Pete here.
We hope to start harvest Monday evening, and continue into Tuesday.
I usually get the people who cut the first harvest to pack it themselves, as the new guys see the results firsthand of how they cut.. (stock cut too long or too short, quality, maturity), and with this knowledge, they quickly learn the ropes.
As soon as we harvest in more quantity, I will call in local help to pack the product.
2020 brought with it 3 unusual events that have greatly impacted our season so far.
In April, we had below normal temps, and we had severe -5C freezing a few nights in a row. As are result, what we had planted had suffered and delayed, and we had to take a 10 day break in planting (first time ever taking a break).
The results of this is that we, for the first ever, started harvest in July instead of late June.
Also, we are not starting off with large volumes
We are not having a normal start to our year.
Second, with the Virus, 40% of our staff have not arrived yet, and when they do, they will be in quarantine for 2 weeks.
We will only have 2 harvest crews instead of 3, for July. That will impact our daily volume uptake.
But it will create an opportunity for the locals to take a larger roll in packing.
And thirdly, if that is a word, we are seeing unusually high temps forecasted for this week.
We have seen 30C forecasted for periods of time, but not 34C for a full week.
This will have a huge impact on how we transplant, harvest and pack.
High temps and heat warnings directly impact our field workers, and we will attempt to limit field work to morning and evening. This will change how we traditionally do things.
I will try and update daily, thanks for your patience, and your willingness to contribute to bringing fresh market vegetable to the people of Ontario.
