Blueberries to be 'very expensive' after harsh winter, farmer warns

There's good news and bad news for berry lovers — Ottawa-area fruit farmers are expecting a great year for strawberries and raspberries but blueberries didn't fare as well.

Hawkesbury blueberry producer Jacques Lamoureux said frost accumulation destroyed 80 per cent of his blueberry crop.

"We didn't lose the plant — it's not going to die — but there's not going to be much fruit on it this year," he said.

"The way it works with blueberries, it's like an apple tree. We're just going to trim it almost 100 per cent and it's going to grow back." 

Lamoureux said other blueberry producers in the region are facing the same problem due to the harsh winter.

With a limited supply, the price of blueberries is going to go up, he said.

"Blueberries are going to be very expensive," he said.