‘Preparing for the worst’: Farmers in B.C.’s Okanagan bracing for wave of cold weather

Last year's cold snap decimated crops in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley, and with cold weather incoming, farmers are on edge again.

With cold temperatures on the way for areas of the Okanagan, farmers are on edge.

Last year, crops were decimated as temperatures hit as low as -30 C during a deep freeze in the region renowned for its vineyards and fruit farms.

Michael Bartier, who owns Bartier Brothers winery in Oliver, was among those who lost their entire crop last year. But he says he’s done his best to adapt and prepare ahead of this winter – as have other growers left reeling after last year.

“It really does look very good,” he said. “I’m proud of our efforts. I’m proud of my neighbours. Everybody in the industry has really put their head down and tried to figure out this problem.”

“We are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”

He’s been focusing, for example, on coming up with creative ways to protect the grapes – including burying the vines.

“What that does effectively is it insulates that shoot from any cold event that may happen,” he explains.

Cherries and peaches were among the fruit crops hardest hit in 2024.

Peter Simonsen, a farmer and the president of the B.C Fruit Growers Association, says he’s had to replant “a lot of trees” since last year.

Simonsen says he’s crossing his fingers that stone fruit crops will fare better this year.

“That’s the good news is that we have a lot of fruit buds forming, the bad news is that it’s still a little too early for that to happen,” he says.

Another wave of cold weather

Cold weather is expected to hit areas of the Okanagan starting Thursday.

“For the Interior, we are looking at five to 10 degrees below our seasonal normal,” explains Alyssa Charbonneau, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Despite the low temperatures in the forecast, Simonsen isn’t too concerned – noting the fluctuations in temperature in 2024 were much more extreme than what’s predicted in the coming days.

“I think that’s within acceptable range,” he said. “Last year it went from 3 C to -27 C and then back up to -18 C and then down to -33 C. That’s just off the charts.”

Sukhpaul Bal, a cherry farmer in Kelowna, also lost his entire 2024 crop. He also says he’s optimistic for this year, despite the incoming drop in temperatures.

“We kind of welcome some cold, because the fruit buds, they do gain some winter hardiness when the temperatures start to drop,” he explains.

Bal says the focus right now for him and other farmers is on adapting to the extreme weather, as it becomes more common.

“It’s almost a new ball game,” he says. “The intensity and frequency is much higher and the so-called tools in the toolbox aren’t there to really cope with what’s going on.”

He hopes consumers will continue to support local farmers as they get back on their feet, adding he’s hoping for a “strong bounce-back year” for the industry.