Smoke from a brutal wildfire season in British Columbia has had some unintended positive consequences – better fruit.
Dustin Ferris is the owner of Ferris Farms Fruit Stands on 8th Street and in Saskatoon’s Lawson Heights neighbourhood. He told 650 CKOM he’s noticed a difference.
“It seems like our cherry crop was actually better than most years. We’ve had incredible size. Firmness seems really good,” Ferris said.
“They like the heat, but they don’t really like the sun. So it kind of worked out with the smoke blocking out a little bit of that.”
On the down side, Ferris noted some of those B.C.-grown apples parents will be sending off with their kids when classes start in September may be a bit smaller.
“With all the smoke, their size is down a little bit,” Ferris said, noting pears also don’t fare well in smoky conditions.
The fruit stand owner said he’s had to go to southern B.C. to find the best yield.
“The fires really affected more northern Okanagan and the southern was pretty lucky as far as the way the valley runs,” Ferris said.
“So I could get Osoyoos, and Oliver, and even up into Summerland, which is a new market for me.”