High quality, self-fertile cherry varieties developed in British Columbia, Canada, have become standards in the international cherry industry. British Columbia’s own cherry industry is comparatively small, with just 4,500 acres planted, but cherry varieties developed in the province, such as Lapins, Skeena, Sweetheart, Sonata, Staccato, and many more, have become world reknowned. Cherry and apple varieties developed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Summerland (as well as some varieties from private variety developers in the province) are commercialized by the Okanagan Plant Improvement Company (PICO), which is owned by the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association. PICO’s general manager John Kingsmill said […]