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18


Cherry growers eye new markets, pest


by TOM WALKER


KELOWNA – “Every day I had helicopters flying over my orchard in June, I would tell myself that if it were easy to grow cherries, then everyone would be doing it rather than just the people in this room,” quipped BC Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal in his opening remarks to the BCCA annual meeting in Kelowna on February 16. Bal was referring to the June 2016 rain events that forced many Okanagan cherry growers to hire helicopters to help dry their fruit-laden trees. Rain close to harvest can cause cherries to swell and split, making then worthless. Some 140 growers attended the AGM, which included presentations on blossom physiology and fruit set, and rootstock trials by Washington and Oregon researchers. There were reports on the China and California export programs, the association’s research projects on postharvest quality, and an update on cherry pests. The afternoon closed with a pruning workshop and a reception. Bal acknowledged the


expanding work of the association, from market access and research


committees to administration of both the China and California export programs. “The board has recently expanded the role of Beth Cavers, our China export program co-ordinator, and brought on (retired BC Ministry of Agriculture tree fruit specialist) Jim Campbell on a part time basis,” says Bal. He thanked co-ordinator Erin Carlson for her efforts to keep the association lean while boosting value for it’s growers. “Erin was crucial in this transition to where we are now needing some key staff members to make sure the association is functioning at its best.” Bal recounted his


November trip with the federal trade mission to China. “They are one of our biggest customers and it allowed me to promote our product, but I was also able to connect with high level Canadian staff and let them know that the cherry industry is there and we are eager to expand to other markets,” he says. “We are not just looking to stop at China; we are interested in Japan and South


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2017


A demonstration of proper pruning techniques for cherry growers. TOM WALKER PHOTO


Korea and our market access committee is working on both those and the Canadian market potential as well.” Matt Whiting from


Washington State University, outlined his work on pollination, fruit set and yield in cherry crops. He discussed the practice of precision pollination, which involves gathering pollen, suspending it in a water solution and applying it with a sprayer. Lynne Long talked about


selecting rootstock and cherry variety combinations for yield, tree size, disease resistance and precosity (younger trees coming into production). Dr. Susanna Acheampong


spoke about identifying the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. “They are not very good


bugs,” quipped Acheampong.


“They are horrible things.” And she was not speaking in jest. “We have been waiting for this pest for a few years. I was hoping it would be a few more years before we found BMSB in the valley, but it didn’t work out that way.” The BMSB is a good


hitchhiker, a strong flyer and can also walk, Acheampong pointed out. It has a voracious appetite of over 170 species of plants including orchard fruit, small fruit and vegetables. There are few effective chemistries.


This is also an urban pest


that aggregates in large groups on walls and trees in the fall. It gives off a strong cilantro-like odor and moves into homes and buildings to over-winter. There have been findings in Chilliwack, Rosedale and Kitsilano, as well


as the Penticton channel sighting last summer. Although BC is home to


native stink bugs, the BMSB is larger and has distinct white strips on its antennae. It also has a colorful purple hue and round (not pointed) shoulders. “It’s not all gloom and


doom,” says Acheampong. Researchers in the US are working with a tiny parasitic wasp that lays its eggs in the BMSB egg. The wasp hatches before the BMSB and its larvae eat the host egg. Watch for it, says


Acheampong. “Take a picture of it,


showing the antennae,” she says. “And keep it even if you have crushed it.” There will be trapping and monitoring programs in place throughout the Okanagan this summer.


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