There are predictions of a record cherry crop in the Okanagan.
The BC Tree Fruits Cooperative said it’s estimating a 12 million pound cherry crop this year.
That’s the same amount it predicted last year, but the numbers fell short due to inclement weather.
In 2016, 8 million pounds of cherries were produced.
The president of the BC Cherry Association, Sukhpaul Bal, shares the BC Tree Fruits optimism that this season is shaping up to be a record year.
He said that’s because farmers have adapted new techniques where bigger is better.
“We’re seeing larger fruit and that works out better for us — for the pickers as well. They’re making more money than they ever have. So it’s a good situation when you have large fruit,” Bal said.
A majority of the Okanagan cherries will be heading out of the country — mostly to China where consumers are willing to pay a small ransom for the fruit.
Bal said cherries will sell for about $2 a pound in the Okanagan, but climb to $10 a pound in China.
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