Buzz
Late September to mid-November marks the cranberry harvest season at farms in the Richmond region of British Columbia, Canada. All farms are dyed crimson with ripe, juicy cranberries...
Richmond is a coastal city in the province of British Columbia, Canada, ranking as the fourth-largest city in this far western province after Vancouver, Surrey, and Burnaby.
Blueberry bushes mainly grow in the marshlands of temperate countries, and this type of plant is extensively cultivated across various states of North America, especially in Canada and the United States.
Canada is a significant blueberry-producing region in North America. The annual blueberry harvest accounts for about 60% of the total production, with blueberry farms in Richmond contributing approximately 38% of the national total.
The area of lakes and marshes in British Columbia covers approximately 26 million square meters, ranking fourth in the North American region after Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Quebec. Nearly 95% of the blueberry harvest is concentrated in the Fraser River Valley region, accounting for about 17,000 tons on 2,200 hectares.
Blueberry harvest season in the Richmond marshlands falls between late September to mid-November and must be completed during the rainy season.
The serene countryside scenery from afar under the cool, fresh air, with ripe blueberries tinged crimson spreading across a region, covering the marshes, ponds, and lakes of Richmond's farms.
Before preparing for harvest, all farms clear drainage channels, allowing just enough water to flood the blueberry bushes in the marshes. Then, workers use machines to shake the branches, separating them from the berries.
Because the berries are lighter than water, they will vividly float, brightly adorning the surface of the farm's flooded marshes during the harvest season, forming a sea of vibrant red blueberries covering the entire surface.
Next, workers wade into the marshes using plastic tubes to push the berries back into clusters, then use long floating ropes resembling fishermen's nets. The washing process is the final stage in the marshes before being packed into wooden crates and transported to market.
The primary means of transportation is by trucks, with over 90% of farms in North America transporting by truck. However, for dried blueberries harvested from the marshes, freezing processing is required before loading onto trucks.
The water beneath the marsh is quite deep, reaching chest-high in some places, always tangled with clinging vines at the base. Most workers harvesting blueberries in the marshes must wear life jackets to ensure safety.
Blueberry marshes always yield high productivity, ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 tons per blueberry acre.
The prolonged harvesting period of over a month often disrupts the lives of marsh creatures.
When ripe, blueberries have a sweet and tangy flavor, so people living here have historically used them as both food and medicine to treat ailments such as calcium deficiency, anemia, etc., as they are rich in vitamin C, iron, potassium, organic acids, and antioxidants.
The majority of harvested blueberries are processed into juice, sauce, and dried blueberries with added sugar, while the remaining fresh ones are sold to consumers.
Blueberry sauce is a traditional staple for Thanksgiving Day in the United States and Canada, as well as for winter festivities in Europe.
Apart from being used to make fruit juice, food..., blueberries are also fermented into cranberry wine.
Information for you:
- Blueberry harvest season falls between late September to mid-November.
- Workers operate on weekends.
Farm addresses:
- 3362 7th Avenue, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
- Maybog Farm, 15411 Cambie Street, British Columbia, Canada.
- Jagbar Company Farm, 3011 Nelson Street, British Columbia, Canada.
From Tuoitre.vn
***
Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourNovember 6, 2015
