Today I saw it! A sure sign that summer is on the way! I saw a fruit pedlar with a huge sign that read “cherries”. I did not stop to inquire from whence the cherries came, for I was on a city bus, but I remember the last time I inquired, I received the common answer, “the Okanagan”. Upon further inquiry, I was assured that the Osoyoos area grew the fruit. That was mid June of last year.
As a boy growing up on a fruit farm, we started picking cherries during the first or second week of July. That is the standard that I use to determine whether the cherries are California or Okanagan grown. When a pedlar in Edmonton in mid June tries to convince me other wise, I have my doubts. It is unfortunate that fruit pedlars’ call California cherries Osoyoos cherries because it doesn’t do either region justice. If the fruit pedlar is that ill-informed, what else are they unaware of?
The on line web site called Destination Osoyoos states that harvest time for cherries is late June to early July. That is more in line to what my experience tells me. Osoyoos was always about a week earlier than Oliver for harvest anyways.
As usual, wherever you are, it is buyer beware. I want to be able to make an informed choice, so I’ll buy cherries before July knowing full well they come from California, but by mid July I will expect them to come from the Okanagan. That goes for the major grocery chain stores as well as the fruit pedlar for they all want to take full advantage of the good reputation of Okanagan grown fruit.