Edmunds was ready to retire, and this was the final straw.

“Why keep doing it?” she said.

They finished out the raspberry picking season and pulled the plug.

It’s not a farm’s sob story, according to her — she was going to retire anyway. Instead, she said, it’s a clear illustration of the lack of risk management supports for fruit farmers in Manitoba and a general lack of provincial work toward climate adaptation.

Why it matters: Berry producers say lack of business risk management supports left them in a lurch this year when Mother Nature entered the ring with a vengeance.

Unlike most crops grown in Manitoba, strawberries and other fruits can’t be insured against regular crop loss. Strawberries can be insured against hail and wildlife damage, and strawberries and saskatoons can be insured against losses while they’re being established.

The Prairie Fruit Growers Association (PFGA) has been asking the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) for a crop loss or acreage loss insurance program for years, according to executive director Angie Cormier.

“We are progressing,” Cormier said. “When I look back to where we were five years ago when Darren (her husband) and I came into this role, we’ve definitely made progress… but it’s slow.”

What insurance exists comes from successful PFGA lobbying, for instance.

The difficulty is finding a program that can work for multiple fruit crops, each with its own issues and different valuations per acre.

It is their hope that other provinces, which already have fruit insurance programs, might provide templates for an eventual Manitoba program. British Columbia, for instance, insures berry crops against hail, frost, excessive moisture and drought, according to that province’s website. Strawberry plants can also be insured for their first two winters while tree fruits like cherries and apples have their own insurance program. Nova Scotia also insures blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and tree fruits.

MASC isn’t stonewalling fruit producers, said David Van Deynze, MASC’s chief client officer.

“It’s not that there’s an unwillingness,” he said. “It’s just we maybe need to be a little bit more creative.”

It’s been difficult to get consensus on what an effective program looks like, he added.

“That becomes even more problematic for us because there’s not a huge number of berry growers and not a huge number of acres, so if we develop a program that only 20 per cent of the people want, man, we’re down to insuring two or three people,” Van Deynze said.

Cormier acknowledged that the industry doesn’t have a lot of growers. At the same time, she argued, fruit carries a high value per acre.

However, it may be hard to find a program that works for everyone, she agreed.

AgriStability may be an option for berry farmers, Edmunds said — though she wasn’t aware of it until recently. Ideally farms would have a suite of programs at their disposal.

“A grain farm can have AgriStability but also crop insurance,” Edmunds said. “There’s other types of insurance that other farmers benefit from that we don’t.”

Season of loss

This year, berry farmers could have used the help.

They’ve just come through a season of what Cormier describes as likely some of the worst losses in the last decade.

Late this spring, the Co-operator reported some farms had suffered winterkill due to lack of snow, while others were set back by a late-spring frost.

By early July, media outlets like CBC, Global News and the Winnipeg Free Press were also running stories on the tough season and decreased yields on Manitoba berry farms.

The trouble started in winter, Edmunds said. January and February saw spates of temperatures above zero, which allowed snow to melt and trickle down among the plants. When -30 C or -40 C days resumed, the moisture froze and suffocated the plants, Edmunds said. Ice crystals may have also damaged the plant tops.

It’s not the high temperatures or the low, but the fluctuations between them that likely caused the winterkill, said Edmunds.

Farmers can only expect more volatility due to climate change, she argued, and added that government policy, such as more serious attention on water retention projects to hold water back on land, ought to prepare for it.

“Everyone just thinks, ‘Oh my goodness,’ we’ve got a flood. Oh my goodness, we’ve got a drought.’ And that’s all they say,” Edmunds said.

The province is in the midst of updating its water management strategy, which will likely include policy toward more efficient water use, according to preliminary reports recently released.

Food policy needed?

“Having ability to be able to manage and experience those extremes but also not have farm failure is of critical importance,” said Ian Mauro, executive director of the Prairie Climate Centre.

“This summer is showing us that in spades,” he added.

The top levels of science have indicated that food and water security may be some of the most dramatic changes to prepare for in coming years, said Mauro, adding that policy interventions are needed so farmers can stay viable.

A tighter relationship between farmers and ‘eaters’ can cause more awareness and therefore greater public support for policy that helps farm families, he added.

A local food strategy and more food production and processing near home may also be key to planning ahead for climate volatility, Mauro said.

More precise farming methods may also offset some risks.

For MASC, weather volatility hasn’t necessarily caused a huge upswing in crop insurance payouts for conventional field crops, Van Deynze said. Last year was quite dry, yet cereal and canola yields were average to above average.

