JULY 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Weather ideal for early start to
strawberries Growers anticipate good yields and prices
by RONDA PAYNE LANGLEY—Strawberry
growers in the Fraser Valley are thankful yields are looking good despite a blast of cold weather in February that damaged other fruit crops. Alf Krause of Krause Berry
Farms and Estate Winery in Langley notes that the first fruit was ready in mid-May, two weeks earlier than expected. “Everbearing starts first,
then we’ll be going on to the June ones, so we’ll be going for three to four weeks on those,” he says. “Then come mid-July, the everbearing kicks in again to take us full in to September.” Krause’s everbearing varieties have delivered good-quality berries with good flavour, although the fruit is smaller than usual. Everbearing spring yields were average to a little above average for most growers. June-bearing varieties are sizing up well and should also be of good quality and average to above-average yields. They started early as well and finished about a week early (making for a condensed season) due to the dry heat. So far, the season isn’t exceptional, but is holding its own. Weather will be the deciding factor in how the next wave of everbearing berries turn out. “I think it’s going to be an
average to above-average year,” says Krause. “Our fields are looking the best they’ve looked over the last 10 years. We’re happy.” Krause says growers are
grateful that strawberries weren’t affected by the Arctic inflows that delivered cold temperatures and snow in February. Raspberries were hit hard, with Meeker plantings set to deliver no more than half their usual production levels. “Maybe we did have enough insulation of snow to protect [strawberries] more,” he says. “For whatever reason, it didn’t do any damage. Maybe it made the field better.” Krause anticipates
strawberry pricing to be up about 5% from last year. According to Rhonda Driediger of Driediger Farms,
fresh berries are anticipated to sell at about $2.25 to $3 per pound. The increase Krause is
predicting will help offset production costs that have continued to increase. One of the bigger impacts to growers is the June 1 increase to the minimum wage to $13.85 an hour, following an increase to $12.65 a year ago. The cost of labour is
particularly significant for growers of strawberries, which can’t be machine- harvested like other berries.
Fresh BC strawberries aren’t exclusive to the Fraser Valley. Bilga Farms in Kelowna is one of just a few commercial growers in the Okanagan. It was selling fresh-picked berries from its roadside stand in early June. [MYRNA STARK LEADER PHOTO]
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