Local Farm Markets Struggle Amidst Challenging Growing Season in Okanagan

Local farm markets in Kelowna are urging residents to prioritize buying locally sourced produce as they prepare their Thanksgiving dinners this year. According to multiple reports, the growing season has posed significant challenges for producers in the Okanagan Valley.

“It was really hot. So, a lot of times when it gets too hot we can’t harvest all our crop,” said Jas Sanghera, a representative of Don-O-Ray Farms. He further elaborated, “Like let’s say cauliflower for example. If we have three batches planted and this heat comes in, the heat wave, everything gets ready at once. So, then we don’t know what to do with it.”

Fruit growers faced even more hardship due to extreme weather conditions that swept through the area last winter. Sanghera noted, “Unfortunately, we lost a lot of peaches, nectarines, apricots. The farmer always says, hopefully next year is better.”

To economize, residents are encouraged to shop seasonally and stock up on sale items. Sanghera highlighted vegetables like squash, broccoli, and cauliflower as affordable and locally available options. He stated, “We basically look at affordability for our customers and then we look at our growing costs and we pick the best cost for our customers.”

Local markets offer personalized customer experiences, such as Don-O-Ray Farms’ addition of local, free-run turkey breasts to their selections, catering to those who prefer not to cook a whole bird. Additionally, for those yet to procure their pumpkins, the farm boasts a plentiful harvest this year, with about 4,000 pumpkins ready and another 5,000 to 6,000 on the way.