Summerland orchards scramble to salvage fruit after wildfire and power loss
After the Bald Range fire forced evacuations and cut electricity in Summerland, B.C., orchard owners are battling spoiled peaches and irrigation setbacks.
The rapid expansion of the Bald Range fire compelled thousands to leave Summerland, B.C., and caused a townwide power shutdown that crippled irrigation systems. Deep Brar, who leads the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, discovered that his peach crop had become soft and bruised, allowing him to salvage only a fraction of a normal harvest. While cherries were harvested before the blaze and plums are now lost, apple trees suffer from drooping branches and yellowing leaves due to missed watering schedules.
Fellow farmer Ted Vollo reported that digital irrigation clocks lost their programs, resulting in poorly watered orchards and undersized gala apples. In contrast, Khush Saran found his peaches still edible and is selling them at $1 per pound, half the usual price, to encourage local picking.
Why it matters
The story shows how wildfires and power outages can quickly jeopardize agricultural production and local food supplies.
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