Wet weather hinders berry farmers

Buddy Norman – Berry Farmer: “I've already pruned them, I don't want them any taller than this.”

At Buddy's Berry Farm near Hawley, the bees are buzzing, but the berry crop, although, plentiful, is feeling a little under the weather. That's because our summer has been late in arriving. Once they start to see the berries then it is two to three weeks before harvest.

Buddy Norman has been raising raspberries for years,

“This will shoot up another cane for next year.”

And he has great hopes for his crop despite a cool, wet couple of weeks.

Loaded with berries and the bees are working on them.

Norman: “Even that inch of rain gave them a jolt and to have a nice day like this today should help move them along. “

And so if you are were hoping for some fresh strawberries and raspberries on your 4th of July Banana Split you might want to reconsider.

“I will water these. Water will help them get ready faster.”

Often strawberry pickers are out the end of June. And so producers are hoping for sun, trying to get this new green berries, ripe for the picking.

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