Farmers Face Tough Season After Dry Spell
Nova Scotia apple growers are raising alarms as an unusually dry season threatens orchards across the province. With the lack of rainfall persisting, the challenges for farmers are mounting, and the uncertainty about this year’s apple crops is only deepening.
Emily Lutz of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association explained that orchards in the Annapolis Valley missed most of the rainfall that other regions received. This left apple, peach, and pear crops struggling to meet market standards.
Apples Too Small to Sell
For apple growers, size and appearance matter. Buyers expect fruit that meets strict requirements, but this year’s dry weather has resulted in undersized apples with weaker color.
“When apples don’t reach the right size or shine, they become very hard to sell,” Lutz said. Farmers now face a painful choice—harvest smaller fruit in hopes of finding a market or leave them on the trees altogether.
Long-Term Worries About Orchards
Beyond this year’s yield, the health of the trees themselves is another pressing issue. Prolonged drought leaves trees weaker, and some may not survive the coming winter.
Replacing trees is not a quick fix. Lutz noted that new plantings can take up to five years before producing market-ready apples. That means today’s dry season could impact harvests for years to come.
Rain Could Help, but It’s Too Late for This Year
Although it’s too late to rescue this season’s crop, farmers say some gentle, steady rainfall would strengthen trees for the future. However, a heavy downpour could harm both the remaining harvest and the fruit headed into storage.
“The damage is done for this season,” Lutz explained, “but the right kind of rain could at least help protect next year’s growth.”
Smaller Apples Still Worth Buying
Despite the hardships, Lutz reassured consumers that apples will still reach markets this fall. While they may be smaller than usual, their quality remains intact.
“There will be apples, and though some may be smaller, they taste just as good,” she said. “In fact, they fit better in your lunchbox.”
Nova Scotia’s growers remain resilient, but the season serves as a sharp reminder of how weather extremes continue to shape agriculture.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the next news update.
