Okanagan grape growers report crop insurance gaps

Grape growers in the Okanagan region are reporting that current crop insurance models are failing to account for the true costs of farming amidst a changing climate. Growers face various uncontrollable weather events, including extreme heat, drought, hail, and wildfire smoke.

Karnail Singh Sidhu, owner of Kalala Winery, noted that wildfire smoke from the Summerland area recently affected approximately 15 tonnes of grapes. While the fruit may appear healthy on the vine, smoke can taint the flavor during fermentation, rendering the crop commercially unusable.

Jeff Guignard, CEO of the BC Wine Growers Association, stated that recent climate events have led to insurance payouts that fall below actual operational costs. Because production insurance relies on a grower’s historical production data, the model struggles to adequately compensate for the loss of commercial value caused by sudden environmental shifts.