Ontario peach season thrives in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Ontario peach growers say they’ve got good news for consumers. They say this year’s peach season is great. And they say the peach news gets even better from there.

The peaches are ripening in Niagara-on-the-Lake and peach pickers are scrambling to keep up with the harvest every day.

“They’re sweet, they’re juicy, they’re large,” said Kai Wiens, a peach grower.

This hot and steamy July in our part of the world has been perfect for peaches, it’s just what they like.

“You are going to get some great tasting peaches. you are going to get some excellent peaches this year,” said Wiens.

One of the things peaches like is this hot muggy weather this month, especially at night. That brings out the sugar in the peaches.

This year, growers are also working with new varieties. They say they’ve been bred for flavour, and they ripen earlier.

That means the peach season starts earlier, and with warmer Septembers it could last longer into the fall.

Consumers who like Niagara peaches could benefit, it’s also good for Canadian growers who could keep American peaches out of the market longer.

“We can get going earlier on the market earlier instead of having American fruit on the market you have Canadian fruit. Usually Canadian fruit is more reasonably priced,” said Phil Tregunno from Tender Fruit Growers.

Growers say they are pushing out foreign product and moving their product in. Good for Ontario’s tender fruit industry, is already worth $70 to $80 million a year.