According to the Association of strawberry and raspberry producers in Quebec (APFFQ), the strawberry season has never been so abundant. Producers were able to supply supermarkets as early as the end of May, thanks to the large quantity of fruits.
Louis Bélisle, from the A. Béslisle & Fils farm in Saint-Eustache says that, “Last year, the season began a week later, and the volumes were very different.”
David Lemire, strawberry producer in the Trois-Rivères and President of the APFFQ says that, “There are at least 25% more fruits than the same date last year, that’s enormous.” He doesn’t think that May was hotter than normal, but leaving plastic covers over the strawberries for longer means they managed to “recreate a warm spring” (i.e.. 22C, which is ideal for the fruit, compared to the actual 12.8C on average).
David Lemire, strawberry producer in the Trois-Rivères and President of the APFFQ says that, “There are at least 25% more fruits than the same date last year, that’s enormous.” He doesn’t think that May was hotter than normal, but leaving plastic covers over the strawberries for longer means they managed to “recreate a warm spring” (i.e.. 22C, which is ideal for the fruit, compared to the actual 12.8C on average).
David Lemire thinks that the recent bad weather (cold and rain) will rebalance the offer and demand. He says that half of the market stands he normally supplies aren’t even open yet and currently early strawberries are only selling for $1.70 when normally they go for $2.50. However, Louis Bélisle, who supplies supermarkets, is expecting a decrease in prices next week as until now the demand exceeded the offer, so prices were “very high”.
Louis Bélisle says that Mexican workers arrived in Quebec in April for the harvest, but that the cold weather on Thursday morning made it hard work for them.
Pick-your-own strawberries will not start early this year, as they do not grow under plastic sheets, so strawberry lovers will have to wait until about the 24th June to pick their own.