Strawberry picking season is underway in Sturgeon Falls
Strawberry picking season is underway in Sturgeon Falls
It's summer's first taste of the season, ripe local strawberries being picked at Leisure Farms in Sturgeon Falls and taken home for a sweet snack.
"They're good and sweet. When we get back home we're going to eat them just like they are and put them with ice cream," said picker Suzanne Trottier.
At Leisure Farms, the strawberry picking season usually starts in July. However, an early melt in the spring, and a heat wave in May allowed the fruit to ripen early.
"Even though we had some cool periods, strawberries don't need much heat anyways,” said Leisure farms Operator Mitch Deschatletes.
“So they got an early start and have kept growing since."
Deschatletes says the strawberry season is one of the busiest times of the year for the farm as families look for the perfect fruit for baking.
Haskap berries are also growing in popularity, and can be picked at the farm too. Their attraction is a high concentration of antioxidants.
"We've got one small field for haskaps, but it seems to be just enough for the demand right now," said Deschatletes.
The strawberry and haskap picking season will be around until July with raspberry picking on the horizon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Trudeau nominates Ontario judge Michelle O'Bonsawin to Supreme Court
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has nominated Ontario judge Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada. In a statement announcing the nomination, Trudeau said that O'Bonsawin is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation and is a fluently bilingual Franco-Ontarian.

BREAKING | Nunavut declares state of emergency over Iqaluit water shortage
Nunavut's acting minister of community and government services says the territory has declared a state of emergency in Iqaluit to ensure the city can begin replenishing its water reservoir without delay.
Back to school: A look at the COVID-19 rules in place across provinces, territories
As students across Canada gear up to enter what will be their fourth academic year in the pandemic, CTVNews.ca takes a look at what measures will be in place in schools, by province and territory.
Canada's interim import ban on handguns takes effect today
As of today, individuals and businesses are no longer able to import restricted handguns into Canada, with limited exceptions. The move announced earlier this month is aimed at expediting a key pillar of the federal effort to cap the number of handguns in the country.
Transport minister set to testify at committee today on airport delays, flight cancellations
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is set to testify before the House of Commons transport committee this afternoon about ongoing airport delays and flight cancellations.
Honey shortage could extend into next year after devastating winter for beekeepers
This past winter saw record losses for beekeepers, and one expert says the prospects for next year are even worse if they face another frigid winter.
This Afghan student escaped the Taliban regime to study in Montreal
Last year, Arzou Lashkari was ready to fly to Canada and start a new chapter of life at Concordia University. But her dream was crushed when the Taliban took control of her country, forcing her to stay home.
Freedom Convoy-affiliated group being evicted from Ottawa church
The owner of a historic church in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood is evicting a group with ties to the 'Freedom Convoy' occupation planning to purchase the property this fall, in an apparent dispute over unpaid rent for the facility.
Vatican shelves sexual assault probe into Cardinal Marc Ouellet
There is not enough evidence to open a formal church investigation into sexual assault allegations against a prominent Quebec cardinal, Pope Francis declared Thursday. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, an adviser to the Pope, has been accused of sexual misconduct in a class-action lawsuit filed earlier this week in Quebec Superior Court.