It’s peach season in the Okanagan, and staff at the locally owned and operated K & J Pacific Peaches in Kelowna are busy at work.
Miranda Moser and Carlie Moser, the daughters of the owners of K & J Pacific Peaches, Kaspar Moser and Jo-Anne Moser, spoke with Castanet about this year’s season.
“We’ve got lots of different varieties of peaches,” Miranda said. “Right now we have our semi-freestone, and next week is when our freestone peaches start.”
In addition to the 10 varieties of peaches that the farm grows, staff also pick up fresh produce from Oliver, including tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupe and more. Recently, u-pick raspberries ended. When in season, K & J Pacific Peaches also sells apples, apricots, prune plums, cherries, pears and more.
“It’s a little behind schedule this year,” Carlie said. “Everything seems to be a little bit later than other years, but we should have our peaches until the second week of September.”
And luckily the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t negatively impacted business for the farm.
“I would say it’s increased the business,” Miranda said. “Everybody wants more local, local based and see where the fruit and veggies are grown,” adding that the demand for peaches is so high, there is a limit on how many each customer can take.
K & J Pacific Peaches also has COVID-19 protocols in place such as limiting the amount of visitors inside the fruit stand at a time, hand sanitizing stations, plexiglass and gloves are provided. Visitors are also encouraged to wear masks.
“We have really good customers and they’re all really understanding and we usually have people lined up,” Carlie said. “Sometimes we have a huge lineup to the end of our driveway.”
K & J Pacific Peaches has been operating its fruit stand for 15 years, while the family farm has been running since the 1940s.
The farm is located at 1145 Morrison Rd. It is cash-only.
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