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Guardian photo by Dave Stewart

Peter Penny, who operates a nine-acre strawberry operation in Belfast, said hes having his crop tested Monday for an unknown virus that has been attacking crops in Nova Scotia and has now shown up in P.E.I.

Peter Penny of Belfast says between last years drought and this years virus his strawberry fields are taking a beating.

Penny and his wife, Jennifer, own and operate a nine-acre strawberry operation on the Trans-Canada Highway in Belfast, within eyesight of one of their two main customers, Coopers Red & White.

Last year was a killer. The drought really stung, Peter Penny told The Guardian on Thursday. It got dry and we couldnt spray, the weeds got ahead of us. It was a tough one that we end up reaping this year.

Now theyre dealing with a virus that has been attacking crops in Nova Scotia over the past few years and has made its way onto P.E.I. fields. Tests have confirmed the virus has been found in two Island fields.

Penny said theyll have a crop this year but the strawberries wont be up to their usual standards.

Weve been watching it. Well certainly have some poor berries. The drought last summer was a killer and they just never really came back.

The Pennys are having their plants tested on Monday.

Theyre going to take samples of the leaves off the various fields from all the growers and then theyll send them away to B.C. where they will be tested. We should know the results in 10 days to two weeks.

Originally posted here:
Belfast strawberry grower says drought and virus hitting crop hard