Art Choquette, a veteran in the blueberry industry from Sudbury, has observed the local blueberry season starting earlier than usual, attributing this change to climate conditions. He noted that his blueberry stand along Highway 69 began operations earlier this summer, marking an early blossom for the crop, approximately two weeks ahead of the typical schedule.
"This is the second time in the history of blueberries -- in 2021 we started on the 21st of June for the first time -- and this is the second time we started on the 28th of June," Choquette remarked, suggesting climate change as a possible factor.
Despite concerns due to a lack of snowfall last winter, which is crucial for blueberry cultivation, Choquette mentioned that a wet spring season played a pivotal role in sustaining this year's crop. "The spring turned out better than we figured because we need a lot of snow for the blueberries and we didn't get it," he explained. "But we got lots of rain and I think that's what saved our bacon." With favorable weather conditions, including adequate rainfall and sunshine, Choquette is optimistic about the ongoing blueberry season, potentially extending until the end of August, supported by positive feedback from pickers regarding the abundance of this year's yield.
Source: northernontario.ctvnews.ca