The Okanagan fruit sector relies heavily on the influx of thousands of temporary foreign workers essential for crop cultivation and harvesting. Recent climatic adversities have compelled farmers to reassess the viability of investing in this labor force, following a severe cold snap that significantly impacted crop yields. January's harsh weather conditions led to the total loss of the grape crop and potentially destroyed up to 80% of the peach yield. Cherry producers, unable to quantify the damage immediately, anticipate considerable losses. "We won't know until the trees wake up and the sap starts flowing but there are definitely areas where the vast majority of people's flower buds have been damaged by the cold, upwards to probably 100% of the flowers in really cold areas," stated Sukhpaul Bal, president of the B.C. Cherry Association. The cold has not been fatal to the cherry trees themselves, but it necessitates pruning and could affect newer plantings adversely.
With the damage assessment pending, cherry growers face a dilemma in determining the number of workers required for the upcoming season. The Okanagan fruit industry, a significant employer of temporary foreign labor, primarily from Mexico, had recruited 4,500 workers in 2020. Despite the setback, the need for labor, especially for harvesting activities starting in June, remains critical.
Source: infotel.ca