The Prairie Fruit Growers Association says in a media release that “tasty, delicious, and local Made in Manitoba berries are here again.”
They say “the hot spring weather has brought on a slightly earlier season for picking berries than in the past couple of years. Some berry farms like Haskap and Strawberries are open already with more opening in the next week. Expect Saskatoon berries the beginning of July at many farms, with Raspberries and Sour
Cherries not far behind.”
The Prairie Fruit Growers Association website features the province’s berry farms, and they’re encouraging anyone who wants to go and pick berries to:
1) Visit www.pfga.com for an up-to-date status for all types of fruit.
2) On the day they are wanting to go pick, customers should always double check with the farm to make sure they are still open. Local weather events or large volumes of customers can sometimes result in the farm having to change it’s plans and close last minute.
They say with the heat this week, strawberries will be ripening quickly. “The best time to pick berries is in the morning or in the evening when the berries are cooler.” suggests Philip Ronald, Haskap and Saskatoon grower and President of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association. “Try to put your picked berries in a cooler for the ride home, then cool them in the refrigerator as soon as possible.” Some berry farms may pause picking in the afternoon when it is too hot to pick berries.
For Manitoba producers favourite berry recipes head to www.pfga.com
