Fresh in Montreal: Tomato season gets a late start
Local grower worried an early cold snap would put an early end to annual harvest
If you have tomato plants that aren’t producing as well as they normally do this time of year, take solace in knowing you are not alone.
Growers across the province are experiencing a late tomato season, and they’re worried they won’t be able to harvest enough tomatoes by the time the cold weather sets in.
The problem is that the combination of a late start to spring and lower-than-usual temperatures this summer have made for a late season. The result is that tomato crops, like many others in the province, have ripened at least two or three weeks later than normal.
For Lino Birri, co-owner of Birri Inc., tomato season is one of his busiest times of the year. Birri not only grows and sells tomatoes at the Jean-Talon Market, but he also sells many varieties of tomato plants for people to grow in their home gardens. He estimates the season is about two weeks later than usual.
“Normally at this time of the year we would be in full production, but we’ve just started — barely started,” Birri said.
Birri is also concerned that if there is a cold spell in August or September, he won’t have the same quantity of tomatoes as he usually does.
“We hope we will have enough to serve our normal customers,” Birri said.
Birri said he expects that tomato season will be in full swing in the last week of August, and continue through September if the weather holds.
Tomato season also means family get-togethers to help out with the involved process of canning fresh tomatoes. While canning tomatoes is a tradition in Italian homes, Birri said the practice is spreading.
“You would be surprised; it’s not an Italian thing anymore. Everybody does it,” Birri said. “Sometimes they learned it from Italians, or from a cooking class. They do it with the spices and the ingredients they like. It’s cheaper to buy it in a store, but you have to ask yourself, do you get the same product?”
Fresh in Montreal is a series highlighting some of the best, locally produced food and shares ideas on preparation.