Wet June delays Saskatoon berry season in Saskatchewan, boosts haskaps

Saskatoon berry season is off to a slow start across Saskatchewan due to a prolonged wet and cool June. Farmers typically begin harvesting this popular berry in early July, but this year, the season is delayed by at least a week in many areas.

“

Normally you’d already be in the thick of harvest for Saskatoons, but it looks like we’re going to be another week or maybe more in some cases, and it depends where you are in the province.

Forrest Scharf, the province's fruit crops specialist, told Global News that cooler spring temperatures and significant rainfall have impacted crop development. He suggested that the plants might be physiologically primed to delay ripening after experiencing "four or five different winters." While some areas, particularly in the southwest, may see earlier ripening, those in the northeast are further behind.

“

We sort of experienced about four or five different winters, and I think it may have sort of physiologically primed the plants to hold off just in case we were to get another cold period.

Meanwhile, haskap berries are thriving. Peter Rhodes, a berry farmer south of Saskatoon, noted that his haskaps are growing significantly larger than usual, likely benefiting from the higher moisture levels. Scharf confirmed that haskaps, which ripen earlier than Saskatoon berries, are doing well, with the increased moisture mimicking the plant's native Japanese environment.

“

It’s a good crop, and they’re a bit bigger berries than normal this year.

However, not all crops are faring as well. Charles Sudom, president of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, reported challenges with strawberries due to excessively wet fields in May and strong winds. He also anticipates a poor yield for his sour cherry crops.

“

Which, of course, typically has more rainfall than what we would experience here in Saskatchewan, and so some of those plants are probably naturally over eons of time selected for having a moisture environment.