How will Wildfires and Drought Impact Canada’s 2026 Growing Season?
July marks the start of blueberry season across much of Canada, bringing fresh supplies of one of the country's most valuable fruit crops to consumers and export markets. From the highbush blueberry fields of British Columbia to the vast wild blueberry barrens of Quebec and Atlantic Canada, growers are preparing for another important harvest season.
Blueberries have become one of Canada's most recognizable agricultural exports, with production spread across several provinces. While British Columbia leads commercial highbush blueberry production, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are internationally recognized for their wild blueberry industry.
British Columbia Remains Canada's Highbush Blueberry Leader
British Columbia continues to be Canada's dominant producer of cultivated highbush blueberries. The province's blueberry industry includes more than 600 growers and is concentrated primarily in the Fraser Valley, where climate and soil conditions support large-scale production.
The Fraser Valley has become one of North America's premier highbush blueberry-growing regions, producing fruit for both domestic consumption and export markets. Industry organizations continue to support growers through research, food safety programs, market development initiatives, and production management tools.
Blueberries remain one of British Columbia's most important fruit crops, with growers shipping fresh and frozen berries worldwide. Export sales continue to be a major driver of the sector's growth.
Quebec Dominates Canada's Wild Blueberry Industry
Quebec holds a unique position in North American blueberry production. The province is one of the world's largest producers and processors of wild blueberries, commonly known as lowbush blueberries. The industry is centered largely in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, where favorable soil conditions have supported wild blueberry production for generations.
According to Quebec industry organizations, approximately 300 wild blueberry producers collectively produce nearly 100 million pounds of wild blueberries annually, making Quebec one of the largest wild blueberry-producing regions in the world.
Quebec-grown wild blueberries are exported to more than 40 countries and are widely recognized for their high antioxidant content and intense flavor profile.
In addition to wild blueberries, Quebec also has a growing highbush blueberry sector, with commercial farms located throughout several agricultural regions offering fresh-market production and pick-your-own experiences.
The Maritimes Remain a Wild Blueberry Powerhouse
The Maritime provinces continue to play a critical role in North America's wild blueberry industry.
New Brunswick alone has approximately 175 wild blueberry farmers and remains one of the largest producers of wild blueberries in Atlantic Canada.
Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island also contribute significantly to regional production, supplying global frozen and processed blueberry markets. Together with Quebec and Maine in the United States, these provinces form the core of the world's commercial wild blueberry industry.
Wild blueberries differ significantly from cultivated highbush blueberries. The berries are smaller, more intensely flavored, and grow naturally in lowbush fields rather than on cultivated shrubs.
Weather Impact
In British Columbia, growers entered the season following concerns about drought conditions, reduced snowpack, and water availability. Industry monitoring tools have been closely tracking weather patterns throughout the growing season because moisture levels can significantly impact fruit sizing and yields.
In Atlantic Canada, many growers are still dealing with the effects of the severe 2025 drought. Industry reports indicate that Nova Scotia's wild blueberry fields entered 2026 with lingering impacts from last year's dry conditions, including uneven crop development and lower plant vigor in some areas.
Nova Scotia producers also experienced frost events during the 2026 bloom period that damaged flowers and reduced yield potential in certain growing areas. However, favorable pollination conditions later in the season provided some optimism heading into harvest.
Growers across Atlantic Canada remain hopeful that improved moisture conditions during the growing season will help stabilize production after significant drought-related losses experienced in 2025.
Outlook for the 2026 Season
As harvest activity accelerates through July and August, the outlook for Canada's blueberry industry remains generally positive. Strong consumer demand for fresh and frozen blueberries continues to support market opportunities for growers across the country.
While weather challenges remain a concern, particularly in drought-affected regions, Canadian blueberry producers are entering the season with optimism. From British Columbia's highbush blueberry farms to the wild blueberry fields of Quebec and the Maritimes, the 2026 crop once again highlights the importance of blueberries to Canada's fruit sector and rural economy.
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