A Strong Season Ahead for Canadian Sweet Cherries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Strong Season Ahead for Canadian Sweet Cherries

With a stellar crop on the horizon and growing commitment from consumers and retailers to ‘Buy Canadian’, BC cherry growers look forward to their best season in years.

KELOWNA, BC – April 7, 2025 – Cherry orchards across British Columbia are showing signs of an abundant, high-quality harvest, and Canadian cherry growers are preparing for one of their strongest seasons in recent history. This renewed optimism comes not only from favourable growing conditions but also from the growing support of Canadian consumers, whose commitment to buying locally grown produce is helping fuel momentum for the 2025 season. Together, a promising crop and national pride are setting the stage for a standout summer for Canadian sweet cherries.

“Growers are encouraged by what they’re seeing in the orchards this spring,” said Sukhpaul Bal, Chair of the BC Cherry Association. “After several challenging years, it’s a relief to see the trees bounce back with vigour. This season looks very promising.”

Over the past three years, BC cherry growers have faced a series of extreme weather events — from the record-breaking heat dome in 2021, which affected fruit sizing and quality, to pre-harvest rainstorms that caused fruit splitting, and the deep freeze in early 2024 that damaged buds before trees had fully hardened off for winter. These challenges significantly reduced yields and disrupted harvests. Despite these setbacks, the industry has remained resilient, supported by dedicated growers, strong retail partnerships, and a growing “Buy Canadian” movement among consumers.

Canadian cherries are prized for their exceptional quality and flavour — and for many Canadians, they’re synonymous with summer itself. The season is short, and anticipation runs high each year as Canadians eagerly await the arrival of sweet BC cherries. This year, they are expected to hit store shelves by Canada Day, making their arrival an even sweeter celebration of Canadian summer.

In celebration of the 3rd annual Canadian Cherry Month (July 15–August 15), the BC Cherry Association is encouraging retailers, media, and consumers to spotlight the exceptional quality of Canadian cherries and their role in supporting local agriculture.

The BC Cherry Association will be exhibiting at CPMA 2025 in Montreal on April 9 and 10 (Booth 2418) and is available for media inquiries and trade discussions.