Sudbury blueberry supply 'absolutely terrible'

Morning North6:34Worst blueberry season ever?

Blueberry pickers in Sudbury are finding themselves empty-handed this year. James Hicks is an avid picker. He came into the studio today to talk about the disappointing crop.It's slim pickings this summer for wild blueberry enthusiasts. In fact — this could be the worst crop Sudbury has had in years.

James Hicks told CBC News he hasn't had much luck finding blueberries in the bush. His regular picking spots in Sudbury are barren for the first time in 45 years.

"I've seen good years and bad years, but this one's absolutely terrible," he said.

Hicks's wife Anne said they've made up to a thousand dollars from their blueberry harvest in the past.

This year? Nothing.

"I'm thinking that they're going to be there next year. But if they aren't, well I don't know. It'll be a change of life for us."

Retired etymologist Joe Shorthouse said he hasn't seen a crop this bad since he began working for Laurentian University in the 1970s.

"At this time of the year, they're tiny, they're shriveled, and they taste bitter."

Shorthouse said he suspects a lack of pollinators and spring moisture might be the cause of the problem.

The quality of this year's blueberry season is concerning — not just for hobby pickers, but for Sudbury's wildlife, which depends on the berries for nourishment.

Plentiful crops in the past

But a plant science professor at Laurentian University doesn't think there's a problem.

"We actually sat down and had a great feast to start the blueberry festival a couple of weeks ago."

That being said, he noted some blueberries could be smaller and less tasty this year because of the drought, late spring and a lack of pollinators. He also said some people may find this year's harvest less plentiful because the past few years have been unusually good for blueberries.

Beckett added Sudbury's blueberries are being threatened — but not by natural causes.

"Some of those areas where we actually like to go and pick the blueberries are also high value for development, [such as] some of the sandy plains," he said.

"In the long, long term I suspect the blueberry production in Sudbury will be going down. But for next year, I don't think there will be much change."

Beckett said blueberries thrive in open areas with acidic soil, which is common in Sudbury.

Take our poll: What do you think of this year's blueberry crop?