Ontario strawberry growers report strong early-season demand

Some strawberry growers are getting a head start on the season. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte has a taste of what to expect.

Ontario strawberry season is officially underway, with growers and vendors across the province reporting strong early demand for locally grown berries.

The first Tuesday of the summer market season at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market drew shoppers looking for one of the most anticipated signs of summer: fresh Ontario strawberries.

At Thorne Farms, based in Simcoe, owner Kathy Thorne said favourable weather conditions have helped give the crop an early start.

“It’s earlier because it’s warmer,” Thorne said.

Located closer to Lake Erie, the farm’s strawberries are ripening about one to two weeks ahead of growers in other parts of the province.

“People around here are like, ‘Mine are not ready yet.’ Well ours are,” she said.

At Yolanda Fruits in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the season has unfolded a little differently.

“Everything’s been stalled back a little bit, but it’s been pretty interesting honestly,” said Shaelyn Nedeljkovich.

Despite a slower start, Nedeljkovich said the berries have developed well and caught up in size.

She also said customers are increasingly asking where their fruit is grown, with many prioritizing Canadian products, especially because Yolanda Fruits does sell American berries.

“The main question we get the most is depending on where they’re from,” Nedeljkovich said. “It’s really hard to sell U.S. strawberries because of what happened with Donald Trump and all that stuff.”

In Heidelberg, Hoffman’s Strawberries is just beginning what operators describe as a short but busy season.

“Usually lasts about four to five weeks, so we should be good until the middle of July,” said Asha Cox of Hoffman’s Strawberries.

A cooler spring kept the crop on schedule, while last week’s hot weather accelerated ripening.

The farm plans to open its pick-your-own strawberry fields next weekend, giving visitors the chance to harvest their own fruit.

“It’s certainly the pleasure of choosing your own fruit, the ripeness you want, the flavour you want,” Cox said.

With local strawberries now arriving at markets, roadside stands and farms across Ontario, growers said the next few weeks will be the peak of the season, and likely one of its busiest periods.

As always, the window is short, but for strawberry lovers, it should be a sweet few weeks ahead.