Farmers, meanwhile, are incredibly precise with equipment and fertilization and that reduces risks, he argued.

“We are finding that science and farming practices are helping to offset those impacts,” he said.

Based on the last decade of data, “It’s not obvious to us that we should be more concerned about risk from a weather perspective,” Van Deynze said.

The post Fruit farmers call for better insurance safety net appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“Huge demand, not enough supply,” said Angie Cormier, who farms with husband Darren near La Salle. “Everyone has just seen an increase in customer flow.”

The uptick in strawberry demand led a fellow grower to compare it to the recent run on toilet paper, said Cormier.

At Boonstra Farms, near Stonewall, one Facebook user posted a picture of a lineup of over 20 cars waiting to enter the farm at 8:25 in the morning on July 16. Another person chimed in that the wait was even longer when she arrived.

Cormier said they had people line up at 6:30 in the morning one day. They opened to pick at eight.

She suspected people were just looking for something to do, and strawberry picking is an outdoor, family-friendly activity.

Earlier this year it wasn’t clear if U-pick berry farms would be able to open. Cormier, who is an executive director of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association, said March and April were busy as PFGA worked with its growers and the province to put together a plan and regulations.

The organization developed a standard set of safety regulations for U-picks. These regulations included not allowing fruit to be eaten in the field, and requiring handwashing before and after picking.

Cormier said for the most part people respected the rules.

Sourcing handwashing stations proved hard, said Cormier. They began searching for them in March and weren’t able to buy them. Cormier’s father designed and built stations for the farm — complete with a sink made from a large plastic funnel, and a foot pump that brought water from a large plastic garbage can through a spout.

PFGA set up an online appointment system so, if growers chose, they could have customers book picking times as a way to control the flow of customers and maintain distance between people.

Cormier said they used a combination of appointment and walk-up.

“You can’t please everybody is what we found,” she said. “Some people didn’t like waiting in line. Some people didn’t like the appointment system because we booked up really quickly. So I think we did the best that we could with the situation that we were dealt.”

As well as limiting customers in, to spread people out the farm opened all sections of the strawberry fields at once (they would usually open one section at a time). Cormier said this required having 10 more staff than usual on picking days.

Not all farms had a banner year. Friedensfeld Honey and Berry farm, near Steinbach, saw its berry crop completely wiped out by hail.

“Half of it looked like someone drove over it with a lawn mower,” co-owner Andy Loewen told local paper The Carillon.

Last year’s wet fall followed by a cool spring delayed strawberry growth, said Cormier. Windy weather also affected strawberry size, she added.

Poor plant establishment last year and a windy spring led to a small crop, Grunthal Berries reported on its site.

The post Strawberry business booms after slow start appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

PFGA, which represents 70 U-pick farms in Manitoba, has been working with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development fruit crops specialist, Anthony Mintenko, to develop COVID-19 guidelines.

“Some of the recommended guidelines for customers will be to wash your hands before entering and when leaving the farm, maintaining physical distancing, and no large groups,” Mintenko said in the news release.

Guidelines listed on the province’s website ask people travelling to U-pick farms to limit how many people come with them into the field, to sanitize hands before and after going onto the field, and to maintain physical distancing.

It also states that people should not eat berries in the field as this is a transmission concern.

The province has also set guidelines for farm owners, including handwashing protocols and other sanitization procedures for their farm and farm workers.

In addition to the guidelines, PFGA is working on setting up an appointment booking system on its website which will help farms manage physical distancing.

“Some farms may need assistance in controlling the flow of people,” said PFGA president Colleen Edmunds in the release. “By setting up this optional appointment system, it provides our farmers with a tool to help maintain physical distancing.”

“We wanted to set these guidelines up to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to continue to provide safe food in a safe environment,” said PFGA executive director Angie Cormier.

“We also think there might be an increase in the demand for pre-picked berries so we’re working on setting up an online store for those farms that will need it,” said PFGA director Philip Ronald.

Ronald, who owns Riverbend Orchards near Portage la Prairie, has set up an online store on his farm’s site, listing haskap berry plants and products made from the farm’s berries. They’ll list more products later in the summer, Ronald said.

“The idea is that clients can reduce their time on site by pre-ordering,” he told the Co-operator.

Haskap, saskatoons, strawberries, raspberries and sour cherries are expected to be ready for picking mid- to late June, PFGA said. Because practices will vary based on each farm’s specific needs, the association advises customers to contact their local farm before heading out to pick.

