APPLES:


"An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!"

                                                                   


** Images Courtesy of www.bctreefruit.com


    British Columbia is one of Canada`s apple-producing provinces. The majority of the apples produced in British Columbia are produced in the Okanagan and Similkameen

Valleys, although there are some apple orchards in the Fraser Valley near Abbotsford.  In 2002, approximately 300,000,000 pounds of apples were produced in British

Columbia,  more than for any other fruit or vegetable.




    The main apples produced in the Okanagan Valley are the golden delicious and red delicious apples.  These apples grow well under the dry, hot summers of the

Okanagan Valley, though some irrigation is needed during the drier years.  They are more cold-hardy than some other apples and thus, can deal with the subzero winter

temperatures of the Okanagan. 



Some good websites for apple information:
1) Ministry of Agriculture (British Columbia): www.agf.gov.bc.ca/treefrt
 
and www.agf.gov.bc.ca/aboutind/products/plant

This site provides a large range of information on apple diseases, growing conditions, and a large number of statistics on apples.

2) BC Tree Fruits: www.bctree.com/fruits

This website provides information about the types of apples grown in British Columbia and their characteristics.


Some good books for apple information:

    1) The Harrowsmith Book of Fruit Trees by Jennifer Bennett, 1991. Camden House Publishing. Willowdale, Ontario.

This book provides information about the different types of fruit trees in North America, their climatic requirements, and tips for growing the fruits.

2) UBC Guide to Gardening in British Columbia.  Published by the Botanical Gardening Faculty of UBC, 1991.

This book provides detailed information on the soils, climates etc.. that are best for growing different crops in British Columbia. 

Wine Grapes:

                                                                                                                                                       

This image courtesy of www.bctreetruit.com                                                                                
    "It'll Get You Drunk!" (Quoted from Samuel L.Jackson on The Chapelle Show)

    British Columbia's Okanagan Valley might not yet be mentioned in the same breath as California's Napa Valley or France's Champagne region by wine

connaisseurs, but it is quickly becoming a renowned wine-growing region.  The dry, hot climate of the Okanogan Valley is conducive to the growing of

the white wine varieties Auxerrois, Bacchus, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Ehrenfelser, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and the red wine varieties

Cabarnet Sauvignon, Chancellor, Marechal Foch, Melot, and Pinot Rouge.



    In 2002, over 30,000,000 pounds of wine grapes were produced in British Columbia.  The vineyards in the Okanagan valley then processed these wine

grapes into the wine that you can buy at your local BC Liquor store or cold beer and wine store.  The wine industry in the Okanagan valley has expanded into

the tourism industry, with wineries from Vernon to Osoyoos giving tours of their facilities!




Some good websites:
1) Ministry of Agriculture:

www.agf.gov.bc.ca/aboutind/products/plant

This website contains information of a general nature on wine growing in British Columbia.  Other parts of the Ministry of Agriculture site include detailed statistics on wine

growing and wine-growing reports in .pdf format.

2)  BC Travel Okanagan Website:

www.bctravelokanogan.com/okanagan


This website contains information on things to do in the Okanagan Valley, including wine grapes touring.


3) BC Wineries Website:

www.bctravel.com/wineries

This website contains links to many of the wineries of British Columbia and information about the wine-growing industry in British Columbia in general.



Some good books:

1) General Viticulture by A.J. Winkler, James W. Cook, L.M. Kilewer, and Lloyd A. Lider.  Published by the University of California, Los Angeles, 1974. 

Contains general information on the climates and conditions conducive to wine growing. Also contains information about the harvesting of wine grapes etc...


2) From Vines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine by Jeff Cox. 

Published by Transcontinental Press, Canada, 1999.

This book contains information on the climatic and other conditions necessary to grow wine grapes.  It also contains information on the various steps of the

wine-making process.

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