Local cherry farmer optimistic despite cooler temps slowing harvest
A cherry farmer we spoke to in North East is experiencing a delay in his harvest due to cooler temperatures, which are affecting the ripening process.
Jason Wagner of Westgate Farms reports that the cool weather is slowing down the ripening of cherries, though he remains optimistic about the crop's resilience. The farm, located on 4.5 acres, relies on 'pick your own' customers for a significant portion of its sales.
Arctic weather presents unique problems for Erie farmer
'I'm not too afraid of it yet,' said Jason Wagner of Westgate Farms. 'Obviously, we need the sun and warm weather to ripen the cherries, but the cool weather here and there always makes them hardier so that they don't drop off in June.'
Wagner noted that while the cooler temperatures are slowing the ripening process, they also help make the cherries hardier. He explained that the cherries are less likely to drop prematurely in June due to the cooler weather.
However, Wagner expressed concerns about the potential for too much water, which can cause cherries to crack once they start to ripen. 'Right now we can still use the water which we have been getting plenty of because they will size up the cherries,' he said. 'But with cold weather, with a lot of wet doesn't dry off, so you can worry about fungus and stuff.'
Erie Co. owes over $500,000 after ECGRA audit comes back clean
Wagner also mentioned that this year's weather is different compared to previous years, as he has not needed to irrigate the cherries to get them up to size, a task he hasn't had to do in five years.
Despite the challenges posed by the cooler temperatures, Wagner remains hopeful about the cherry crop, emphasizing the importance of a balance between sun and rain for optimal growth.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports
-- In the latest development signaling progress in cross-border defense cooperation, Canada and the United States have begun exchanging a working document outlining the potential terms of a new bilateral security deal. The draft, fewer than five pages, has been sent between Ottawa and Washington, according to reporting by CBC News and Radio-Canada. Sources familiar with the talks told CBC that the document includes a framework for Canadian participation in the 'Golden Dome' security initiative, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposal also incorporates pledges for increased Canadian infrastructure investment in the Arctic and renewed commitments to meeting NATO defense spending targets. Despite signs of movement, officials involved in the process are cautioning against premature conclusions. 'There's no deal agreed upon by both countries,' a Canadian government official told CBC, speaking on background due to the confidential nature of the negotiations. The same official added that such documents are common as countries test the waters in complex discussions: 'In a negotiation, there will be many documents sent back and forth with several hypothetical scenarios.' While the text provides a structural basis for talks, sources suggest multiple issues remain unresolved. Two sources confirmed to CBC that there is no expectation of a finalized agreement in time for the G7 summit slated to take place in Alberta next week. This indicates that, while the process has advanced, significant hurdles remain before anything can be formally announced. Both sides are said to be weighing domestic and geopolitical considerations linked to the deal's provisions. The stakes are high, with long-term security collaboration and defense readiness among the core components under review. Related articles Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports U.S. suspends nuclear equipment supplier licenses to China amid trade war Trump discusses Ukraine war, Iran with Putin Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports
-- In the latest development signaling progress in cross-border defense cooperation, Canada and the United States have begun exchanging a working document outlining the potential terms of a new bilateral security deal. The draft, fewer than five pages, has been sent between Ottawa and Washington, according to reporting by CBC News and Radio-Canada. Sources familiar with the talks told CBC that the document includes a framework for Canadian participation in the 'Golden Dome' security initiative, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposal also incorporates pledges for increased Canadian infrastructure investment in the Arctic and renewed commitments to meeting NATO defense spending targets. Despite signs of movement, officials involved in the process are cautioning against premature conclusions. 'There's no deal agreed upon by both countries,' a Canadian government official told CBC, speaking on background due to the confidential nature of the negotiations. The same official added that such documents are common as countries test the waters in complex discussions: 'In a negotiation, there will be many documents sent back and forth with several hypothetical scenarios.' While the text provides a structural basis for talks, sources suggest multiple issues remain unresolved. Two sources confirmed to CBC that there is no expectation of a finalized agreement in time for the G7 summit slated to take place in Alberta next week. This indicates that, while the process has advanced, significant hurdles remain before anything can be formally announced. Both sides are said to be weighing domestic and geopolitical considerations linked to the deal's provisions. The stakes are high, with long-term security collaboration and defense readiness among the core components under review. Related articles Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports U.S. suspends nuclear equipment supplier licenses to China amid trade war Trump discusses Ukraine war, Iran with Putin
Washington Post
17 hours ago
- Washington Post
Greenland and Iceland saw record heat in May. What does that mean for the world?
Human-caused climate change boosted Iceland and Greenland 's temperatures by several degrees during a record-setting May heat wave, raising concerns about the far-reaching implications melting Arctic ice has for weather around the world, scientists said in an analysis released Wednesday. The Greenland ice sheet melted many times faster than normal during the heat wave, according to the analysis by World Weather Attribution, with at least two communities seeing record temperatures for May. Parts of Iceland saw temperatures more than 10°C (18 °F) above average, and the country set a record for its warmest temperature in May when Egilsstadir Airport hit 26.6°C (79.9 F) on May 15.
