Extreme weather events may be the new normal for fruit growers. In the 2024 season, extremes led to significant disappointments in fields and orchards. For some farmers, quality was impacted while others faced unprecedented yield losses—a number with no fruit at all. Add the collapse of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative to the mix and there were no real winners this year.
Cherry yields hit hard
The weather wreaked havoc on cherries, reducing the 2024 crop to a pittance of usual volumes, Erin Carlson with Carcajou Fruit Company in Summerland says. As the treasurer of the BC Cherry Association, she’s heard from other growers.
“My understanding is that no one had a great crop. There were some mediocre crops; some varieties in certain areas seemed to do better than others.”
She says that in a normal year, two tonnes per acre is considered acceptable. This year, many growers would have been happy to see that.
Carcajou harvested about 20 percent of its usual volume, but some didn’t bother harvesting at all. Melissa Tesche, general manager of BC Fruit Growers’ Association says Carcajou’s yield is about average for the market as a whole.
Prices for cherries were stronger than a normal year, but unlikely to cover growing expenses.
Cold winter leaves BC peachless
Stone fruits were perhaps the hardest hit with virtually no yields as the extreme cold winter snap impacted trees.
“It was essentially a zero year,” says Tesche. “We knew there was no B.C. stone fruit and yet, we found labelling in stores — labelled as B.C. fruit.
“We knew it came from Washington. It felt like adding insult to injury.”
The mislabeled fruit made headlines, but growers have little recourse to influence retailers.
Isaac Potash, co-owner of Upside Cider in Kelowna, summed the season up, “Not one peach from Osoyoos to Kelowna.”
Down-sized apples
Potash also reports the apple yields were slightly down, but generally good.
“Overall, a decent apple season,” he says. “There was a late frost in the Ambrosia blossoms and the crops were light. The apple season was maybe 80 percent.”
Tesche says growers were optimistic with good-looking buds and potential for fruit set, but reports of tree damage were concerning.
“I will be curious to know how many tree death claims will be coming in this year,” she says, adding that damage isn’t limited to whole blocks, which complicates decisions about replanting. “Do you interplant? Now you’ve dealing with a mixed-age stand.”
She adds that replanting is financially hard for growers, even with funding programs.
“Growers are having to make tough decisions,” she says. “It’s costs about $40,000 an acre, then you have to wait four to six years.”
She says there was too much fruit on trees and reports of thinning sprays not being effective. Fruit was consistently small.
“Growers who went in and hand-thinned their blocks, even their Galas didn’t size up,” she says, noting that hail damage also affected some areas.
With the closure of BC Tree Fruits, data on this year’s crop is limited, making it difficult to fully assess the season’s impact.
Blueberries hit by late-season rains
Growers scrambled to get blueberries off the bushes after premature ripening from heat at the end of July. As they harvested one ripe variety after another, heavy rains in late August and September arrived in the Fraser Valley leading to splitting and cracking in later-season fruit, ultimately affecting quality.
Paul Pryce, executive director, BC Blueberry Council, says the reduced quality was offset by high yields. With the five-year average around 150 million pounds — and only 105 million pounds in 2023 — this year’s large crop was a highlight.
“The crop came in at a total of 190 million pounds,” he says. “So, by that measure, things are definitely looking up for blueberries. I would describe the mood as cautiously optimistic.”
However, Pryce says nearly a third of the acreage in B.C. will need to be replanted due to shock and scorch. Growers are also facing lower prices and limited freezer space for berries.
“Our growers need a few more consecutive good years to recover from some of the challenges of previous years.”
Lighter yields in cranberries
Cranberries saw reduced quality and yields this year. Travis Hopcott, co-owner and cranberry farmer of Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows says the yields were trending below the five-year average in mid-October. Additionally, the rate of unusable berries was higher than usual.
“It’s not a lot below the five-year average,” says Hopcott. “But it doesn’t seem like it’s going to get any better.”
Given the high volumes of 2023 (nearly 1.3 million barrels), growers may have hoped for a repeat performance.
As is the case with many crops, water was an issue. Flooding the bogs was slow for Hopcott.
“It’s partly because it’s been dry and it could be low tide,” he says, noting all cranberry farmers in Pitt Meadows struggle with water volumes.
Raspberries hold level
Raspberries had a standard-sized crop according to James Bergen of Bergen Farms and director with the BC Raspberry Industry Development Council.
“Quality got better as the season went on,” he says.
However, heavy rains in the Fraser Valley in July impacted that quality and while some berries were still suitable for the fresh market, others were destined for processing. The strawberry blossom weevil also caused damage for some growers, but as Bergen explains, the pest is spotty.
“It’s sporadic,” he says. “It has capacity to do some damage in raspberry crops.”
Market pricing stayed relatively the same compared to 2023.
Strawberries weather cold snap for mixed results
Strawberry growers who put in new plants in 2023 faced losses from a January cold snap. Manday Rai, owner of Surrey Farms, lost about 12 acres, forcing her to limit U-pick despite good quality in both June-bearing and everbearing varieties.
“Quality was good,” she says, citing dry summer conditions.
On Westham Island, Kevin Husband, owner of Emma Lea Farms, also reported a strong season for his June-bearing strawberries, with slightly lower yields but impressive berry size compensating. The season started off a bit slower due to the cold spring, but finished strong.
“It was a pretty good year,” he says. “The berries were big and nice.”