After five years of hardship marked by pandemics, heat domes, deep freezes, and trade disruptions, British Columbia’s tree fruit and wine grape sectors are showing signs of renewal - and remarkable resilience. From promising early crop signs to successful collaborative projects and expanding global interest in Canadian produce, growers and industry leaders are embracing 2025 with renewed optimism and purpose.
“This season just feels different,” says Walter Makepeace, owner of Makepeace Organic Farms and member of the Cross-Commodity Advisory Council. “You can see the health in the vines and the blossoms. It’s a welcome shift from the struggle of past years.”
Signs of recovery are visible across the province. The cherry crop is strong, export programs are in process to markets including China, Japan, Korea, and the EU, and the apple crop sold out two months early - underscoring high demand for Canadian-grown produce. Domestic campaigns such as Canadian Cherry Month are ramping up, while retailers across Eastern Canada are placing strategic orders to prioritize homegrown fruit in light of ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
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