Ontario strawberry growers navigate 2026 weather challenges as fresh local berries arrive at markets across the province
Ontario Strawberry Season Continues Through July
The 2026 strawberry growing season presented several challenges for Ontario strawberry growers. A colder-than-normal spring delayed crop development in many parts of Ontario, pushing the start of the harvest season later than usual. Industry reports indicated that the season began roughly 10-days behind normal in some areas due to cool temperatures during early crop development.
While many June-bearing strawberry varieties begin harvesting in June a little later than normal as noted above, strawberries continue to be widely available throughout July from both traditional fields and day-neutral production systems.
Strawberries production is concentrated in several Niagara, Norfolk County, Durham Region, Simcoe County, Wellington County, Oxford County, and Eastern Ontario.
Ontario overall fruit industry is larger than Quebec, but Quebec dominates Canadian strawberry production, producing well over half of Canada's field-grown strawberries in recent years.
According to Statistics Canada, Quebec is the country's leading strawberry-producing province. In 2021, Quebec produced 13,419 tonnes of strawberries—more than double Ontario's production of 5,564 tonnes. Quebec also had the largest strawberry-growing area, with 5,281 acres devoted to strawberry production.
More recently, Statistics Canada reported that Quebec set a record 19,685 tonnes of strawberries in 2025. Quebec has led all provinces in strawberry production every year since 1996, except for 1999.
The 2026 Ontario growing season presented several challenges for strawberry growers. A colder-than-normal spring delayed crop development in many parts of Ontario, pushing the start of the harvest season later than usual. Industry reports indicated that the season began roughly 10 days behind normal in some areas due to cool temperatures during early crop development.
In addition to cooler weather, some growers experienced excessive spring moisture that complicated field preparation and planting activities. As the season progressed, warmer temperatures helped plants recover, allowing fields to develop normally and support expectations for a consistent harvest.
For strawberry growers, weather remains one of the most important factors affecting production. Late frosts, excessive rainfall, heat waves, and drought conditions all influence berry size, yield, and fruit quality. Many commercial farms use irrigation systems and frost-protection strategies to reduce weather-related risks and maintain crop quality.
Strawberry season also drives significant agritourism activity across Ontario. U-pick farms attract families and visitors looking to experience agriculture firsthand while purchasing fresh fruit directly from growers.
Ontario strawberry growers continue to adopt new production methods to improve efficiency and extend the harvest season. Day-neutral varieties protected growing systems, improved irrigation practices, and ongoing research into pest and disease management are helping farmers increase productivity and maintain fruit quality.
As fresh berries continue arriving at markets throughout July, Ontario strawberry growers remain optimistic about consumer demand. Despite weather-related delays earlier in the season, growing conditions improved as summer progressed, supporting good-quality fruit across many production regions.
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