Life not a bowl of cherries for Okanagan residents or rain-soaked farmers
KELOWNA, B.C. — As June rains continue into July, cherry growers in the Okanagan are putting in some extra work in, but it might be costing area residents some extra sleep.
Once ripe, cherries can’t tolerate any extra water or their outer skins will split, destroying their value.
Starting at sunrise, farmers have been using large fans and even helicopters to blow the water off the fruit.
But Suhkpaul Bal, president of the B.C. Cherry Growers Association, says the early morning timing has led to complaints from neighbours.