The post U-pick operations to open with safety precautions appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Whether you get fresh produce from your garden, a riverbank, a local U-pick, a farmers’ market or a grocery store, planning your preserves will help you make the most of the upcoming bounty.

Creating a plan

It may sound odd to schedule when you’re going to pickle; most of us just do it when the cukes are ready. But if your life is busier than usual and doesn’t follow the cucumber’s schedule, it pays to make a plan for preserving.

For example, if I want to pick and freeze Manitoba blueberries this summer, I’ll have to be ready late July or early August. But we’re also celebrating a family wedding late July. If I don’t plan a trip now, there’s a good chance blueberry season will pass me by again. So, I’ve scheduled a trip to the Whiteshell for end of July.

For those of you who are even more detailed, you can keep a notebook and write down everything beginning with how much of everything you’d like to preserve, how much produce you’ll need to buy, pick or grow, where you’re going to get your produce, your favourite recipes and so on. If you’re growing most of your own produce, you can even co-ordinate your preserving with your gardening. For example, you could choose early- or late-maturing cucumbers and count the days to maturity to try to work around other summertime events.

Plant timing

Peak seasons for fruits and veggies come and go quickly. It pays to know when you can expect them to be available so you can preserve them while they’re at their best. For charts outlining when you can expect fruits and vegetables to be at their peak in the Prairies visit www.gettystewart.com.

If you’re heading to a U-pick farm, it’s best to visit its website or call ahead to see how things are progressing. Exact dates vary every year, just like any crop, fruits and veggies are weather dependent. The Prairie Fruit Grower’s Association’s website lists all the fruit growers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

A good rule of thumb for preserving is to get fruits during the middle of the season.

You also have to commit. Once you pick it or buy it, the quicker you preserve your produce the better. For example, to get the crunchiest dill pickles, plan on pickling the same day as you harvest.

Can or freeze?

Choosing whether to can or freeze your bounty is a personal preference. It’s all about what you like to eat and how you like to eat it. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to always follow safe, tested preserving practices. Not only will you end up with superior, longer-lasting food, you’ll also eliminate any risk of food poisoning. For recipes and safe preserving practices visit The National Centre for Home Food Preservation.

Freezing is an easy and safe method of preserving produce. Fruit can be frozen after being washed and cut while most vegetables require blanching (boiling in hot water) for a brief time before freezing. Blanching destroys the enzymes responsible for aging thereby keeping the colour, texture and flavour of vegetables stable for at least a year.

Canning is required whenever a jar of food is prepared for shelf storage. High-acid foods like fruit, fruit juice, jam, jelly, pickles, pickled vegetables, tomatoes and salsa with added acid should be processed in a hot water bath. Low-acid foods like vegetables (not pickled), soups, blended vegetable sauces and any food with meat, poultry or fish must be processed using a pressure canner to eliminate the risk of botulism, a potentially deadly illness. I like canning fruit, fruit juice, jams, jellies, pickles, tomatoes and salsa using the hot water bath method. Because I do not like the texture or colour of canned vegetables, I do not can any vegetables unless making pickled veggies like the pickled beets below.

Have you thought and planned what and how you’re going to preserve this year’s bounty?

Pickled Beets

• 4 lbs. of beets (12-16 medium beets – about three inches in diameter)
• 1 c. water
• 2 c. vinegar
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. pickling or kosher salt 2 tbsp. pickling spice

Trim beet tops leaving a bit of the greens and root tip to reduce bleeding. Wash and scrub well. Place in large pot, cover with water, bring to boil then simmer until tender, 30 minutes. Remove from water and cool beets so you can trim and remove peel. Cut into 1/4-inch slices.

While beets are cooking, fill canner with water so that jars will be covered by an inch of water.

Check jars for cracks, wash with warm soapy water, rinse well and place in canner.

Heat jars in canner (no need to sterilize) and keep hot until needed. Wash lids.

In large pot, combine water, vinegar, sugar, salt and pickling spice. Bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes until salt and sugar are dissolved.

Add beets to brine and heat 5 minutes.

Tightly pack beet slices from brine into hot jars to within 3/4 inch of rim. Add hot brine to cover beets. Remove any air bubbles and add more brine, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.

Wipe rim with clean cloth and seal with sealing lid. Screw band on top and tighten finger tight.

Process in hot water bath for 30 minutes for both pint (500-ml) or quart (1-l) jars. Add 5 minutes to cooking times for altitudes between 1,000-3,000 feet (that’s you — Brandon, Treherne, Swan River, Russell, Souris, Glenboro, Neepawa, Boissevain, Pilot Mound, Manitou and others — Google your elevation).

