News Farm
The sour cherry harvest in Norfolk County is so low that one of Ontario’s biggest growers says it’s not worth the effort to pick any fruit this year.
Jul 04, 2026 • Last updated 4 hours ago •
From left, sisters Olivia, Charlotte and Abby Waddle greet visitors at their family’s pick-your-own cherry farm, Cherry Tree Lane Farm in Simcoe. Eleven-year-old Olivia advises customers to reach high into the trees for the best cherries. “They’re always better at the top, because they get more sun,” she shared. Photo by J. P. Antonacci /Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The sour cherry crop in Norfolk County is so minimal that one of Ontario’s largest growers states it isn’t worthwhile to harvest anything this year.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“We’re not going to harvest anything. We’re not going to process anything,” said Ryan Schuyler, production manager at the Norfolk Cherry Company, a branch of Schuyler Farms.
“The blooms didn’t really come this year,” he explained. “There won’t be enough (fruit) to even bother doing anything.”
Last summer, eight million pounds of cherries grown in Ontario passed through the packing and storage facility in Simcoe.
This year, there won’t be any cherries processed at all, and the usual 120 migrant workers who help run the plant will either be sent to other farms or have their arrival postponed until the fall apple harvest.
Fresh sweet cherries available at a roadside farm market in Simcoe. The cherry harvest for 2026 is smaller than previous years. Photo by J. P. Antonacci /Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After checking out the uneven fields, the company chose to avoid incurring costs and effort opening up their processing plant, which will remain unused like it did after a spring frost wiped out the cherry crop back in 2012.
“This is part of growing sour cherries; it can really vary from year to year,” Schuyler remarked about the “cyclical” nature of this crop.
He suspects that a late April frost event followed by some cool nights in May damaged many blossoms.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“That’s likely what did it,” he added.
A farmer named Rob Waddle from Cherry Tree Lane Farm has another perspective on this situation.
“I blame it on this past winter,” Waddle stated while tending to his four acres of sweet cherries on his Simcoe farm.
The freezing temperatures that dropped down to -30 C probably froze seeds within flowers on his cherry trees, according to Waddle’s explanation.
“(The cold) burns it; then it’s dead for this year,” he noted.
Citing reduced yields due to unfavorable conditions,<Waddle reported his orchard yielded about 30% to 40% less fruit than normal."We’re way down," he said. "They’re just not that plentiful this year."
A number of cherries on his trees have split bottoms-a weather-related issue as per Waddle’s comments.
“When they get cold rain with tight skin that’s when they split,” he noted.
Although split cherries are still safe for consumption and suitable for juicing into smoothies,<Waddle explained they don’t last as long as whole cherries do."
Sweet cherries waiting for harvesting from an orchard in Simcoe. The cherry yield is lower than earlier years. Photo by J. P. Antonacci/ Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
<Waddle stopped offering pick-your-own sales for the season as of June 30 because he's concerned about customer safety using high ladders searching among few remaining sparse trees."
“<Some farm markets nearby still offer limited supplies of locally grown sweet cherries , but sour varieties popular for jams , pies , tarts , and other baked goods are practically gone here ,"Waddle mentioned."Accordingto data fromthe2021 Censusof Agriculture, Onta rio tops Canada with1 ,383 acres ofsourcherriesoutofatotalof1 ,916acres nationwide."
“<Schuyler Farms standsas Ontario'slargestgrowerofsourcherrieswitharound700acres accountingforoverhalf acreage provincewide. "
Source link
Fresh sweet cherries available at a roadside farm market in Simcoe. The cherry harvest for 2026 is smaller than previous years. Photo by J. P. Antonacci /Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After checking out the uneven fields, the company chose to avoid incurring costs and effort opening up their processing plant, which will remain unused like it did after a spring frost wiped out the cherry crop back in 2012.
“This is part of growing sour cherries; it can really vary from year to year,” Schuyler remarked about the “cyclical” nature of this crop.
He suspects that a late April frost event followed by some cool nights in May damaged many blossoms.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“That’s likely what did it,” he added.
A farmer named Rob Waddle from Cherry Tree Lane Farm has another perspective on this situation.
“I blame it on this past winter,” Waddle stated while tending to his four acres of sweet cherries on his Simcoe farm.
The freezing temperatures that dropped down to -30 C probably froze seeds within flowers on his cherry trees, according to Waddle’s explanation.
“(The cold) burns it; then it’s dead for this year,” he noted.
Citing reduced yields due to unfavorable conditions,<Waddle reported his orchard yielded about 30% to 40% less fruit than normal."We’re way down," he said. "They’re just not that plentiful this year."
A number of cherries on his trees have split bottoms-a weather-related issue as per Waddle’s comments.
“When they get cold rain with tight skin that’s when they split,” he noted.
Although split cherries are still safe for consumption and suitable for juicing into smoothies,<Waddle explained they don’t last as long as whole cherries do."
Cold Weather Affects Strawberry and Blueberry Crops Too
Sour cherries aren’t alone-other fruits across Norfolk also face low yields this season. A harsh winter followed by frosty spring conditions impacted local strawberry crops and caused some blueberry patches unable to produce any fruit this time around.”This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.”
“Strawberries were hit hard. I’ve heard apples are down too,” said Waddle.” Customers who came out looking for cherries at Cherry Tree Lane Farm had a tougher time filling their baskets compared with last season.”
“It’s not as easy picking like usual,” Waddle commented.“You need to explore around more.”
Sweet cherries waiting for harvesting from an orchard in Simcoe. The cherry yield is lower than earlier years. Photo by J. P. Antonacci/ Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
<Waddle stopped offering pick-your-own sales for the season as of June 30 because he's concerned about customer safety using high ladders searching among few remaining sparse trees."
“<Some farm markets nearby still offer limited supplies of locally grown sweet cherries , but sour varieties popular for jams , pies , tarts , and other baked goods are practically gone here ,"Waddle mentioned."Accordingto data fromthe2021 Censusof Agriculture, Onta rio tops Canada with1 ,383 acres ofsourcherriesoutofatotalof1 ,916acres nationwide."
“<Schuyler Farms standsas Ontario'slargestgrowerofsourcherrieswitharound700acres accountingforoverhalf acreage provincewide. "
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.”
“P >With no harvest taking place, thisyear, S chuylersaid any surviving berries willlikelybe consumedbybirds.”Norfolk Cherry Company stillhasfrozenstockleftoverfromlastyearto sellto industrial customers whobakeonlarge scalesandbuycherriesin significant volumes,”he explained.”Andwhile hesays there’sno qualitydifference between frozenand freshcherries evenaftera ye or twoinstorage, S chuylertook note somehomebakerswhofavorfreshfruit may find themselves disappointed.”He remainshopefulnextyearwillbring abumper cropthat could refuel inventory while likely capitalizingon higher prices resultingfromthis year’s lack offreshfruit availability.”“P >“That’s what we’re hoping for,” he concluded.“Sour Cherries Across Canada” Total acreage across Canada:1 ,916 Total acreage within Ontario:1 ,383 Leading growerin Ontario : Schuyler Farmsin Simcoe(approximately700acres) Uses include : jamcompote, bakedgoods liquorsjuicesglazes, saladdressing Also knownas: redtartcherries Sources :2021Censusof Agriculture, Norfolk Cherry Company J. P. Antonacciis an Local Journalism Initiative Reporter basedatthe . Theinitiativeisfundedbythe Governmentof Canada. Articlecontent SharethisarticleinyoursocialnetworkSource link
