Cold, wet spring forces family farm southeast of Montreal to adapt

The Vergers Pierre Tremblay et Fils is about 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal. (Anastasia Dextrene/CTV News)

It’s strawberry fields forever at Vergers Pierre Tremblay et Fils, about 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal.

“We’ve been in berry production since 1998,” says co-owner of the farm, Luc Tremblay.

Growing strawberries, blueberries and other crops on the 35-hectare property has been a family affair for four generations. Over time, his crops have endured weather patterns of all sorts, but this year, “the cooler weather and temperature has been unpredictable. There has also been a lot of water,” he said.

Sure enough, Tremblay has had to adapt.

The farm planted its strawberries last fall, when the crop is typically seeded. The strawberries were then covered with a tarp to create a make-shift greenhouse in the winter. Come early spring, they were pollinated in time to bloom in June.

What was inconvenient this season was having to remove and reinstall the tarp repeatedly, Tremblay said.

Once removed for pollination in the day, it had to be reinstalled to protect from frost at night.

However, according to the Quebec Association of Strawberry and Raspberry Producers (APFFQ), “strawberries are not like other crops, such as sweet corn, where growers need sunny days to be able to plant.”

They say sun, just enough rain and warmth are the ideal conditions needed for strawberry farming and despite temperature swings, the fields are in good condition.

The same can be said of Tremblay’s crops, as he prepares for the thousands of berry-pickers to grace his fields.