Strawberries in B.C.: fruit ripe in May now the new normal says grower

What was once a fruit associated with June in British Columbia, appears to have moved permanently to May.

"This year, we're breaking new records," said Amir Maan, operations manager with Maan Farms in Abbotsford.

"This year we picked on the 10th of May. Last year, we picked on the 14th. This directly correlates with the hot temperatures we've been having."

Maan says mild winters, combined with warm springs are helping farmers like him harvest fruit earlier from plants that have high berry counts and are free from rot. The conditions also make for fruit with a high sugar content.

"It's like biting a piece of candy," said Maan.

The BC Strawberry Growers Association, which represents 30 growers in the Fraser Valley, said in an e-mail to CBC News that many growers were reporting buds on strawberries.

"We should be in season around the 3rd to 4th week of May," wrote Lisa Craig with the association.

Meanwhile Maan Farms, which has been in business since 1977, is already selling its ripe berries and is expecting that in the years ahead it will be ready to do so even earlier.

"I think it may be the new norm. It may be even earlier next year, like the 5th, [is when we will pick]," he said. "The farmers are definitely noticing it."

Meanwhile raspberry and blueberries appear to be not far behind with Driediger Farms reporting it will be ready to sell the berries in the first or second week of June.