OLIVER, BC — Apple harvest is in full swing in the south Okanagan with are optimistic that they’ll yield a bumper crop.
Heidi Held, owner of Hillside Orchards in Oliver, says she hasn’t had a heavy crop for almost eight years.
“There are some years when you don’t get any; you get hit by frost and hail,” explains Held.
She feels fortunate that this year isn’t like one of those.
Chris Pollock, marketing manager at the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, says it may be too soon to tell if there will be a bumper crop of apples.
But he adds that there’s about 20-25% more apples than last year.
“It’s been excellent growing conditions,” says Pollock. “Great crop in term of volume for us as a cooperative.”
On a tour of her orchard, Held points out the branches that are cascading over like waterfalls under the intense weight of the fruit.
Since it is just her and her family harvesting the crop, Held says they will have their work cut out for them.
She expects that picking won’t end until Thanksgiving, which is weeks longer than normal.
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