ABBOTSFORD – Blueberry growers have turned to mechanical harvesting in unprecedented numbers this year due to a shortage of labour and impacts of COVID-19. While growers usually employ thousands of hand harvesters, this year saw hundreds of machines harvesting berries across the Fraser Valley. Although farmers have been using machines for several years, many did …
Lally Farms
Pandemic puts the squeeze on blueberry growers
by SARBMEET SINGH ABBOTSFORD – BC blueberry growers face tighter profit margins this year due to COVID-19. Public health protocols have created additional costs including the need for personal protective equipment for workers’ safety and a hike in labour costs. Meanwhile, fewer workers in the fields mean fruit could over-ripen, reducing quality and prices. “We …