An Okanagan orchard is working to recover lost crops after their worst season in the past decade.
Witzke Orchards in Lake Country grows cherries, pears, apricots and others through the year, and are experiencing the same troubles as many other local orchards with the increase of rain to start the summer.
sa国际传媒淐herries are splitting because of the rain and wesa国际传媒檝e lost crops,sa国际传媒� said Keith Barth with Witzke Orchards.
sa国际传媒淵ou cansa国际传媒檛 really put a money value on the losses, and we really wonsa国际传媒檛 know the damage until the season is over.sa国际传媒�
Witzke Orchards recently lost their entire apricot crop in February after the cold snap through the month froze and destroyed the harvest. Apricots are harvested once a year, and the orchard will take a couple years to bounce back to full crop sizes.
Though they should have a smaller apricot crop next year, Barth said they lost close to $50,000 because of the damage to the apricot trees.
READ MORE: 10th year for South Okanagan Cherry Pit Contest
READ MORE: Possibly worst Okanagan cherry season in 20 years
Other orchards in the Okanagan have reported record losses in cherry crops due to splitting this year as well, with the Okanagansa国际传媒檚 Kempf Orchards reporting to have loss 50 to 60 per cent of early cherry crops to splitting this year.
sa国际传媒淲e keep an eye on the forecast, and adapt and react as they day goes by. After each rain, we get out and dry them off,sa国际传媒� Barth said.
sa国际传媒淯sually, we never have rain that lasts more than 30 minutes at a time, but when (theresa国际传媒檚) 12 hours of straight rain, theresa国际传媒檚 little hope. You really cansa国际传媒檛 predict Mother Nature.sa国际传媒�
READ MORE: Family restores 63-year-old Okanagan boat to original glory
Though itsa国际传媒檚 not all doom and gloom for Witzke Orchards. Their pear crops are looking good this season and they know that poor seasons like 2019 rarely happen, and they are determined to bounce back.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
