Flooded blueberry farm, Abbotsford, B.C. Canada. Photo by Karen Massier.

Produce production in British Columbia has felt some effects from B.C.’s recent and devastating floods, as reported by Fresh Plaza.

At Discovery Organics in Vancouver, B.C., Randy Hooper says that two of the smaller farms they work with were flooded. “There is little impact to vegetable production. The season is over and very little production in those flooded areas,” he says.

That said, Hooper does note that some impact could be felt on berry production. “There will be some loss,” he says.

According to the B.C. Blueberry Council, there is some impact on post-harvest activities, but the main concern is plant health: “If the fields remain flooded longer than four days, significant damage to the roots can set in. Being a perennial plant, any damage to the root could lead to various issues, including plant death,” says Clara Morán of the B.C. Blueberry Council, based in Abbotsford.

According to the B.C. Greenhouse Growers’ Association: “We have a few greenhouses in the Sumas Prairie that are still underwater and evacuation order,” says Linda Delli Santi of the Surrey, BC.-based association. She notes about five greenhouses are affected, which represent less than 200 acres. “One member has two greenhouses side by side in that area; one had 30 inches of water while the other had only two inches. It’s the lay of the land.”

The long-term impact of the floods won’t be understood for some time, and there are additional concerns regarding infrastructure and supply chain, the outcomes of which also remain unknown.

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