Supplies of Ontario strawberries look strong.
“We just started our June crop here more than a week ago. The picking is tremendous right now. We’re also about a week off of raspberry season as well,” says David Phillips of Avonmore Berry Farm in Avonmore, Ont.
Phillips says while the volume is coming on, the season is getting off to a slightly later start. “We’re about eight days behind the normal season for berries. It was a very cold spring. We had extremely cold weather all spring long and a lot of rain,” says Phillips. “The cold and the wet ground was a challenge. Things were backed up and behind a little bit but we’re back on track now.”
That said, the rain has had a positive effect on the strawberries. “Strawberries like water and we had sufficient water this spring. So what we’re picking right now, the sizing is very, very good,” says Phillips.
Volume picking up
He notes that to date, volume is less right now. “But the volume is there because the green fruit is there. It’s just a matter of more ripening,” he says. “Now we’re into a heat wave here for a few days so that will change things very quickly again.” He also notes that while normally the strawberries go into the third week of July, this year he may see the berries go until the first week of August.
Meanwhile demand is strong for local berries. “Demand is tremendous. Because of the late start, there’s a real pent-up demand,” says Phillips. “And this year it’s just local berries we’re competing with. Last year, California berries were coming on the shelves of our local stores in our berry season and it wasn’t very good for some of the wholesalers. It’s pretty much non-existent this year.”
However pricing is staying the same as last year for Avonmore and Phillips notes that while the volume is steady, in the next few days it should hit peak volume and stay at that level.
For more information:
David Phillips
Avonmore Berry Farm
Tel: +1 (613) 346-2336
avonmoreberryfarm@sympatico.ca
http://www.avonmoreberryfarm.com/