Dry summer and blight could mean smaller apple crop in Quebec

Drier conditions and a contagious blight that spread in some parts of Quebec could mean a smaller than average apple yield, according to one farmer.

Phil Quinn, co-owner of le Perrot's Quinn Farm, said he's still expecting a large crop, but the long, hot summer affected both the size and number of apples.

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"There are fewer apples, and they're a little bit smaller, but thank goodness with the abundant rain we just just had, we're going to size up, but the apples are a little more sparse," he said.

He also said that the contagious disease known as fire blight has seriously affected some Quebec orchards. Fire blight spreads from branch to branch, leaving leaves and branches brown and wilted.

It's very easily transmitted to other trees. Insects that travel from tree-to-tree can carry it, infecting entire orchards.

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Some orchards, particularly those north of Montreal, were hit hard by the blight. Quinn estimates he lost 20 trees.

"We've had to do a lot of trimming of branches and restructuring apple trees," he said.

Beautiful day to pick apples

Despite challenging conditions, on Labour Day, Quinn's u-pick farm was packed to the brim with customers getting an early start on apple picking.

Catalina Alveraz took her two young boys to pick apples for the first time.

"It's a beautiful day, so we decided to come and get some apples," she said, helping her son Jacob pick some from higher branches.