Apple season is beginning earlier than usual on Prince Edward Island, with some orchards opening U-pick operations ahead of schedule as fruit drops prematurely after a dry summer.
At Wintermoor Orchard in York, workers were clearing fallen apples that under normal conditions would still be on trees. Co-owner Mark Ashley said, "That we're open a full week early, that's really quite telling," noting that their U-pick typically starts in mid-September.
Ashley had previously adapted orchard planning for warmer conditions in the 1990s, planting larger trees with deeper root systems to retain soil moisture and resist storm damage. This season, however, nearly three months of limited rainfall combined with record-high temperatures left trees stressed. "If there's no water to start with, then there's nothing to save, so it's been a tough one," he said.
In neighbouring Nova Scotia, similar conditions delayed rather than advanced harvest, with drought stunting fruit growth and pushing back the start of the apple season.
Other crops have also been affected. At Arlington Orchards north of Miscouche, peach crops required irrigation to continue growing. Co-owner Barry Balsom said later plantings are sizing well, but earlier fruit is smaller than average. "It was a lot of work, but we managed to save the crop," he said.
According to Aitazaz Farooque, director of the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at the University of Prince Edward Island, dry spells are impacting yield and quality across multiple crops. "It will certainly impact the yield and quality of pretty much all the crops. And at the end of the day, that's going to impact the profitability of the farmers," he said. He added that rainfall patterns are changing, with more precipitation coming in the fall, and called for improved early warning and forecasting systems.
Despite the pressures, Ashley noted that the orchard remains open for visitors, with varieties such as Williams' Pride available for picking this weekend.
Source: CTV News
