Unusually dry conditions across parts of Eastern Canada, especially Nova Scotia, have sharply reduced blueberry yields and other crops, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada describing some areas' past three months as the driest on record. Farmers report roughly half the usual production, squeezing incomes while costs remain unchanged. Experts connect the trend to warming-driven changes in precipitation; buyers can source supplies elsewhere briefly, but long-term resilience requires cutting planet-heating emissions. In the short term, consumers can mitigate impact by shopping seasonally, choosing frozen or alternative options, and reducing food waste.
Drought Slashes Nova Scotia Blueberry Harvest — Grocery Prices Likely to Rise
Unusually dry conditions across parts of Eastern Canada, especially Nova Scotia, have sharply reduced blueberry yields and other crops, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada describing some areas' past three months as the driest on record. Farmers report roughly half the usual production, squeezing incomes while costs remain unchanged. Experts connect the trend to warming-driven changes in precipitation; buyers can source supplies elsewhere briefly, but long-term resilience requires cutting planet-heating emissions. In the short term, consumers can mitigate impact by shopping seasonally, choosing frozen or alternative options, and reducing food waste.
02:20 PM, 11/13/2025Environment
Drought slashes blueberry harvest and threatens grocery prices
Farmers across parts of Canada — particularly in Nova Scotia and Eastern Canada — are warning that an unusually dry season has dramatically reduced blueberry yields and is likely to put upward pressure on retail prices.
“The dry weather has dropped most of our crops in half,” said Terry Prescott, a blueberry grower in Nova Scotia, speaking to BNN Bloomberg.
Through September, many regions experienced extended periods without meaningful rain, which reduced crop yields and even left some drinking-water wells running dry, CBC reports. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says some areas of Nova Scotia have just recorded their driest three months on record.
“What's exceptional about it is not only the lack of precipitation, but the incredibly long periods of time between any rain whatsoever,” said Ian Spooner, a professor at Acadia University, according to CBC.
Blueberries are not the only crop affected. The government agency reports sharply reduced yields for apples, corn, beans, carrots, pumpkins and potatoes — a combination that squeezes supply and can push prices higher for shoppers.
Farmers are feeling the impact on incomes: “We have half as much product to sell, and half as much income and all of the expenses are still the same,” Prescott told BNN Bloomberg.
Experts link these shifts in precipitation to rising global temperatures, which alter weather patterns and can produce longer, more intense dry spells in some regions. While large buyers can sometimes source supplies from other areas in the short term, recurring losses to yields and local economies point to the need for long-term action to reduce planet-heating emissions.
What this means for shoppers
In the near term, consumers may see higher prices for blueberries and other affected produce. Shoppers can reduce the impact on household budgets by buying strategically — for example, choosing seasonal or frozen alternatives, reducing food waste, and comparing prices across stores.
If you rely on local produce, consider supporting farmers' markets and community initiatives that can help farmers manage risk and maintain local food systems.
Sources: BNN Bloomberg; CBC; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.