The recent rain in the Okanagan was much needed after a dry spring but it came at the wrong time for cherry farmers.

While the region needed the precipitation, it came right when cherry harvests are ripening. Because of this, the BC Cherry Association has hired helicopters to protect their fruit.

sa国际传媒淗iring helicopters is not something we undertake lightly,sa国际传媒� said the president of the BC Cherry Association Sukhpaul Bal. sa国际传媒淭hey are very expensive, and if there were another way to save our crop, we would.sa国际传媒�

When cherries are ripening as they currently are, they are high in natural sugars. At this stage, when rain falls and is sitting on the cherries, it causes them to swell until they split or break open. In the industry, the only effective way to get rid of the rainwater is to blow it off.

Helicopters are the best option to save the cherries as they can dry an acre of cherries in five minutes. The downside for farmers is the cost as an hour for a helicopter can cost $1,000-$1,600.

Despite the cost, itsa国际传媒檚 a much better alternative than using tractors because it takes 40-50 minutes for a tractor to dry an acre of cherries and itsa国际传媒檚 easier for a crop to be lost.

While the helicopters cost a lot, losing crops cost farmers more. For a lot of farmers and their families, their entire income for the year is based on their crops and the money they make off them. Every year, the cherry industry in B.C. is valued at $180 million. On top of orchard owners, the industry employs pickers, sorters, packing facilities, marketers, distributors, and suppliers. On top of that, it also benefits local retailers and tourists. Because of all thatsa国际传媒檚 on the line, farmers have a short window to execute their production for the year.

sa国际传媒淕rowers understand that helicopter noise can be annoying to nearby residents, and they use helicopters only as a last resort,sa国际传媒� said BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food Southern Interior lead Adrian Arts. sa国际传媒淥rchardists use other means to prevent splitting first, such as the planting of split-resistant cherry varieties, or new varieties that ripen later in the summer when itsa国际传媒檚 usually dryer.sa国际传媒�

It is the second consecutive year helicopters have had to be used to save the crops and despite the noise, neighbours were supportive last year.

sa国际传媒淟ast year, despite our worries about the annoyance factor presented by the choppers, 99 per cent of people were very supportive of the need to rescue our crops,sa国际传媒� said Bal. sa国际传媒淐omments in social media and in-person were mostly positive. We want to thank our neighbours for their overwhelming patience and understanding.sa国际传媒�

Farmers are hoping the warm weather on the way will help save the cherries as well.

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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