‘Perfect conditions for picking': Berry farms around Edmonton prepare for big season
Berry farmers in the Edmonton area are thanking the rain as they prepare for a huge picking season this summer.
Horse Hill Berry Farm located northeast of Edmonton opened their gates to berry pickers last week with plenty of raspberries up for grabs.
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Anna Clunas, the marketing manager for the farm, told CTV News Edmonton their opening day was one for the books.
'(It) was one of the best opening days we've had in years, and maybe ever … I think there (were) close to 200 people that came out,' Clunas said Sunday.
She said heavy rain in May and June resulted in the amount of berries produced this season and hopes more pickers come to keep the momentum going.
'Our weekend was a little slow this opening week because of the weather, but today (was) perfect conditions for picking. Not too hot, not too sunny, and no rain,' she said. 'If the weather holds out for next weekend and for the rest of the week, we expect lots of folks to keep coming out to pick.'
According to Tim Darragh, the owner of the Big Rock Berry Farm located southeast of the city, plenty of visitors have been coming through taking buckets of berries.
'We get lots of interest from our loyal pickers early on within the berry patch, and they come out in full force the first three or four times that we open up,' said Darragh.
'We've got probably more berries on the trees than we've ever seen … and the size of the berries is fantastic,' he added.
Darragh said it typically takes a person 20 to 30 minutes to pick an entire bucket in previous years, but this year pickers are clearing 10 to 15 minutes.
'It's easy picking for them, and that just makes it that much easier for them to come out and enjoy their time.'
The Horse Hill Berry Farm and Big Rock Berry Farm websites have additional information about their picking schedule posted online.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
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