Cranberries & Blueberries 14.08.24

Wild Blueberries

The warm weather, sunshine, and occasional rain this past spring and early summer provided favourable growing conditions. In Quebec, the wild blueberry harvest kicked off historically early, starting in late July. However, a persistent heatwave in recent weeks has forced companies to limit harvesting to nighttime only, with some fields suffering from drought. A recent shift to cooler temperatures and rain has allowed the pace to pick up. While yields are slightly below expectations and the berries are smaller than usual, the harvest continues and will last for several more weeks. If conditions remain favourable, an average crop could still be achieved.

Cranberries

Despite a recent heatwave, early August saw frost protection measures as ground temperatures in certain bogs approached freezing. This season has been marked by extreme temperature fluctuations, heavy rain, and heat waves, all of which growers have managed quite well.

The upcoming conventional crop is looking promising; slightly above average. This is good news considering the increasing demand for the superfruit. In organic, the pressure of insect control is real and global volumes are decreasing significantly due to different factors, so a price increase is expected. All eyes are on Mother Nature in the upcoming weeks as plants are focused on growing the fruits and farmers are gearing up for the October harvest.

The upcoming conventional cranberry crop looks promising, with expectations slightly above average, a positive development given the growing demand for this superfruit. However, organic cranberry production faces challenges, particularly with insect control, leading to a significant decrease in global volumes and an anticipated price increase. As the October harvest approaches, all eyes are on Mother Nature to ensure the continued growth of the fruit.

The new 2024 crop is set to begin shipping in January 2025.

via Embleme Canneberge