VANCOUVER — Cool and rainy weather has delayed blueberry crops in B.C., and, as one of the world’s largest high-bush blueberry-producing regions in the world, it’s causing farmers to worry about the uncertainty of the season.
By the beginning of July, most blueberry crops are expected to mature, but, this year, farmers predict the blueberries won’t be ripe until the third week of July.
Organic berry farmer George Sidhu told CBC News that the delay of his crops might miss peak selling time. “It’s hard to say at this stage; it might be people will be turned off if it’s not ready in time,” he said.
On the other hand, Debbie Etsell, executive director of the B.C. Blueberry Council, assured The Vancouver Sun that crops need only about a week of sunshine to allow the berries to ripen, and less than one per cent are experiencing problems such as mould.
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