Esta nota resumida muestra que también en la fruta tardía de Michigan e Indiana que podría ser de guarda, se han producido pérdidas por las inusuales heladas que sufrieron el pasado abril. Los menos damnificados fueron los productores mas cercanos a los lagos. Aquí parte de la nota
Location is key to protecting blueberry crops from the area's wildly intemperate spring weather. Most of northern Indiana's blueberry farms are located in a northeasterly swath from DeMotte through LaPorte County to Fort Wayne, said LaPorte County Extension Educator for agriculture and natural resources Gene Matzat.
Most of northern Indiana's blueberry farms are located in a northeasterly swath from DeMotte through LaPorte County to Fort Wayne, said LaPorte County Extension Educator for agriculture and natural resources Gene Matzat. Some berry farms, within 10 to 15 miles of Lake Michigan, were protected from April's freeze.
Max Whitcomb of Kouts picks Blueberries at Blue Sky Blueberry Farm in Wanatah on Thursday. (Michael McArdle/Post-Tribune)
Some berry farms, within 10 to 15 miles of Lake Michigan, were protected from April's freeze. "The lake has a buffering effect," Matzat said.
But others, like Eenigenburg's Blueberries in DeMotte, located in the Kankakee Valley, sustained a damaging freeze because temperatures dipped lower in the valley.
Max Whitcomb of Kouts picks Blueberries at Blue Sky Blueberry Farm in Wanatah on Thursday. (Michael McArdle/Post-Tribune)
Some berry farms, within 10 to 15 miles of Lake Michigan, were protected from April's freeze. "The lake has a buffering effect," Matzat said.
But others, like Eenigenburg's Blueberries in DeMotte, located in the Kankakee Valley, sustained a damaging freeze because temperatures dipped lower in the valley.
"I lost 30 percent and I was very fortunate," said owner Barb Eenigenburg, who opened for the season last week. It's only the second time in 40 years that her farm endured a freeze.
Some other local growers weren't as lucky. Van Kley Blueberries cancelled its pick-your-own this year and is selling over-the-counter only, a representative said. Zylastra's was closed Thursday. A phone message at the farm said there was a limited crop this year because of severe frost and that the farm would be open for business today. Pat Goin, co-owner of Goin's Blueberry Lane in North Judson, said she lost 60 percent of her crop. She usually hires 40 people, but will only hire 10 to 15 this summer. Goin was hesitant to reveal just how much, in dollars, her farm lost. "I don't want to say," she said. "It's a lot."
Blue Sky Berry Farm in Wanatah, which is nearer to Lake Michigan's buffer zone, saw little damage, said co-owner Jennifer VanMeter.
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