A popular U-pick is closed and a Fraser Valley apple farmer is taking a significant financial hit after losing a crop to a disease linked to unusual weather.
Taves Family Farms has operated its Jonagold apple orchard in Abbotsford since 1991, but owner Loren Taves says a fungal infection took hold of the fruit this year after a blast of late-spring rain.
“In the Fraser Valley, there’s always the risk of getting the disease on the leaves and later on, the fruit. It causes the leaves to get smaller and and have markings, and on the fruit as well,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.
The result is dark, scabby lesions on the skin of the apples, rendering them unsellable.
Taves says they take measures every year to prevent the spread and proliferation of the fungus, but this spring brought unusual conditions.
“We had a very odd situation where we got to the end of May and into June and it rained — at least at this farm — for four or five days straight without any letup, and it was quite warm. When you have those conditions, the disease becomes very happy and just goes bonkers on you. We just couldn’t control it.”
The disease mainly affects the aesthetics of the fruit, but Taves says they can not be sold for eating — people just won’t buy them.
“We do have a cidery here and we are pressing those apples into juice, but they lose a lot of their value. After the processing, they lose four to five times their value.”
Taves sells both cold-pressed apple cider and alcoholic cider in the local market.
“We have a taproom here and sell a lot of hard cider under the Taves brand, but when you have a huge crop like this, you just don’t have enough market for all those apples,” he explained. “I’ve been putting calls out to other cideries to see if they would like Jonagolds and I’ve had a lot of positive response. But, of course, the price I’ll be selling them is far cheaper than what I get for the retail on them.”
He estimates the farm will lose around $120,000 due to the crop failure, but he is worried about more than just this year’s finances.
“We’ve operated that orchard since 1991 and we’ve had a buildup of up to two generations of families who come to pick apples. It has taken over 30 years to grow that market,” he explained.
“My most worrisome thoughts are not just the financial aspects this year but the ramifications to our loyal public in the years to come. People get used to something always being there and suddenly it’s not.”
Taves says they are known for their large, sweet Jonagolds, but they do grow different varieties of apples in other orchards. Those were not significantly affected by the disease, but crops have been smaller this year.
“It’s a perfect storm, right? Those ones decided not to grow as much, as far as volume goes.”
Taves says there is always a risk his crops will become infected again next year, but this outbreak of apple scab is the the worst he’s seen in his three decades of growing.
However, there are some positives as the 60-acre farm focuses on some of its other agriculture.
“Our pumpkin crop is fantastic. I’ve never seen it like this with some of the fields so full you can barely see the leaves from all the orange.”
Taves says they have “fingers in a lot of baskets,” with berry crops and a greenhouse operation that have done decently well this year.