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A strawberry patch at the Reeser Farmers Market was busy Thursday afternoon.
On a typical week, owner John Reesor sees about 1,800 customers. MarkhamFarm picking strawberries in Ontario.
But on the weekend, he got 1,200 in a single day.
“People are excited,” he said.
In the spring, Risor noticed some new sprouts appearing among the green trees in his fields.
“We started picking strawberries 10 days earlier than last year,” the farmer told Global News.
“This could be the earliest harvest season we’ve ever recorded.”
John Rizzo and his staff have been hard at work picking strawberries, which have grown big and juicy ahead of schedule.
Ben Maher/Toronto Global News
A mild spring and a prolonged heat wave have caused the strawberries to ripen quickly, putting them at risk of rotting if not picked in time.
“The downside is that our season may end early. We usually like to have our strawberries ready by the Canada Day long weekend.”
Besides, customers were reluctant to spend too much time on his farm out of the hot sun.
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The season will officially begin on June 21st.
However, a heat wave has hit central and eastern Canada over the past few days, sending temperatures soaring — with humidity readings approaching 45 degrees Celsius in many communities.
This is a double-edged sword for both agricultural products and essential labor.
“If it’s too hot and people can’t get to the fields to harvest, it’s going to result in crop losses,” said Hannah Kaya, a farmworker organizer with the National Farmers Union.
What’s more, extreme heat can lead to loss of life — a number that Kaya said is more well-documented in the U.S. but sometimes overlooked in Canada.
“When the temperature reaches 45 degrees, it raises health and safety issues.”
Kaya said that in some provinces, farmers appear to be bearing the brunt of global warming.
“Ontario currently has no occupational health and safety regulations specifically addressing heat stress. This means employers are left to decide for themselves what safety protocols are best for their farms.”
This isn’t just about giving workers longer breaks during heat waves.
Employers will also have to invest in irrigation systems to combat droughts — which will increase labor and infrastructure expenses, Kaya said.
That’s why the National Farmers Union is calling on the federal government to help agricultural employers adapt to the climate crisis and help the industry meet these additional demands.
In Mitchell, Ont., Sara Wood makes sure her chickens, cows and pigs have enough water and fans to keep them cool.
The heatwave is expected to ease next week, with temperatures expected to drop.
Wood, vice president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is optimistic about the supply chain because the high temperatures will be short-lived.
“This shouldn’t cause major disruption to the food chain and our consumers should still see fresh Ontario produce on their shelves,” she said.
However, Wood said there are ways for farmers to adapt to hot weather like this one.
Reducing tillage of the soil and limiting the addition of nutrients helps maintain the land’s ecosystem. Planting trees can also mitigate heat from the surrounding environment.
“We use best management practices on our farm to ensure sustainable development,” she said.
Back on the Risor farm, John’s corn and peas are thriving in the heat.
On the strawberry side, his farm is gearing up to supply all the berries needed for Stouffville’s Strawberry Festival over the Canada Day long weekend.
However, the farmer has reduced the working hours of his employees to ensure their safety during the rising temperatures.
Risor is still working hard to ensure all of his customers’ needs are met, and he stressed how hard farmers have to work to feed Canadians.
“It’s a lot of work, so it’s important to shop local and support local farmers,” he said.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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