A warmer spring means berry early strawberry season
HARVEST: Picking should be in full swing by the weekend with this ‘California weather,’ farmers say
They typically announce the arrival of summer in B.C.
But an unseasonably warm spring means local strawberries are already available on market shelves.
Fraser Valley strawberry farmers say this year’s harvest — just beginning now — is one of the earliest they’ve seen.
“It’s the earliest ever for me,” said Alf Krause, who has been farming for about 40 years.
The Langley berry farmer expects other perennials — including raspberries, blueberries and blackberries — to also be early this year. Some vegetables, like Warba (or “nugget”) potatoes are also early, although the veggie harvest is more dependent on planting time than berries.
“The weather has been warm, and it’s pushing everything up,” said Krause. “If we keep having this California weather, I think it’s just going to continue.”
Local strawberry season (including U-pick) should be in full swing by next weekend, while this week’s harvest is limited to small quantities of the everbearing variety.
“It’s not a tsunami, but we’re excited and customers are excited to see the local berries,” said Abbotsford strawberry farmer Dan Neufeld.
Last year, the first berries were ready on May 27. At Neufeld Farms, they’ve been picking for about three days, putting this year’s harvest about 10 days ahead of 2014.
Neufeld said shoppers should expect to see discounts on California berries in the days to come, as distributors try to dump berries before the local crop is fully ready.
And while an early crop doesn’t necessarily translate into a bumper crop, it does have its benefits.
“Cooler weather might be better for yields,” said Krause, “but sun brings the flavour.”