Сезон органической тыквы в Британской Колумбии начался раньше обычного из-за раннего старта уборки

British Columbia's organic squash season is getting started a bit earlier this year. "We try to not actually have much B.C. squash on hand in August because so many retailers are still promoting summer items like peaches, melons, etc. However, because we're a couple of weeks early on our start dates, we've brought a few SKUs in and they are selling nicely now. Some folks have been eager to get those September displays going," says Stefan Misse of Discovery Organics. In all, the company sources squash from 5+ organic growers within British Columbia and they're located on Vancouver Island, in the Fraser Valley just outside of Vancouver and the Okanagan. Three of those growers are now shipping some volume but all growers will aim to have their volume cured and ready to go by mid-September. That helps get displays going and planning underway ahead of Canadian Thanksgiving, which is the middle of October. © Secrest Organics B.C. growing conditions Growing in the Okanagan of course meant contending with the wildfires that have been happening throughout the summer–something that impacts everyone says Misse. "In terms of actual growing conditions though, the wildfire smoke has provided some sun protection for a lot of fruit trees and ground crops," he says. "When you've got no smoke and a really hot blazing sun in the summer season, you get sunburn damage to various fruits and vegetables. The smoke has provided some protection from that." Another challenge growers in B.C. and across North America is having enough labor to harvest the crops. As for varieties, Discovery Organics has numerous varieties of organic squash it is shipping including green Acorn; carnival Acorn, which is a multicolored acorn squash; Butternut; Hubbard squashes of various colours; Delicata; Autumn Frost, which is a Butternut hybrid; Butternut; Honeynut; various Kabochas, including green, blue and red; Red Curry; Sugar Pie pumpkins; regular Spaghetti and orange Spaghetti; as well as Sweet Dumpling. On harvest, in B.C. it generally goes into early October, depending on when the frost comes. "Vancouver Island gets the least amount of frost so they're able to cure in the field a lot longer than everyone else," says Misse. "The Okanagan usually gets everything out of the fields by the first week of October due to potential winter weather, and then they cure in storage sheds with humidity control and ventilation, etc." © Secrest Organics Crops in Alberta Meanwhile, neighboring province Alberta also has production during roughly the same period. "They usually start harvest a little later, but they also have the same constraints of frost and or snow and winter weather," says Misse, noting it sources from a grower just outside of Calgary. "If the weather conditions are good, they can cure in the field and then do the same thing in store and sheds and finish off." As for demand, it has started fairly strong for late summer and Misse believes demand from Canadians for locally grown certified organic squash will continue. The company aims to have B.C. and Alberta-grown squash until February approximately. "We have a few growers that have really really good storage and if you can store it well, then you can command premium prices in the winter time," he says, noting that pricing is starting a bit higher at the start of the season compared to last year. "It's basically trying to fall in line with where U.S. squash costs would be. If we were to import U.S. organic squash either out of California, Oregon or Washington, we're trying to make sure that growers here get those prices plus a little bit more because it's locally grown." For more information: Stefan Misse Discovery Organics Tel: +1 (604) 299-1683 [email protected] www.discoveryorganics.ca