Will smoke from Canadian wildfires have an impact on vegetable crop quality?

Canadian wildfires are impacting air quality in the Northeast U.S. Smoke has filled the sky and warnings issued for outdoor activities. This is making many growers around the Northeast worried about the potential impact the smoke will have on field grown vegetables. The good news is the impact will be minimal at worst, research confirms. Smoke-filled skies decrease sunlight and reduce photosynthesis, but to a small degree and temporarily. Despite the shade, there is still enough diffused light penetrating the smoke to maintain growth. Smoke typically does not block the pores in the leaf (stomata) where photosynthesis happens. The most important thing growers can do is maintain good soil moisture by optimizing irrigation. This will keep the pores open and clean. The drought conditions this spring are likely to cause more of a problem than the smoke. Concerns that leafy greens and other commodities will pick up a smoky flavor are unwarranted. Recent research done in California after ...