Wild blueberry growers in Canada's Maritime provinces are reporting severe crop losses following a summer marked by heat and prolonged drought.
On Prince Edward Island, estimates suggest yields fell by about 13 per cent, with some areas more heavily affected. "There's a lot of stress and worry out there. It's got a really big impact because we're farming a wild crop. You really are at the mercy of Mother Nature for a lot of this," said JoAnn Pineau, executive director of the P.E.I. Wild Blueberry Growers Association. She noted that while yields can also decline due to pollination challenges or late frost, the dry conditions dominated this season, limiting berry size.
In New Brunswick, the impact has been greater. "It's pure devastation," said Donald Arsenault, general manager of Bleuets NB Blueberries. He reported that almost 70 per cent of the crop was lost. Average output in the province over the past three years was around 68 million pounds, but this year's harvest is expected to be 22 to 24 million pounds, a shortfall of more than 40 million.
Arsenault also pointed to a provincewide burn ban earlier this year, which halted harvesting on Crown land for about one week to reduce fire risks. With a harvest window of only three to five weeks, he described the stoppage as a major disruption. Bleuets NB is preparing a request for provincial financial relief for growers.
Nova Scotia growers are also facing losses. "We are down about 55 per cent provincewide," said Janette McDonald, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia. She estimated production at about 20 million pounds, compared with a typical 45 million.
On Prince Edward Island, some producers face additional financial pressure. Production costs average around US$0.44 per pound, higher than processor field prices, which range from US$0.29 to US$0.37 per pound. Pineau said most growers depend on selling volume to large processors to offset the gap, but reduced yields this year will make profitability difficult. "It's a big challenge for them. And it means they have to change a business model from what they've been doing for maybe decades," she said.
Despite the supply decline, retail prices have not shifted, which Pineau described as favorable for consumers but another squeeze on growers. That could change once final yield figures are released in early October.
Source: CTV News