Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/506700
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER MAY 15, 2015 47 But demand from China, not to mention the countries negotiating the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership—a multilat- eral trade agreement that could open access to markets totaling 792 million people—offers growers hope that investments in sweet cherries will pay off. "For the younger grower getting into the cherry business in the last little while, it's a very expensive crop to look after," Bal said. "But looking out to Asia, a quality product will sell any day of the week…and that's what we've got to aim for." The good news is, the quality of cherries from Canada now has Beijing's stamp of approval. Cherries from Canada previously faced restrictions in export markets over concerns regarding cherry fruit fl y, which lays eggs in ripe fruit. The larvae eat their way out, damaging fruit while potentially invading new areas, unseen to all but the most zealous observers. Those include Chinese inspectors, who watched over every shipment leaving B.C. orchards in 2013 to ensure that the protocols the industry put in place were guaranteeing clean fruit was entering export markets. "It was very tightly controlled," said David Geen, chair of the cherry association's market access committee and president of Coral Beach Farms Ltd. in Lake Country. "The Chinese inspectors were here working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and they had to look at, and sign off on, any shipment that left the country." But the shipments won high marks for cleanliness and quality, and 400 tons of exports in 2013 more than tripled last year to approach 10 percent of the provincial harvest. Chinese inspectors visited in July to ensure everything was in order, and this year shipments will proceed with the full trust of Chinese authorities. The industry isn't resting on its laurels, however. While fruit may be pest-free, there's always room to improve quality to ensure the best reception in foreign markets. "What we're really emphasizing with our growers is that quality has to be of the highest and has to stand out above anything else that may be in the market," Bal said. "With more acreage going in the ground, we want to give the resources to new growers to learn better techniques." To do this, the cherry association plans regular exten- sion sessions, such as pruning demonstrations and other seminars designed to transfer knowledge from researchers and older growers to the next generation of producers. "It all ties back to wanting to grow quality cherries and keep our reputation and image very high," Bal said. • B.C. cherries on the rise Cherry production in British Columbia has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 $1.07 $.72 $1.58 $1.92 $1.20 $1.75 $1.48 5,000 TONS 10,000 TONS 15,000 TONS PRICE PER POUND IN CANADIAN DOLLARS NOTE: AT CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES, CAN.$1.00 IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT U.S.$0.80 NUMBER OF TONS MARKETED EACH YEAR $1.31 $1.61 SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA Distinguished The essential resource. goodfruit.com Associate Editor Richard Lehnert earned Michigan State University's Distinguished Service Award for his years of work informing growers about scientifi c advancements.