After two years marked by torrential rains, the fields are thirsty. The berries roast in the sun. From the first lights of the day, the pickers kneel in the grassland to save the crops of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. On the other hand, the extreme heat of summer suggests picking juicy apples and excellent cider cuvées from Quebec.
At 6 in the morning on Tuesday, around twenty pickers were already in the fields of producer Pierre-Yves Éthier, from the farm to the land of berries, in Mirabel. In nearly 35 years of agricultural career, he explains to The presshe saw all the colors. The extremes, from hot to cold, are part of the landscape with climate change.
This summer, it’s intense, he said. His whole team works hard 12 hours a day. He dreams of at least a good day of heavy rains.
“Farmers, we are all equipped with irrigation systems to water. But it is drinking, the quantities are measured, we save our water, ”explains Mr. Ethier.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Pierre-Yves Éthier, farm producer in the land of berries, in Mirabel
Lack of rain stresses our plants. And the heat waves are more and longer, there are at least six this season. My workers may start earlier, drink a lot of water, take breaks, they are tired to pick up what to pick up.
Pierre-Yves Éthier, farm producer in the land of little fruit
In the kiosk of this Mirabel farm, customers succeeded each other at the counter Tuesday noon to come out with small fruits. The blueberries are huge, the strawberries too, bright red, and beautiful large raspberries make it salivate. Producer France Demers, spouse of Mr. Ethier, launches a satisfied customer, arms full of berries and large vegetables, whom she prefers winter to summer.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Morning harvest of strawberries on the farm in the land of berries, in Mirabel
In the large metropolitan region, temperatures exceeded 33 ° C on Sunday and Monday, and Mercury reached 34 ° C Tuesday. Environment Canada plans that the maximum temperature this Wednesday should be 29 ° C, with a return of seasonal temperatures on Thursday. But this return to normal could be short -lived, with a rise expected on Saturday.
“People are increasingly aware of our challenges in agriculture. They want to buy local, estimates mme Demers. There are still many of them, however, not to make the magnitude of the task behind our harvests. Whether it was because of the rain that we knew in 2023 and 2024 or, as at the moment, because of the heat, the drought. »»
“We will not say no to good rains”
About 20 minutes drive from the farm in the land of berries, The press went to meet the organic, cheese maker and producer of sheep and lambs from the old Saint-Joseph cheese dairy, located rue de la Pommeraie, in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Due to the heat wave, lambs and sheep of the old Saint-Joseph cheese dairy prefer to take refuge in the shade rather than enjoy the open pasture of the sheepfold.
His sheep have the right to bite into apples in addition to the usual hay made up of mowed and dried plants. It is the secret of the unique taste of craft cheeses on the farm. In this place, animals are used to going freely to grazing near the orchards. Sheep, lambs, turkeys; They had all voluntarily put themselves in the shade, in the stables, when one of the owners of the place, Ion Goncear, offered a glass of apple juice of the day.
“For us, the apple season has already started. The apple trees have long roots, well established in the ground, “says Ion Goncear.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Ion Goncear, co-owner of the old Saint-Joseph cheese dairy, prepares pieces of cheese to taste for customers.
Ici [à Saint-Joseph-du-Lac]we are in a kind of valley, we have a microclimate. The warmth and dry weather are good for us in a way, but not too long, the rain will feel good.
Ion Goncear, co-owner of the old Saint-Joseph cheese dairy
“At the moment, we have two varieties, Melba and Vista Bella, crunchy and juicy apples, with a slightly tangy taste. »»
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
The orchard of the Lafrance estate, in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac
10 minutes away, at Domaine Lafrance, rue Principale, the teams are preparing to welcome during the weekend the first lovers of apple huts. Here too, we indicate that the apples will be excellent this year. Éliza Toupin, assistant to the Domaine Lafrance, presents a special cuvée of their cider.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Eliza Toupin, assistant to the Domaine Lafrance Domaine
“There are many apples. We already have three varieties, among others the transparent yellow. What we fear especially at the moment is not to have time to pick them all. When they fall from trees, they have less value. The dry weather is fine, the heat too, but we will not say no to good rains in the coming weeks, “she says.
