The Kelowna Farmerssa国际传媒� and Crafterssa国际传媒� Market started with a strong summer, but the majority of it was marred by an unprecedented heatwave, wildfires, and heavy smoke.

Award-winning market manager Frances Callahan said everyone felt good at the beginning of the season.

sa国际传媒淲e started off very strong this year. It was a really really good season to start. June, July, good season,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淏ut then the heat came, fires came, and we really saw a big difference in the farmerssa国际传媒� market.sa国际传媒�

Compared to last year, Callahan said that the market was starting to buzz with activity and people again like it used to before COVID-19 restrictions came back to the Central Okanagan, followed closely by the wildfire season.

sa国际传媒淚n July, the tourism was so strong and the market was so busy,sa国际传媒� she said.

However, despite the seasonssa国际传媒� trials, this year still yielded a better profit for the marketsa国际传媒檚 vendors compared to last year, according to Callahan.

sa国际传媒淚 think thatsa国际传媒檚 because it felt more open. People felt they could come out more, people felt happier this year compared to last year.sa国际传媒�

Vendors at the market shared Callahansa国际传媒檚 statements. Steve Forbes, co-owner and co-operator of the Forbes Family Farms based in Oliver, said the summer started out very well for everyone.

But once the heat set in, it became difficult to manage the crops while also selling at the market.

sa国际传媒淔or sure, the heat affected the quality and volume of crops. The ground crops, especially, were a big issue this year,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淲e were all wilting in the heat and so was the produce. There was the lack of customers too because no one wanted to come out in the heat as well as the smoke.sa国际传媒�

Forbes added, that there were also challenges with picking the produce due to the lack of fruit pickers who could help.

Gambell Farms owner Andrew Gambell said, the heat took a toll on his crops, losing 20 to 30 per cent of his apples, and between 30 to 50 per cent of his cherry harvest, depending on the variety.

sa国际传媒淚t was a real tough year. As a cherry grower, normally, we worry about rain damage,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淏ut we learned this year that heat damage is way worse than rain damage.sa国际传媒�

His farm lost some crops as well due to the drought: the farm ran out of water but when the water did come back, some of the trees werensa国际传媒檛 absorbing enough water to restore them, leaving them no choice but to get rid of them.

The farmerssa国际传媒� and crafterssa国际传媒� market will close out its season at the end of October but despite more time to recoup, Gambell said he doesnsa国际传媒檛 see it getting better by then.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e been coming to the market for 25 years or so and from experience, Octobersa国际传媒檚 definitely a slow one,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淏ut theresa国际传媒檚 next year. Thatsa国际传媒檚 what wesa国际传媒檙e looking forward to.sa国际传媒�

The Kelowna Farmerssa国际传媒� and Crafterssa国际传媒� Market is located at the corner of Dilworth Drive and Springfield Road, across Orchard Park Mall.

READ MORE: Harvest a mixed bag for Okanagan fruit growers this year

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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