Makes four pint (500-ml) jars.

Recipe from www.gettystewart.com.

The post Planning your preserves appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

There are relatively few fruit and vegetable growers, plus those producing sod, other nursery crops such as flowers and trees, and greenhouse operations — yet together their production is worth roughly $100 million annually to the provincial economy.

These farms also pay about $25 million annually in taxes to all three levels of government, generate 1,300 full- and part-time jobs, and pay out about $50 million in yearly wages.

It all comes from just 231 farms which together span about 9,500 field acres — plus 3.18 million sq. ft. worth of greenhouse space.

The numbers come from the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics report Manitoba Economic Impact Assessment of Current Horticultural Production released in November and revealing for the first time the extent of this exceptionally high-value production in Manitoba.

Why it matters: This is a first-ever report revealing horticultural production as an exceptionally high-value industry produced on fewer than 10,000 acres in Manitoba.

It’s information that shows the value of an industry not taking up much space but generating a lot of revenues for the economy, say provincial industry specialists.

“It’s not like we have a million acres of horticultural crops… but start looking at the multiplier effects on an acreage basis… they’re significantly larger than agriculture in general,” said Tom Gonsalves, vegetable specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

The data, based on averages of the 2011 and 2016 Census of Agriculture, shows there are in total 135 vegetable and fruit farms, 12 farms producing sod and another 84 producing other nursery products such as trees or shrubbery, plus an additional 136 farms reporting greenhouse production.

The MBS report estimates current Manitoba horticultural production includes about 5,000 acres of fruit and vegetables, 2,900 acres of sod, 1,600 acres of other nursery products, plus these greenhouse operations.

These are numbers we’ve not had until now, and it offers an important glimpse of an industry we haven’t known much about to date.

They’ve been asking to get some numbers generated because until now only ‘best guesses’ were available on some of this data, said Anthony Mintenko, fruit crops specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

“We just didn’t have numbers that we were confident in,” he said.

And while neither he nor Gonsalves call the numbers surprising, per se, given their familiarity with their respective sectors, both say the numbers are certainly notable even to them.

“The fact the total value of production is in that $100-million mark… it was unexpected that it was that high,” said Mintenko.

That total comes from the gross revenues these operations are generating, including $6,000 per acre for fruit and vegetable production, $2,200 per acre from sod production, and $15,700 per acre for other nursery products, $11.50 per sq. ft. in greenhouses.

These are, however, expensive crops to produce, too. Total operating expenditures are estimated at $4,700 an acre of fruit or vegetables, $1,330 an acre for sod production, $13,800 an acre for other nursery products, and $9.50 per sq. ft. of greenhouse area.

Direct operating expenditures required to achieve this level of output are estimated at $80 million per year, with roughly 40 per cent as direct labour costs.

That number certainly shows how key the labour component is for horticultural crops, say the provincial specialists.

“Commercial vegetable production doesn’t happen in Manitoba without a large labour force,” said Gonsalves. “It requires a huge number of employees.”

The report shows the industry overall creating a combination of both on- and off-farm employment, including 900 directly related jobs plus over 400 others in spinoff employment.

A portion of direct and seasonal on-farm jobs are held by foreign workers — findings show one in three are — although the report notes there wasn’t sufficient survey data to estimate total foreign workers.

Vegetable and fruit farms specifically generated on average 6.14 full-time equivalent jobs with 1.33 held by local workers and 2.04 by foreign workers, the report says.

Greenhouse production creates on average 10.2 full-time equivalent jobs, including 4.87 year round and 5.33 seasonal jobs, with 3.42 held by local workers and 1.91 by foreign workers.

The report was commissioned by Manitoba Agriculture and will be used in policy-making for the industry.

The report was supported with funds from Growing Forward supporting its development.

Study data was collected using an online survey of Manitoba horticultural producers, including members of the Manitoba Landscape and Nursery Association, Prairie Fruit Growers Association, and the Vegetable Growers Association of Manitoba.

Revenue and expenditures

Gross yearly revenue from horticultural operation in Manitoba:

• Veg and fruit $6,000 per acre
• Other nursery products $15,700 per acre
• Sod production $2,200 per acre
• Greenhouse production $11.20 per sq. foot

Direct operating expenditures per acre:

• Veg and fruit $4,700
• Other nursery crops $13,800
• Sod production $1,330
• Greenhouse production $9.50 per sq. ft.

