No fruit trucks this summer

There's some sad news for Saskatchewan fruit lovers: there will be no Okanagan stone fruit this year. Fruit growers in the Okanagan Valley, Creston and most of Washington report 90 percent or more losses for apricots, peaches, plums, and nectarines, as well as huge losses for cherries, pears, prunes and grapes.

An extremely cold January following a mild start to winter caused fruit trees to suffer. Such extreme devastation hasn't been experienced in BC since 1969. Now, fruit growers don't have enough fruit to bring to Saskatchewan and Alberta.

After last year's harvest, the buds began to form in the wood. However, due to the unseasonably warm temperatures experienced last fall, the trees didn't harden in preparation for a cold winter. So when the extreme cold struck in the first week of January, the blossoms froze.

But let's not lose hope. The trees have shown their resilience, surviving the harsh conditions. This gives our growers optimism for a bountiful crop next year. The apple and cherry blossoms, in particular, have proven their hardiness, producing a small but promising crop.