British Columbia freeze zaps orchards

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 7 (UPI) -- Vast swaths of fruit orchards in southwestern British Columbia's fertile Okanagan Valley have been devastated by an Arctic freeze, growers reported.

The freeze two weeks ago capped an already cold spring, heavily damaging cherry and apricot orchards as they were in full bloom when the freezing temperatures hit, the Globe and Mail reported.

Tom Davison, of Davison Orchards in Vernon, told the newspaper it was a major blow.

"The apricots were in bloom and the bees were in them one day and the next there were 3, 4 inches of snow," he said.

Joe Sardinha of the British Columbia Fruit Growers' Association said despite the damage, he said he doesn't expect a significant rise in the cost of fruit. He estimated the apple crop would be down by 10-15 percent, pears by 15-20 percent, cherry crops down by 40 percent and apricots by 50 percent.

Grapes were largely unaffected by the cold snap, which vineyard owners and winery officials told the newspaper was simply a lucky break.