Source: Manitoba Bureau of Statistics

The post New report spotlights high-value horticulture appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

We have apples, cherries, choke­cherries, crabapples, currants, gooseberries, grapes, has­kaps or honeyberries, melons, pears, plums, raspberries, saskatoons, strawberries and many more. It’s enough to make one’s mouth water.

Our beautiful, jewel-coloured fruit is high in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients making it both delicious and nutritious. And yes, some of our fruit is a little tart, but that’s what makes it so unique and ideal for using in both sweet and savoury dishes.

From barbecue sauce to salads, pies to muffins and jams to juice, Prairie fruit has a lot to offer and picking season has already begun.

If you don’t have fruit growing in your yard or if you don’t know of a secret spot to pick wild chokecherries or saskatoons, the best way to get access to fresh, local Prairie fruit is through a U-pick farm. In Manitoba, there are over 30 U-pick farms offering strawberries, raspberries, saskatoons and tree fruit such as sour cherries, apples and plums. Some farms also offer haskaps or honeyberries, asparagus, garlic and other vegetables.

The Prairie Fruit Growers Association (PFGA), a non-profit organization representing Manitoba fruit growers, has a newly launched website (www.pfga.com) featuring an interactive map of all U-pick farms from Swan River to Reinland. Unique icons represent the type of fruit available, pinpoint farm locations, provide detailed contact information and list a description of each farm. A visit to the PFGA website is a great start to planning your fruit picking.

Angie Cormier, executive director of the PFGA said last week “the fruit is looking good and growers are excited to welcome pickers to their farms.” If conditions stay hot and sunny, she anticipates strawberry picking will be in full swing during the first two weeks of July. Strawberry season is quickly followed by saskatoons, sour cherries, raspberries and apples. While she predicts a good season, she does caution that it’s a short season, so if you’re eager to pick, plan ahead and carve out some time on your calendar.

When you are ready to go picking, here are a few tips to make the most of your trip:

• Call ahead. Don’t hesitate to call the farm. Conditions change quickly, so U-pick farmers encourage you to call before you visit to find out what you can expect. It’s also a great time to ask about what to bring (e.g. containers) and other amenities available.
• Time your visit. Weekday mornings are ideal for beating the heat and weekend crowds.
• Wear a hat, comfy clothes and sturdy footwear. You’ll be out in the field exposed to sun, heat, mulch and soil (which may be wet from rain or irrigation).
• Bring a water bottle. You’ll enjoy your visit much more if you stay well hydrated.
• Bring cash. Not every farm has access to credit or debit machines out in the field.

Should you bring your kids to a U-pick? Absolutely, it’s a wonderful activity and tradition to share with kids. But put yourself in the right frame of mind and recognize that when you bring your kids, you won’t get a lot of picking done. The younger the child, the more supervision and help they’ll need from you. Kids, even older ones, have a much shorter attention span, so don’t expect to pick for a long time.

If you want to focus your energy on picking rather than watching your kids, bring a babysitter, older cousin, grandmother or family friend to entertain the kids while you fill as many baskets as you can. You’ll all have a much more pleasant experience when you take everyone’s ability into consideration.

When you get your fruit home, use it or process it as soon as you can. But don’t freeze, can or jam it all. Leave a little to enjoy in recipes like the following.

Chicken Pasta Salad with Saskatoon Berries

• 2-1/2 c. cooked chicken (cubed)
• 3 c. pasta (shells, rotini, penne)
• 1 c. celery (sliced)
• 1 c. pea pods
• 1/4 c. parsley (chopped)
• 1 c. fresh saskatoon berries
• 1/2 c. red pepper (finely chopped)
• 1/4 c. red onion (chopped)
• 2 – 3 tbsp. basil (fresh and chopped)
• 1/2 – 3/4 c. Parmesan cheese (grated)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Dressing:

• 1/2 c. olive oil
• 1/3 c. red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Cook pasta. About one minute before it’s finished, add pea pods. Drain and rinse with cold water. In large bowl, toss pasta and pea pods with parsley, saskatoons, red peppers, red onion and basil. In small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients, add to salad and toss well. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Source: Prairie Fruit Growers Association.

Homemade Fruit Gelatin

Make homemade “jello” using fresh, frozen or canned fruit juice.

• 2 c. fruit juice (raspberry, sour cherry or grape)
• 2 tbsp. sugar (more if desired)
• 1 tbsp. unflavoured gelatin (1 pouch)

Place 1/4 cup juice in large bowl and sprinkle gelatin on top. Heat 1/4 cup juice until just about boiling. Add hot juice to gelatin and stir briskly until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add remainder of juice. Pour into serving dish or individual dishes and allow to set for four hours or overnight. Serve with whipped cream.

