the trees going, ready for spring planting. However, Byland says they do still have 100,000 trees uncommitted for 2017, including Ambrosia, Gala, Honeycrisp and Sunrise, as well as other tree fruits.
His father, Adrian Byland, began supplying young trees for the orchard industry more than 60 years ago. “We’ve been part of the industry for a long time,” Byland said.
TerraLink’s TigerClaw high-end liquid foliar fertilizers for grape, tree fruit and small fruit production are designed for superior uptake and availability. TigerClaw products provide producers with the necessary tools to address plant nutritional needs based on physiology and peak nutrient demand, enhancing crop quality and return on investment.
Available at all Growers Supply outlets.
Growers Supply Company Ltd. Kelowna: 250-765-4500
Penticton: 250-493-2885 Vernon: 250-545-1278
www.tlhort.com Fruit Grower Magazine February
2015.indd 1 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2015 2/13/2015 1:26:29 PM 11
Growers Supply Company Limited
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