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VIDEO: Strawberry season returns in Fraser Valley

After early harvests in recent years, winter pushed crops back to June
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Devinder Maan of Maan Farms says strawberries are quickly ripening now after winter had pushed back the early harvests seen in recent years. Photo: Tyler Olsen/Abbotsford News

Strawberry season has begun.

In recent years, warm springs have accelerated berry growth and brought the first harvests into late May. This year, though, a snowy winter and cool spring means the first berry crop ripened more in line with historic harvests, Devinder Maan of Maan Farms said.

Pickers have been out harvesting fruit this week from the first June-bearing varieties. Those are now for sale at local berry operations like the Vye Road farm run by the Maan family.

Although the winter’s cold has slowed the growth, the recent weather – with temperatures pushing into the high-20s – have given the crops a final push.

After picking for their own operation throughout this week, the farm will be opening its U-pick field on Friday.

“The last two days have been lots of heat, so it’s definitely helping the farmers,” Maan said. “It’s going well, definitely the weather is helping us. It’s on our side.”