Makes four half-cup servings.

Recipe Source: www.gettystewart.com

The post It’s fruit-picking time appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

These growers are reporting losses of anywhere from 20 per cent to about half their crop gone.

Their fields couldn’t withstand the intense periods of cold we experienced this past winter, said Manitoba Agriculture’s fruit crops industry development specialist Anthony Mintenko.

“I think most strawberry fields have definitely had some winter injury,” he said.

“We had longer stretches of cold weather that we haven’t had for many years, so they’ve definitely suffered winter damage compared to a normal year.”

Lack of snow cover was also a problem with wind often uncovering plants that had been insulated with straw cover.

“Snow is like added assurance of more protection and we didn’t have a lot of that,” he said.

Saskatoons were largely unaffected, however, raspberry growers also report some winter dieback or ‘tip kill.’ These plants usually produce again along lateral branches so should be OK, Min­tenko said.

Growers’ yield losses again this year will undoubtedly add to the argument Prairie Fruit Growers Association has put forward to have crop insurance extend to provincial fruit crops, too.

“It’s a knot in the gut,” is how Prairie Fruit Growers Association (PFGA) executive director Angie Cormier describes watching a year’s manual labour and inputs disappear.

It’s a punch in the pocketbook too. Financial losses will differ from grower to grower, given varying field sizes and customer levels, but without any means of recouping those losses, the hit can be hard, Cormier said.

“For example, if someone is bringing anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 an acre, and you lose half of it, that’s a signficant loss.”

Crop insurance would help stabilize incomes for these events for growers whose fields and incomes remain vulnerable to unpredictable weather as well as other forms of damage such as wildlife damage, she said.

The PFGA put a resolution forward through Keystone Agricultural Producers’ April advisory meeting citing the risk to growers who don’t have any coverage beyond their establishment year.

Basically their argument is that crop insurance would be a minimal cost and cost-effective approach to help grow the entire fruit production industry in Manitoba, says Darren Cormier, Cormier’s husband and business partner in the 10-acre strawberry field they’ve operated near La Salle since 2005.

Lack of insurance remains a deterrent to some who might otherwise want to expand, he said.

“If you asked cereal growers if they’d run their operation differently if they couldn’t get any crop insurance you can be sure the answer would be ‘yes,’” he said, adding many growers at this time grow fruit as a sideline to other things on the farm, or have off-farm jobs.

“You’re basically self-insuring if there’s a crop failure right now.”

PFGA’s resolution was supported by KAP delegates and calls on the farm group to lobby Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation to work with Manitoba Agriculture and the PFGA to develop an affordable insurance program for strawberry and saskatoon growers.

It also calls for sufficient data collected to help develop insurance programs for other fruit crops in Manitoba.

A report detailing the economic impact of the entire horticultural industry commissioned by Manitoba Agriculture will be released later this summer.

The post Strawberry fields hit by winterkill appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Some growers have already detected it and have applied an approved insecticide to combat against another infestation, provincial fruit crops specialist Anthony Mintenko said July 14.

The fruit crops industry development branch began monitoring for it more than a month ago.

“It’s around. The numbers are still low… but they’re here,” he said.

“Everyone definitely needs to be vigilant about it. We’re in the middle of July. That’s when we saw spikes last year.”

Moisture and temperature conditions for the fly to flourish are also similar to 2015, although there have been more cool days than last year, he added.

“We’re recommending growers start to spray their commercial (raspberry) fields for spotted wing,” Mintenko said.

The invasive fruit fly of East Asian origin was first detected in the Pacific region of the U.S. in 2008 and is now well established across North America. It causes heavy damage to mature fruit crops by piercing healthy fruit and laying its eggs inside.

The Manitoba Agriculture’s Current Crop Topics site indicates berries are susceptible to SWD infestation from when colour starts to appear on the berry right through to the time of harvest.

Mintenko said 2016 shouldn’t see the damage that the fly caused last year because many more growers know what to watch for and are taking steps to detect it and protect their fruit crops.

“If they can get one or two sprays on hopefully it can protect that harvest and they can get most of it off this year, as opposed to last year when people didn’t know what it was and lost their whole crop,” he said.

2016 should result in a year of average or better-than-average yields, he said.

That’s despite additional disease pressures from persistent rainfall, especially on strawberries, which can develop botrytis in damp weather.

