‘Show must go on’: Okanagan fruit harvest continues during fires and smoke

Orchards in the Okanagan are pushing on with their harvests, despite the wildfires and smoke.

“I think we are all having the same difficulty with getting our crops harvested. We are having to take frequent breaks and wear masks while we are working,” says Peter Simonsen, president of the BC Fruit Growers Association. “But this is agriculture and we are dealing with natural products — when you have to harvest, you have to harvest. The show must go on, so to speak.”

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Related links:

• ‘This isn’t a suggestion, it is the law’: B.C. urges people to obey wildfire orders

• More Kelowna evacuation orders lifted as some residents lose everything

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Simonsen, who grows apples, pears and peaches, and produces cider in Naramata, says some orchards have been directly affected by wildfires in the Okanagan.

“I have heard there have been some evacuations of farms and farmworkers. There have been arrangements made for other accommodations in the Kelowna area.”

But he says despite smoke and ash, most operations are moving ahead with picking.

“I’ve never heard anyone say that their peaches tasted smoky. Ash can be washed off. It’s different [than vineyard grapes] so, fortunately that is not something that is a concern for us,” he tells CityNews.

Wildfire can smoke can taint grapes grown by BC’s winemakers, ruining entire vintages, as happened during the 2021 fire season.

In addition to being able to better weather smoky fire seasons, Simonsen feels orchards provide an additional benefit.

“I do believe we provide a buffer around cities by having irrigated crops. But these are extreme events, and when a wall of flame coming down it super heats the area ahead of it. I don’t know if there’s much we can really do, but it’s bound to provide some help if there’s no vegetation other than irrigated fruit trees.”

Simonsen says while there may be slight delays in fruit harvesting, he doesn’t expect any issues with quality, availability or the price of produce from the Okanagan.

“Right now, we are picking our pears, we are just finishing up peaches and our apples haven’t started yet, so we are approaching a bit of a lull, depending on the area. The timing is alright, so I don’t think the wildfires will affect the market at all.”