Okanagan Fruit Trees Bloom, Farmers Worry About Drought

0:00It's April 21st. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Canada News today, local news powered by AI. Fruit trees in the Okanagan are bursting into bloom right now, but farmers are stressing over super low moisture levels that could mess with fruit. Growth Snowpack this year dropped way below normal, according to the B.C. River forecast sensor, leaving everyone banking on spring rain to save the day. As like Alan Peterson, from Peterson orchard and salmon arm, say their soil is bone dry without that mountain snow melt, so they need steady showers too. Swell up those fruits. His family's been at it since 1912, and right now the trees look solid, with stone fruits like cherries and apricots leading the flower. Charge Peterson figures it'll be an average crop, nothing like last year's bumper hole, or the total wipe out from heat domes, droughts, and that brutal. Mid-winter freeze in 2024, meanwhile, soaked a bar with the B.C. Fruit growers' association is pumped about full blossoms on the summerland trees after

1:03years of rough luck, but both are clear-eyed. No rain means flowers won't turn into top-shell fruit, especially of summer heats up. The whole southern interiors and drought mode, after less than 40% of normal winter precip, per agriculture Canada. That sets up tough irrigation bills and likely water restrictions, so bar wants regional leaders to hook farmers up first with affordable water since. They're growing food that feeds us all. Fingers crossed for those rains to keep this promising season on track.