“There was definitely more fruit rot because of the rain,” Mintenko said.

“The raspberries are starting up now and I’m not seeing it yet, but you can get botrytis in raspberries as well. It’s still too early to say if that’s going to affect the raspberries.

An early-spring frost also did damage to certain varieties of saskatoons, but the rain hasn’t affected them as much and some growers are reporting excellent crops.

Altona-area fruit grower and executive director of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association Waldo Thiessen said from what he’s heard from other growers so far 2016 sounds as if it’s turning out to be a good year, despite the rain.

“It still has been a good crop. I would say across the province it’s been above average.”

Many had an exceptionally early start with strawberries ripening very early, and U-picks opening in June.

“We’re working with an early year,” he said. “We started picking on June 20 and I don’t know that we’ve ever done that before. We were probably a week to 10 days earlier.”

More information on controls for SWD and managing fruit crops is found on Manitoba Agriculture’s website Current Crop Topics link at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/seasonal-reports/current-crop-topics.html#horticulture.

The post Growers vigilant for fly that can devastate fruit crops appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

A much bigger patch being established at the Agriculture Canada station (formerly the Central Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre) at Portage la Prairie this summer might provide some answers.

It’s a new rhubarb variety trial undertaken by Manitoba Agriculture’s fruit specialist Anthony Mintenko for the Prairie Fruit Growers Association. He planted it last year and will begin this year evaluating yield and winter hardiness of four varieties.

Isn’t rhubarb just plain old rhubarb, you might ask? And if it has been there since grandparents planted it, isn’t that sign enough of being hardy?

But that’s backyard rhubarb. Mintenko’s research will help better understand the differences between varieties to help commercial growers decide if they should grow it on a larger scale. People still like rhubarb, says Mintenko. But with fewer people having their own little patch of it nowadays, commercial growers are asking if there’s an opportunity to grow some for them.

“When we were kids everyone had rhubarb in their yard,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the case anymore.”

Mintenko has planted four varieties in the trial, including Sutton, a green-stalked variety, plus Canada Red, MacDonald, Honey Red and German Wine. There are distinct differences between them all for eating quality and uses. Generally, the deeper the red colour, the sweeter the rhubarb will be. Green-stalked rhubarb, for example, is quite sour and yet very good for jams and jellies, while the redder varieties are best suited for fruit salads, tarts or pies.

He’ll start to gather data on the plants as they mature. The plants were started in 2015 so it’s a couple of years yet before he can tell us more about which varieties best suit Manitoba conditions.

It was a trip to a fruit growers’ conference in Minnesota awhile back that got him thinking about this, says the fruit specialist. There it’s already grown commercially and is now a must-have at farmers’ markets and a popular item in box-to-your-door deliveries of farm-grown product. The state’s Department of Agriculture even publishes a directory listing locations of farms growing it with Google Maps to find them.

Meanwhile, we’re discovering all sorts of new ways to consume rhubarb beyond pie and jam. Living Sky Winery in Saskatchewan produces a commercial rhubarb wine and a rhubarb cider. This spring, Halifax brewer Garrison Brewing put out a call for rhubarb announcing plans to launch a “rhubeer.” Creative cooks and food bloggers are always posting ideas for eating rhubarb, from salsas and sauces, to even roasting, grilling and drying it. Who knows? Maybe rhubarb’s next for a vault to superfood stardom, like once lowly kale and cauliflower.

I forgot to ask if the Portage research will eventually need help taste testing these new varieties. I’ll volunteer, maybe not for the raw stuff, but definitely if pie’s involved.

Rhubarb Streusel Squares

I made this for dessert over the May long weekend. It is excellent and if it lasts around your house longer than a couple of days, it sets very nicely in the pan, lifting out into neat little squares.

Crust:

• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/4 c. sifted icing sugar
• 1/3 c. butter

In a medium bowl combine flour and icing sugar. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until crumbly. Press into bottom of an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.

Filling:

• 1 c. granulated sugar
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 eggs slightly beaten
• 3 c. sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb

In a medium bowl combine all filling ingredients. Blend well. Pour over partially baked crust.

Topping:

• 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/4 c. granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/3 c. butter

In a medium bowl combine first three ingredients. Using a pastry blender or fork cut in butter until crumbly. Pour topping over filling. Bake at 350 F for 45 to 55 minutes or until topping is light golden brown and rhubarb is tender.

