In Prince Edward Island, blueberry cultivators are grappling with escalating equipment expenses and the impacts of climate change, which are eroding their profit margins and reducing field prices.
Benny Nabuurs, head of the P.E.I. Wild Blueberry Growers Association, highlighted the discrepancy between soaring input costs and plummeting blueberry prices. The province witnessed a significant reduction in blueberry production by nearly 50% in 2023, with an estimated yield of 19.6 million pounds over 7,000 acres.
Despite the decreased supply, field prices have halved from the previous year, dropping from 70 cents to 35 cents per pound. The weather-sensitive nature of wild blueberries, coupled with their brief harvest period and lengthy maturation phase, compels farmers to reconsider their investment in fertilizers and other essential inputs, potentially diminishing yields. Nabuurs remains hopeful for an adjustment in field prices by 2024 to sustain quality production. The volatile nature of wild crops poses considerable challenges for financial planning among growers, as noted by JoAnn Pineau, the association's executive manager.
Source: saltwire.com