Last year’s drought impacts this year’s berry season in Saskatchewan

The u-pick season at the Berry Barn in Saskatoon wrapped up last week, after a late start due to this spring’s cool, rainy weather.

Co-owner Grant Erlandson said the amount of saskatoon berries this year was a bit below average, but on par with recent summers with drought conditions.

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“Only the quality was way better this year,” he said. “We had very good quality, bigger berries and stuff, and I contribute that to all the rain we had in June.”

He said last year’s drought had a big impact on this year’s yield, as new growth in the fall indicates crop potential.

“When it’s a drought they don’t put out a whole lot of new growth and they basically stay in a survival mode,” he said. “I was hoping with enough rain next  year we’d have a better crop, but it’s kind of almost gone back to that drought again where we haven’t seen the rain.”

Although saskatoon berry u-pick season is over, the Berry Barn has pre-picked strawberries and raspberries for people to enjoy.