Canada: P.E.I. strawberry growers face uncertainty as plants get hit with a mix of wet and dry conditions

CRAPAUD, P.E.I. — The future of the strawberry season is uncertain for some farmers in P.E.I. thanks to an unpredictable mix of weather conditions. Ben Boulter, the owner of Storehouse Farm, told SaltWire during an interview on July 4 that the strawberry season this year for their farm came to a standstill due to poor weather conditions during its peak ripening phase. “We’re definitely not seeing the quantity we want right now,” he said. With the number of strawberries potentially going to waste, Boulter told SaltWire, it’s now a waiting game. “Right now, we’re waiting for them to ripen up. And at the current rate, the strawberries are not as strong as last year,” Boulter said. There were also growing concerns about the struggles of being a farmer dealing with unexpected changes and circumstances. As a strawberry farmer, Boulter said he had already prepared for the next season by planting the seeds. “This is our livelihood. If we don’t get enough income, we have to find another ...