Local Raspberries join the Strawberries and Saskatoons

This has been an incredibly challenging growing season for farmers. Some of my growers have guesstimated a 40% crop loss. What with the freezing spring (literally, many whole vegetable fields had to be replanted several times because they froze out), cool nights, heavy rains etc etc... it's a wonder that we have anything at all this summer. But my brave farmers are carrying on, what else can they do.

The local raspberry season has now begun. Cool weather may be keeping the berries from ripening on mass but it's also keeping the quality high with firm berries that don't leak. When the weather gets super hot, the delicate little red droplets that make up the berry break down and juice out no matter what you do. This cool weather may not be great for getting crops to grow, but at least the raspberry quality will be high because of it (glass half full).

Early season raspberries will produce for about 2 weeks. Once they are finished, the fall bearing varieties start to produce. Fall bearing raspberries are usually larger, more firm and prettier than the smaller more delicate summer season berries.

I will be receiving my first shipment of Manitoba grown beans tomorrow. It's taking their pickers much longer than expected, but there are finally a few beans out in the field to harvest. Hopefully within a week or so, quantities will be high enough for case lot sales for those customers who are wanting to can or freeze for the winter.

We anticipate the shelled pea season to start shortly. Give us a call at the market and we'll put you on our 'to call' list when we know which dates the already shelled peas will arrive.

So that brings our local produce count up to
Baby Dill
New Potatoes
Salad Cucumbers
Lettuces
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Bunched Carrots
Lettuces
Strawberries
Raspberries
Saskatoons
Rhubarb (season ending soon)
Beans
Pod Peas
Garlic
Bunched Onions
Not bad for an exceedingly cool summer.

Take Care
Erin