Okanagan grape growers hopeful for financial relief after major crop damage
Global News
An Arctic cold snap in January caused what is believed to be the worst damage to the grape crop that the industry has seen in more than three decades.
At vineyards across the Okanagan, there are rows upon rows of decimated grapevines.
Mother Nature is believed to have all but wiped out this year’s crop across the valley with last month’s deep freeze.
“I think our crop is 100 per cent gone this year,” said Karnail Sidhu, owner of Kalala Organic Estate Winery in West Kelowna.
The weather-related damage is said to be the worst the industry has seen in more than three decades.
“For 30 years the grape industry hasn’t had something this significant,” said Sue De Charmoy, the president of the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association.
“We’re not sure whether there’ll be much crop this year. In terms of plant health, we don’t have an answer to that question yet as to whether the vines are alive or not.”
The dire situation prompted an emergency meeting at the Crown and Thieves Winery on Tuesday that was packed with grape growers and winery owners.
The meeting was spearheaded by the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association to, in part offer, expert tips on plant management in the wake of temperatures that neared – 30 C during January’s Arctic outflow.
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