Heavy rain, hail, and flooding have damaged approximately 60 percent of the strawberry operation at Boonstra Farms near Stonewall, Manitoba, during its three-week harvest window. Owner Danielle Boonstra said hail early in the season damaged fruit before flooding compounded the losses, pushing local strawberry prices to US$4.20.
The farm's situation reflects a broader pattern of weather volatility hitting short-window berry operations hard. Canadian local strawberry seasons are brief and operate with limited buffer, meaning even a single weather event can crater a farm's entire revenue window.
This is worth monitoring for buyers sourcing domestic or regional strawberries in the Upper Midwest and Canadian markets, where supply disruptions can quickly move prices at the local level.