Your berries might be okay after all
Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know, we've had a spring here that's been a real mixed bag for the valley, and it's got a lot of folks worried about what we'll be able to bring in. But it sounds like our local berry producers are just shrugging their shoulders and getting on with it, which, frankly, is about as Swan River as it gets.
Manitoba's berry farmers are pretty much playing it by ear this year, and that includes those growing in and around the Swan Valley. We had a late start to spring, and then all that rain and flooding hit just weeks before harvest time. You'd think that would be enough to throw a wrench in everything, but it seems like most producers are just waiting to see how the plants do. They’re not panicking, which is a good lesson for us all, I think. It’s hard to predict anything in farming, whether it’s the price of grain or the yield of saskatoons after a weird spring.
### What This Means for Your Berry Picking
* **Patience is key:** Don't rush out to your favourite picking spot or call up the local farms just yet. * **Support local:** When berries are ready, make sure you're buying from our local producers in places like Minitonas and Bowsman. They work hard. * **Expect variety:** Some patches might be sparse, others might be surprisingly good. It’s all part of living this far north.
It's a reminder that around here, you learn to adapt. Whether you're a farmer, a logger up by Thunder Hill, or just someone planning their weekend trip to Duck Mountain, you watch the weather and you make do. We’ve always been self-sufficient, and this year’s berry crop is just another example of that quiet resilience in the northwest.
Beth Makarchuk, MiTL Sports Desk.
You can hear more on this kind of thing every morning with the crew — catch it live at mornings.live.