Plenty to savor after early Wisconsin spring

An early spring followed by a late frost could have meant trouble for Wisconsin fruit and vegetable growers.

“This was a different type of year, and we continue to keep our ear on what UW-Extension folks and our growers are saying,” said Bob Battaglia, Director USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Wisconsin Field Office located at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “Our most recent Wisconsin Crop Progress report shows that we have had almost twice as many warm weather days earlier in the season than usual.”

While crop damage from the late frosts is still being assessed, one thing the unusually early warm weather may bring is an early harvest season for some crops. For example, the most active harvesting dates for sweet corn are usually in the middle of August, but it may start the first of August this year.

Many growers took extreme precautions to protect their fruit crops this spring, using sprinklers and other systems to keep the buds from freezing. The good news is that consumers should still be able to expect their favorite fresh fruits, including strawberries, but the question is when.

“The bounty of the crops will vary greatly from locality to locality with some crops coming much earlier than expected,” added Audra Hubbell, a research analyst. “Call your favorite pick-your-own spot ahead to make sure you don’t miss a family outing to pick strawberries or participate in another on-the-farm family tradition.” Ashland Current

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