The season was short and sweet for prairie fruit crops this summer.
Average to above average yields are reported across the three prairie provinces where hot muggy July days shortened the picking season of some varieties.
Grower Arne Strom called it the best year ever for his Sherwood Forest Orchards near Regina, which houses about 11 acres of saskatoons and raspberries.
“There was nice weather during the picking season so we were able to pick every day and evening,” he said. “We avoided natural weather disasters.”
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Strom, a grower since the early 1990s, found his chokecherries, currants and rhubarb also did well this year and benefited from cooler temperatures and good moisture in June.
Disease pressure was low and irrigation was needed only on raspberries, he said.
Strom predicted production was up 20 to 25 percent over last year.
Demand for Alberta fruit was strong this year, said Lloyd Hausher, provincial fruit industry development specialist with Alberta Agriculture.
“Demand is still exceeding supply as customers are becoming aware of local supply,” he said.
Hausher said rain and warm temperatures in the spring helped strawberries, raspberries and saskatoons develop into a good crop.
July’s heat ripened most fruits a week earlier than normal and shortened the picking season that produced an average to above average crop.
The picking time for June-bearing strawberries was three to four weeks instead of the usual six, he said.
A drier summer was a welcome change for Manitoba growers.
“Overall it was a good year compared to the last two,” said Anthony Mintenko, fruit crop business development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.
He said fruit was generally two weeks earlier than normal, yielding average to above average volumes.
Saskatoon production was average this year because fewer flowers set in the wet, cool weather last year. Northwestern growers also faced a late frost in May that killed flowers and cut yields, said Mintenko.
Interest continues to grow in diversification options like dwarf sour cherries for U-pick and pre-pick operations.
Some strawberry growers are adding raspberries to meet customer demand, said Mintenko.
