Early apple harvest for farmers in Region of Waterloo
Apple trees are already being harvested at the Martin's Family Fruit Farm in Waterloo, Ont., at least one week ahead of their typical schedule.
“Been off to an earlier start than normal, probably seven to 10 days,” said President and CEO Kevin Martin. “We had an early start in the spring and that just translated all the way through to harvest,”
Martin said typical changes in weather throughout the growing season would slow down any early production, but this year is different.
“Growing season is long enough for apples that, [if] there's some offsetting weather [or] cooler weather, it translates into maybe two or three days early. But this year we had a really consistent growing season throughout,” Martin explained.
He added that, typically, the farm needs to make use of its irrigation system quite a bit, but this year they only had to use it a little bit.
“We had good heat, good rain and we had some good coloring weather,” he said.
According to Martin, Gala apples make up 40 per cent of the farms total volume and is the type of apple that is eaten most in the world.
Apples at the Martin's Family Fruit Farm in Waterloo, Ont. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)
Martin isn't prepared to call it a bumper crop but said production yields in general are increasing in Ontario year-to-year.
“It's a very good crop. We had a very good crop last year,” he said.
While each growing season depends on a lot of different factors, Martin said North America has started to see almost an oversupply of the fruit.
“Ontario, ourselves though, we're still in a good position,” Martin said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prime minister faces mounting pressure to step aside from inside caucus
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face mounting pressure from his caucus this week to step down from the leadership of the Liberal party.
Bloc won't hold Liberals 'hostage' over seniors' benefits: cabinet minister
Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says the Liberals will not be 'held hostage' by the Bloc Quebecois' demand to expand Old Age Security to more seniors.
Police identify Toronto victim of alleged serial killer
Toronto police have identified the woman who was allegedly killed by a suspected serial killer earlier this month.
Missing father, kids spotted in New Zealand wilderness 3 years after disappearance: police
A New Zealand man who disappeared with his three children in 2021 was spotted on a farm along the country's northwest coast, police say.
No jail time for man who fatally stabbed senior in Vancouver
A man who stabbed a senior to death in Vancouver's Biltmore Hotel building in 2020 has been given a conditional sentence for the killing, meaning he will not serve any jail time if he remains on good behaviour in the community.
B.C. billionaire posts third large sign criticizing NDP ahead of the election
British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.
Great white shark washes up on B.C. shore
In a rare occurrence, a bona fide great white shark washed up on a B.C. beach Thursday.
EXCLUSIVE: 'We were privileged to be friends with our sister': Family mourns murdered N.S. woman
More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.
Job growth numbers 'good news' in Canada but there are concerns, according to an economist
An economist says the latest job growth numbers in Canada are 'good news,' but he has concerns following Statistic Canada's report.