PENDER ISLAND – Katie Selbee and Matthew Vasilev of Twin Island Cider on Pender Island have a business as unique and authentic as the cider they produce, taking apples from century-old orchards on the Gulf Islands and fermenting them traditionally with naturally occurring yeasts in their farm-based cidery. They started just four years ago after …
CROPS
Cherries face the pits
BC cherry growers face a second straight year of record losses thanks to severe cold in January and a late spring frost. The two cold weather events have resulted in the 2020 harvest on track to be down more than 40% from normal levels. BC’s Production Insurance program has received 296 claims for yield loss out …
Raspberry traits assigned values
BC produced nearly 15 million pounds of raspberries last year with an average farmgate value of $1.13 a pound. Now, researchers are hoping to pin a value on specific traits — such as size, colour and flavour — to figure out which cultivars have the best chance of boosting returns to growers. “There’s a whole …
BC cranberries get green verification
Cranberries are traditionally red and sometimes white – but this week, those grown for Ocean Spray in BC and elsewhere were verified as green. “The cooperative has received a verification that 100% of the cranberries from its farmer-owners qualify as sustainably grown using the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment,” the Massachusetts-based cooperative announced. …
Cold air hits cherries
Okanagan cherry growers are looking at a reduced crop this year after a series of cold events damaged buds. Up to 60% of buds were damaged when cold air swept into the South Okanagan on April 2. “I saw a low of -8°C in Summerland, and South Okanagan orchards were close to green tip,” says …
Strawberry levies increase
BC Strawberry Growers Association members unanimously agreed to increase the per-pound levy on their fruit for the first time in decades during an April 9 conference call. Growers couldn’t attend their annual general meeting in person this year, but a videoconference still allowed them to make key decisions. The levy for the coming year will …