Quebec apple producers expect disappointing crops
CBC is reporting that Quebec's apple farmers are expecting mediocre crops because of the extreme weather and high temperatures that have been affecting most of eastern Canada.
Daniel Ruel, regional director for Quebec's federation of apple producers, they're not expecting record productions this year. Rather than the six million cases of apples harvested last year, this year's yield will probably be around five million. This could represent a 15 per cent decrease.
Ruel warns that estimates should be taken lightly, since mid-season evaluations and predictions are not due until the end of July.
The abnormal heat at the end of March, when most of province's southwest stayed at a steady 20 C during five days, had caused trees to bud too early.
Though farmers were worried about the intensely dry weather and heat, the rain that fell in late June was favourable to the apples' cell growth.