Canada Global(Web News)Vineyards across the Okanagan are lined with rows upon rows of harvested grape vines.
Mother Nature is believed to have wiped out this year’s crop in the Valley with last month’s deep freeze.
“I think we’re 100 percent finished this year,” said Cornel Sidhu, owner of Kalala Organic Estate Winery in West Kelowna.
The weather-related damage is said to be the highest the industry has seen in more than three decades.
BC Grape Growers Association president Sue de Charmoy said the grape industry hasn’t had anything this important in 30 years.
We are not sure if there will be a big harvest this year. In terms of plant health, we still don’t have an answer to the question of whether the grapes are alive or not.
The dire situation prompted an emergency meeting Tuesday at Crown & Thieves Winery that was packed with grape growers and winery owners.
The meeting was chaired by the BC Grape Growers Association