Tree fruits

The Province is investing $10 million to help tree fruit growers adapt to climate change. The Tree Fruit Climate Change Response Fund will provide payments to growers across the province based on the number of acres they farm. Applications to the Fund will open at 10am on Monday, April 28 and close at 10am on Monday, May 19.

Information for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative members

Program and project updates

Tree fruit stabilization project 

A ministry-led tree fruit stabilization project was launched in February 2021, after consultation with an external advisory committee composed of key stakeholders and partners. Recommendations in the resulting stabilization plan were made from extensive feedback.

More than thirty sessions with 165 individuals were held during the consultation process, representing all aspects of the industry, including:

A ministry-led tree fruit stabilization project was launched in February 2021, after consultation with an external advisory committee composed of key stakeholders and partners. Recommendations in the resulting stabilization plan were built from extensive feedback.

More than 30 sessions with 165 individuals were held during the consultation process, representing all aspects of the industry, including producers, packers, marketers, retailers, researchers, and government: 

• Minister's statement (PDF,156 KB) September 2023
• The Path Forward: A blueprint for B.C.’s tree fruit industry (PDF, 3.2MB) November 2021

Terms of reference and updates

Terms of Reference: Tree Fruit Stabilization Advisory Group (PDF, 168KB)

December 22, 2023 (PDF, 240.2KB)

June 10, 2022 (PDF, 134KB)

November 5, 2021 (PDF, 107KB)

Strategy, engagement and analysis

The tree fruit industry stabilization plans:

• Industry engagement strategy (PDF, 155KB)
• Report on stakeholder engagement summary  (PDF, 170KB)
• Report on stakeholder engagement detailed (PDF, 294KB)
• Analysis and audit of organizations (PDF, 218KB)
• Economic contribution study of B.C.'s tree fruit sector (PDF, 595KB)

Program reviews

These include:

• Evaluation of the apple packer data sharing project April 2023 (PDF, 849KB)
• SIR program evaluation March 31, 2022 (PDF, 478KB)
• Tree fruit replant program assessment report March 4, 2022 (PDF)
• Tree fruit competitiveness fund program assessment report April, 2021 (PDF, 522KB)

Production

The following information can help growers increase their competitiveness through higher production quality and fruit variety diversification:

• Building tree fruit home nurseries (PDF, 2.5MB)
• Descriptions of tree fruits species, blossoming and harvest times: tree fruit blossom and harvest schedule (PDF, 159KB)
• Information on the management of tree fruit plant pests and diseases
• Integrated B.C. Fruit Production Guide (BC Fruit Growers' Association)
• Information on Best Practices for Replanting Tree Fruits (PDF, 10.9 MB)

This short training video was created as a tool to help teach orchard workers some simple rules to pruning high density apples for proper crop load management. This video is available in English, Punjabi, and Spanish.

• Apple Crop Load Management (English)
• Apple Crop Load Management (Punjabi)
• Apple Crop Load Management (Spanish)

Acreage reports

Tree fruit acreage reports

The 2021 tree fruit acreage and maturity report (PDF, 1.5MB) looks at trends in the tree fruit acreage in five regions across B.C. (north, central, and south Okanagan, Similkameen, and Creston Valley). The primary tree fruit grown in these regions are apple and cherries. The vast majority (80 percent) of B.C.’s tree fruits are produced in north, central, and south Okanagan.

New to the report this year is an analysis of maturity, which shows that cherry orchards, on average, are younger than other tree fruits. Since trees generally become more productive as they age, this means that cherry yields are expected to increase. The report looks at trends in the tree fruit acreage in five regions across B.C. (north, central, and south Okanagan, Similkameen, and Creston Valley). 

2020 B.C. cherry and apple acreage report (PDF, 1.5MB) 

Apples

Currently, there are approximately 6,300 acres of apples being grown in these five regions. Apple acreage peaked in the mid-2010’s and then started to decline. By 2021, apple acreage was roughly the same as it had been in 2011.

Apple acreage is highest in the central and north Okanagan regions. However, while apple acreage is still increasing in the north Okanagan, it is decreasing in the central Okanagan region.

Cherries

Cherry acreage has been increasing rapidly and steadily in the province over the last ten years. In 2021, there were just over 5,100 acres of cherries. Like apples, the majority (88%) of the cherry acreage is in the three Okanagan regions. Acreage is showing consistent growth in both of the most significant regions, north and central Okanagan. 

Supplemental nutrient resources: B.C. Tree Fruit Production Guide

Ambrosia fruitlet sampling 

Ambrosia apples are the top grown variety by producers in B.C. and popular in many export markets when grown and handled right.  Fruitlet analysis plays a key role of informing fruit quality decisions in orchards and storage of premium apples, especially for export markets.  For example, calcium plays an important role in storage quality of fruit, however levels in leaf or soil samples are poorly correlated with calcium levels in the fruit. 

The following instructional videos and factsheet are designed to guide producers and packers on how to carryout apple fruitlet sampling, and make use of the B.C. developed Ambrosia fruitlet nutrient information found at fruit tree nutrition (B.C. Tree Fruits Production Guide). The information includes specific ideal fruitlet nutrient targets for Ambrosia apples and some common disorders that can occur with deficiencies or excesses of particular nutrients. 

In developing these Ambrosia fruitlet resources for growers, we acknowledge the contributions of Dr. William (Bill) Wolk, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, and the New Tree Fruit Variety Development Council for producing the initial methodology and guidelines, along with their assistance:

• Factsheet (PDF, 877 KB)
• Sample collection
• Processing

Alternative nutrient sources and soil amendments considerations for tree fruit production (webinar)

Products like manure and compost can be a valuable source of nutrients and contributor to soil productivity.  As with any farm input, there are some points to consider in their use.  The webinar discusses the pros and cons of these sources and how they might fit into your orchard.  We will cover the basics of nutrient management, source types and attributes, on-farm composting possibilities, environmental considerations and good neighbour relations.

The webinar is hosted as part of the Tree Fruit Extension Pilot Project Watch

Production insurance

Regulation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a mandate to ensure a safe food supply for everyone in Canada. Other local, provincial and federal legislation and regulations apply.