Historic hot, dry conditions give Abbotsford farmers late season push
A historically hot and dry September has given a farm in B.C.’s Fraser Valley a much-needed boost.
At Maan Farms in Abbotsford, heavy rainfall led to field rot last fall, and after a wet and cool start to the summer, it was looking like it could be much of the same.
However, after the driest and warmest September in the city’s history, Maan Farms is back on track.
"Our pumpkins are beautiful," farmer Amir Maan told CTV News.
"When you go through the field, every pumpkin is perfect.”
While the product will be top notch, Maan says the rocky start to summer has led to supply issues.
"One thing people don't think about is that pumpkins actually grow over four months, you need 120 good days," he said.
"In the spring when it was so cold and wet, many farmers couldn't grow their plants, so that means people who dedicated 40, 50, 60 acres, we dedicated 20 and can probably only grow about 12," said Maan.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon, these unprecedented stretches of weather are becoming more common.
"We've been noticing that we do get stuck in these persistent patterns," Sekhon said.
"We saw a delayed summer where we were stuck in an unsettled pattern, of course last fall we were stuck in a wet pattern, and last summer we were stuck in a hot pattern.”
As for Maan, he says to hurry out before it's too late.
"Go out to the nearest farm and buy your pumpkin while you still can," he said.
"The supply might be low, but the quality is perfect.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.