Market Watch
Growers were in amuch better position this year for another early harvest
A
lthough there was some damage due to rain and hail, this year’s tree fruits were good-sized and of high quality, and the crop itself was big, though not a bumper crop. However, there are also high production numbers coming from south of the border, where estimates for this year’s apple harvest are just shy of a bumper crop, at 170 million cartons, compared to last year’s 110 million. By comparison, the local apple crop this year is estimated at three million cartons, about 20 per cent above last year’s harvest, and just a drop in the bucket compared to the production from Washington State. The good news is that prices are strong—about 10 per cent above those of last year, according to Chris Pollock, marketing manager for the B.C. Tree Fruits Co-operative.
He says the season started off well, with the previous year’s stored apples from both Washington and B.C. all sold out before summer apples were picked—about two weeks earlier than normal, but with timing similar to last year.
That meant there was good demand for fresh crop fruit, and lots was shipped early, he says.
B.C. apples are shipped mostly to Western Canadian outlets, with some to Europe, the U.S. and some to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
With more Ambrosia apples coming on the market in the next few years, efforts are underway to search out new markets eager for that high-quality, popular variety, Pollock notes. The co-op’s grower services manager, Hank Markgraf, says growers were much better prepared this year than last for an early harvest. Both years started off early with a mild spring, although the weather wasn’t as hot during the summer months this year as last, helping apples to put on some size. In fact, he says both size and quality of apples is excellent this year, which means they will tend to store well too. One blip on the apple radar screen
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2016 5
By Judie Steeves Size and quality good; prices are up
was an evening of 70-100 km/h winds that caused a bit of damage in late August, particularly in West Kelowna. He says those winds tested the limits of some trellising and some simply didn’t pass the test, toppling over and leaving those growers to pick through the rubble.
He’s not sure what the issues were, but likely the posts were too small or bracing systems were inadequate. He emphasizes that growers must consider the size and potential weight of mature trees loaded with fruit when designing and installing infrastructure. The cooler overnight temperatures did help bring some colour to the cheeks of apples that were ready to harvest by all other measures. Overall, the cherry season was also good, although rain plagued growers through July and even into August, reducing the anticipated size of the crop that was packed by the BCTF co- op from the 12 million pounds forecast early in the season, to about nine million pounds in the end.
Fruit size and quality were excellent though, with some of the largest cherries ever.
Markgraf says growers did a good job of spending money, effort and time to salvage fruit quality using helicopters and tractor-pulled blowers to dry fruit after the many rainstorms that went
through the valley this past summer. There were even concerns that the frequent rains would have an impact on the efficacy of sprays for insect pests like Spotted Wing Drosophila, but in the end, he says there really wasn’t much damage from SWD this year. Growers were under pressure to keep diseases at bay, but insect problems were few and far between, he says. Powdery mildew was an issue in many vineyards with the wetter weather however. The warm temperatures and rain created perfect conditions for it.
Pollock says prices for this year’s cherries were up about five per cent over last year and it was a big crop of high-quality fruit.
Most were shipped across Canada, to the U.S., as well as to China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and a few to Malaysia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and Southeast Asia. Peaches were also big and flavourful this year, with a good-sized crop, while more plums and prunes were harvested as well.
Markgraf advises growers to make sure they are diligent about post- harvest clean-up and to use a foliar nutrient spray, since it was a big crop this year, to set the trees up for the next year.
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