Rhubarb Honey Bran Muffins

• 1-1/2 c. whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c. wheat bran
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. canola oil
• 1/2 c. honey
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 c. applesauce unsweetened
• 1-1/2 c. rhubarb diced (fresh or frozen)
• Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly spray canola oil cooking spray on non-stick muffin pans. In large bowl, mix together flour, bran, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a second bowl, mix together egg, canola oil, honey, milk, vanilla and applesauce. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until just combined. Add rhubarb and gently fold into mixture. Spoon into prepared muffin pan(s). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are firm to touch.

The post Is there a ‘stalk’ market in rhubarb? appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

That’s why fruit and vegetable growers were out in large numbers at Hort Diagnostic Days in late July to hear more about construction of high tunnels.

This is the first year a variety of fruits and vegetables has been planted in the high tunnel built in 2014 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada location in Portage la Prairie. Growers are keen to hear what Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) specialists are learning.

High tunnel production is commonplace in other parts of Canada and in northern and central U.S. where nearly every type of fruit and vegetable is now grown, even tree fruits. MAFRD staff are researching how high tunnels work in Manitoba growing conditions.

“We have a lot of recommendations from other places like Minnesota and Ontario about what to grow in a high tunnel but nothing for under Manitoba conditions,” said fruit crop specialist Anthony Mintenko, who is evaluating day-neutral strawberries, early-season June-bearing strawberries, fall-bearing raspberries and blackberries at one end of the 100x15x7.5-foot tunnel. Provincial vegetable specialist Tom Gonsalves is experimenting with vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers at the other.

High tunnels are like greenhouses, except they don’t have a double layer of poly, and no permanent heat or electricity. But they have a similar function — they keep cold out and, conversely, heat in.

Planting your fruits or vegetables in them can get you to the market in spring earlier and continue to supply customers well into fall, said Mintenko.

August and September is prime farmers’ market season, so any fruit crop that can keep producing at that time is bound to be in demand. But right now commercial production of late-season crops like fall-bearing raspberries is typically not feasible in Manitoba. The nights are too cool and early frosts kill them off.

“We’re trying to see if we can change that with high tunnel production, and make it profitable,” said Mintenko. A handout to growers at the workshop noted that comparing Minnesota yields to the same-size tunnel production in Manitoba, it’s anticipated that three 100-foot rows of raspberries could produce a total yield of 320 lbs. If sold at $4.50 per pint, that could bring a grower a gross revenue of $2,880 a year.

They’re also evaluating the potential for a summer-bearing yellow raspberry that in field conditions can produce a second crop later in the season if grown under warm conditions.

Other advantages of high tunnel fruit production include reduced risk of fruit rot and more uniform yields.

The high tunnel at Portage la Prairie cost about $5,000 to build, with the added side venting and a drip-irrigation system pushing the total capital cost to $8,000. The side venting is needed because most fruit crops shut down when temperatures rise over 30 C.

“It is a relatively cheap design, and doesn’t have the headroom of a lot of tunnels,” said Tom Gonsalves. But that’s a capital cost you can expect to fairly quickly recoup with if you grow high-demand crops that produce well in its warmer conditions, he said.

They’re noting a summer day difference of 5 C higher in the tunnel compared to outdoors.

There was an average of a .8 C difference in temperature noted during the winter.

“Which is not a lot but it could be as much as 5 C higher on a winter day,” he added.

He plans to plant kale in September and again early next spring because “kale is a crop where, if there’s any heat at all, it’s going to grow.”

That also means successful high tunnel production takes more than merely building one and moving varieties you’ve typically grown outside into it.

There are varieties of vegetables specifically bred for high tunnel production and these typically do very well in these higher-temperature conditions, he added.

“Most multinational seed companies have varieties of the common crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and cool-season lettuces and spinach that have been bred specifically for high tunnel use,” he said. On July 26 it was 34.6 C.

“A lot of varieties would have trouble at that temperature, he said. “But at 34.6 C all the cucumbers did was grow faster.

By then they’d already harvested cucumbers too.

“We picked the first cucumber July 10 in this tunnel,” he added.

Waldo Thiessen, executive director of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association in Manitoba calls the research an fundamental support to growers supplying farmers’ markets and other consumer-direct markets.

“I think there’s great potential in it,” he said, adding he’d be seriously considering constructing one on his own farm if he was a bit younger. He hopes to see the research yield good data so more growers in this province can confidently start to use high tunnels to extend their growing season.

“Manitoba is behind on this. Ontario is way ahead of us and down in the eastern U.S. they’re extending their season and taking advantage of higher prices and higher yields because they can protect their plants from the elements.”

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