N.S. strawberry growers might bear brunt of berry bumper crop south of the border
The strawberries aren't ready yet, but they’re getting there.
“We’re about 10 days away from picking this field,” says Nova Scotia farmer William Spurr.
Strawberry farmers like Spurr could be facing competition on the supermarket shelves this season.
“It’s very rare that you see farmers, our farmers, competing against imported strawberries at the same time,” says Sylvain Charlebois, head of Dalhousie University’s analytics lab.
The reason is simple: some American growers have too many berries on their hands.
“Right now, California has had a bumper crop. They exported over $60 million worth of strawberries, a lot of it is coming to Canada,” Charlebois says.
An abundant supply typically means lower prices. Charlebois says the cost of living may push consumers toward the cheaper berry and away from the local product.
A Nova Scotia strawberry field is pictured. (Jonathan MacInnis/CTV Atlantic)
“Right now food inflation is a big issue for a lot of people. The reality is that a lot of people just can’t afford some of these berries, so they’ll go to the local grocery store and buy the cheapest berries they can,” he says/
“It might affect the price, but it really depends a lot on the grocery stores. If the grocery stores bring a lot of berries, then it will affect us,” says Spurr.
Spurr grows strawberries on two acres on his farm in Wilmot, Nova Scotia, and he recently planted a third. He sees one advantage local berries have over all the rest.
“The berries here are fresh and that’s the biggest factor is that you get the flavor,” he says.
A flower in Nova Scotia is pictured. (Jonathan MacInnis/CTV Atlantic)
Spurr is also the president of Horticulture Nova Scotia and he notes imported berries don't ripen on the plant.
“We are picking them completely ripe. When you’re getting a berry from California they’re not ripe 100 per cent. They ripen at the time that they get here so the flavour is not quite there,” he says.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers
As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
U.S. announces nearly US$1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine
The United States will provide nearly US$1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday.
New plan made to refloat cargo ship stuck in St. Lawrence River for two weeks
Officials say they have come up with a new plan to refloat a large cargo ship that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River two weeks ago after previous efforts to move the vessel were unsuccessful.
Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case
A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals.