Milder winter gives P.E.I. orchards a fighting chance

Record-breaking snowfall in the winter of 2014-15 was hard on P.E.I.'s apple orchards, but farmers are looking at a good harvest this year.

• P.E.I. apple crop, orchard damaged from winter weather

Last year's harvest was hurt by the heavy snows, which damaged many trees so severely they had to be cut down, and by a late spring.

Blossoms really stayed on the trees a long time.- Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley, owner of Wintermoor Orchard and president of the P.E.I. Apple Growers' Association, did not even open his U-pick last year, and had to import apples to have enough to make apple cider.

• Hard winter shutters apple U-pick

The harvest is looking much better this year.

"I think everyone is saying this year that their crop is a little above average, so that's great news from across the Island," said Ashley.

"We had a really good, it wasn't necessarily a really warm, pollination season during blossom, but it lasted a long time. Everyone says their blossoms really stayed on the trees a long time, so they got good, overall, pollination."

P.E.I. apple growers also suffered to orchardsafter a snowy winter in 2013-14.

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