A summer of warm, sunny weather with a smattering of rain has many tree-fruit growers on Prince Edward Island smiling as the harvest begins.
But there are still lingering effects from post-tropical storm Fiona, and fear that another major weather event could derail this year’s success.
“It’s basically our best crop ever. We’ve had sufficient amount of rain earlier on in the season and lots of heat, lots of sun, and things are about a week ahead of our traditional year,” said Geoff Boyle, manager of The Grove Orchard and U-Pick in Warren Grove, P.E.I.
They grow a wide variety of apples, as well as butterscotch and Shinseiki Asian pears, and produce apple cider.
Boyle said they could have used a little more rain, but they had a drip irrigation system standing by and “it seems as though the fruit and the trees are liking what we’ve got this year. …