2023-09-03 19:43:46
Strongly affected by climate change, Quebec apple growers are asking for funding from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) in order to facilitate the adaptation and modernization of orchards in the province.
A total of $30 million over six years was requested by the president of the Quebec Apple Producers, Éric Rochon. The latter took advantage of the start of the apple-growing season to make the announcement during a press conference on Sunday morning.
“Our adaptation issues are enormous and have significant repercussions on all links in the chain, from production to distribution, not to mention consumers,” raises the man who also owns the Rochon et Frères farm.
With extreme weather events increasing due to climate change, the lack of a funding program is hurting producers more and more. The Government Orchard Modernization Program expired in March 2021.
“The 2023 summer season is characterized by unprecedented extreme weather events. […] The government must support the apple sector in order to adopt a strategy for growth and adaptation to today’s new realities,” said the general president of the Union des producteurs agricole, Martin Caron.
Union of agricultural producers
A different request
In 40 years of operation on Île d’Orléans, Domaine Orléans co-owner Jacques Paradis has seen demand change over the years as later apples are increasingly popular as they keep longer.
“Early variety apples are on the way out. As the cost of groceries increases enormously during the winter, people are much more likely to turn to apples that can be kept longer,” he explains.
This therefore implies planting new apple trees and by the very fact of adjusting since these will not produce for a few more years.
“We have to uproot and replant new varieties. But when you uproot an apple tree that is already producing and you replant another, you have it for at least 5 or 6 years, but at the same time it’s necessary because without that we won’t survive, “he said. He specifies.
Difficult for succession
He also adds that even if it’s not too much of a problem for him at the moment, the lack of funding could seriously hurt the next generation in apple growing eventually.
“Obviously it will take funding if we want to keep it, because the young people who are in the business and who acquire orchards will have to adapt and that will be expensive.
Watering and spraying are examples of this, whereas in 40 years the number has gone from about seven per year to a good twenty, and the cost is about $600 per operation.
“The products cost $700 to $800 per litre. It is very expensive, but again, we have no choice because of climate change, so these are adaptations that are expensive, ”he concluded.
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