The Kelowna Farmers香蕉视频直播� and Crafters香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淲e started off very strong this year. It was a really really good season to start. June, July, good season,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淏ut then the heat came, fires came, and we really saw a big difference in the farmers香蕉视频直播� market.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚n July, the tourism was so strong and the market was so busy,香蕉视频直播� she said.

However, despite the seasons香蕉视频直播� trials, this year still yielded a better profit for the market香蕉视频直播檚 vendors compared to last year, according to Callahan.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that香蕉视频直播檚 because it felt more open. People felt they could come out more, people felt happier this year compared to last year.香蕉视频直播�

Vendors at the market shared Callahan香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淔or sure, the heat affected the quality and volume of crops. The ground crops, especially, were a big issue this year,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a real tough year. As a cherry grower, normally, we worry about rain damage,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淏ut we learned this year that heat damage is way worse than rain damage.香蕉视频直播�

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 weren香蕉视频直播檛 absorbing enough water to restore them, leaving them no choice but to get rid of them.

The farmers香蕉视频直播� and crafters香蕉视频直播� market will close out its season at the end of October but despite more time to recoup, Gambell said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see it getting better by then.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been coming to the market for 25 years or so and from experience, October香蕉视频直播檚 definitely a slow one,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淏ut there香蕉视频直播檚 next year. That香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e looking forward to.香蕉视频直播�

The Kelowna Farmers香蕉视频直播� and Crafters香蕉视频直播� 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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