Orchards in the Creston Valley are still left reeling from damage caused by abnormal winter weather.
A devastating cold snap killed fruit buds across the valley in January, with a major impact on peaches, cherries, apricots, prunes, plums, nectarines and grapes.
At Wloka Farms, the lack of fruit has led to heavy financial losses for the season.
“We found four apricots so far. That's it,” said owner Barb Wloka. “When it first happened, I bawled. I walked around the orchard and I just cried.”
For one variety of cherries, she said normally a crew of eight people would take four days to pick the crop. This year, it took a crew of four only four hours.
“Every cherry I feel so lucky to have because it's a bit of a miracle this year to get one in the fruit stand,” she said.
In her recollection, the Wlokas haven’t faced a loss of this magnitude since 1986, when they harvested only one peach from over 400 trees. Back then, the issue was limited to the Creston Valley, allowing them to source fruit from the Okanagan. But this year, the crisis has extended across the province and into northwest Washington State.
The impact on fruit growers hasn't gone unnoticed by the provincial government, which on Aug. 13 announced new financial support to help build resilience through extreme weather events.
The AgriStability compensation rate has been raised to 90 per cent and the compensation cap doubled, providing an estimated $15 million in immediate relief to farmers in need. Late enrolment will also be available for producers not yet enrolled in the program.
The new Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program will also provide an additional $5 million to help farmers buy equipment and pursue projects that were not eligible under previous programs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has meanwhile been directed to develop options for a one-time fund, with emphasis on smaller producers.
“Locally grown fruit is loved across B.C., but for the last few years, farmers and the industry as a whole have faced unprecedented challenges,” said Premier David Eby in a statement. “From extreme weather driven by climate change to the closure of the processing co-operative, growers need support if they are going to be able to survive and thrive in the future."
There is still hope for 2025’s harvest, as Wloka says the peach trees are producing new growth. However, summer heat domes can deliver the final blow to trees already under stress. By September, she expects to have a better idea of how many have survived.
If many of the trees are in fact dead, replanting isn’t an easy option because of competing root systems in mature orchards and a lack of stock at nurseries. Wloka Farms also doesn’t qualify for replanting programs because of the wide variety of trees in their orchard.
“You’re looking at maybe seven to 10 years before you have any production on fruit trees, if you can get the trees to replant,” she said.
At this point, the Wlokas have been farming for 42 years and have no plans to shift their focus away from their current fruit crops.
"If we were younger, we might, but I'm 65," said Wloka. "What we're doing is looking at mitigation, if this happens again. We are doing a lot of research on various things that could be done."
In the meantime, the fruit stand is selling many vegetables, apples, and fall squash. Unfortunately, those crops don’t draw the same tourists to Creston.
“A lot of our customers come from the prairies, and they come out for 300 pounds of peaches,” said Wloka. “They won’t travel to buy cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. That also means they're not coming here to stay, go out for dinner, and visit other businesses. The impact on the valley is huge, not just for the farmers."
In these tough times, Wloka, who co-owns the fruit stand with her husband Frank, said they are leaning on each other, their staff, and supportive long-time customers to get by.
“We talked about taking a year off, just maintaining the orchard and doing nothing else, but then we would lose all these wonderful people we have got working for us,” she said. “It’s the people who keep us going.”
She spoke of one customer who decided to not plant a garden this year, and instead, buy all of her produce from Wloka Farms.
“It was so sweet of her. That's just so incredibly thoughtful,” said Wloka.
Wloka is not the only local orchard impacted by the inclement winter weather.
Rémi Cardinal, owner of Red Bird Winery, reported a 90 per cent bud mortality on the grape vines in January.
“There is no crop,” he said. “We're prepping for next year at this point.”
He said they’ve cut back on staff at the winery and modified what’s available in the tasting room to help stretch out their stock.
“I have to stretch every single bottle. We can’t afford another bad year,” said Cardinal.
To make up for the lack of grapes, Red Bird now offers ciders too. Cardinal said they experimented with pear and apple cider last fall, which was well received. Now they’ve doubled down with another batch and added raspberry to the mix.
Despite being open seven days a week, it has been a slower summer than usual.
“July was scary,” he said. “The numbers didn't look at all like last July. We had a very slow start to what is usually our best month.”
He encourages visitors, and residents, to support local growers by buying fruit and vegetables or going on a wine tour in the Creston Valley.
“Make a day out of it and buy some local wine,” he said. “It’s an amazing experience that people here are still discovering.”
