Local News

Wacky spring=higher fruit prices

5/9/2012

You may have trouble finding Ontario-grown fruit at the grocery store this summer.  When you do find it, the sticker price will be a lot higher than usual.

Blame the balmy March we had & the big cool off in April.

Just about every grower across Ontario, upper New York state,  Pennsylvania & southern Michigan has been hit.

Phil Tregunno of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board says about 30% of peaches & nectarines in Niagara have been affected.  Damage to those 2 crops alone total $24-million.  The hit to grape growers won't be clear until early June.

Farmer Steve Smith says there are no blossoms on his apple trees in Port Elgin, which means
there will be no apples.  The buds bloomed too early in March & were killed off by a frost in April.

Agriculture specialist John Cline at the University of Guelph says Ontario's apple industry is worth up to $400-million.

***With files from Newstalk1010

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