Cherries blooming earlier and in record numbers in B.C.
B.C. growers say the warm and early spring could mean 12M pounds of cherries this season
B.C. growers are expecting an abundance of cherries to hit store shelves in early June.
The record-breaking warm weather in the Okanagan has meant an early bloom and a bumper crop.
- B.C. cherry growers get access to Chinese market
- Spotted wing drosophila fruit fly causing havoc for B.C. cherries
- Little Cherry Disease spreading from U.S. to Canadian border, warns scientist
"We've had the earliest bloom we've ever seen here," said Hank Markgraf, horticulturalists with B.C. Tree Fruits, a cooperative comprised of over 500 local tree fruit grower families.
Increase in supply
The cherries are blooming seven days earlier than normal and the farmers are expecting to ship 12 million pounds this season, up from 10.5 million last year.
Even though farmers don't control retail prices, the increase in supply could change the price of cherries.
There is still concern that rain could ruin the crops, but otherwise the growers say they are ready to tackle the large volume.
With files from the CBC's Daybreak South.