He’s seen a few springs in his time, has farmer Bill Zylmans.
There’s nothing, however, in Zylmans’ roughly 45-year-old almanac that compares to this spring, which the owner/operator of W&A Farms said is the wettest and worst he’s ever seen.
Only two years ago — in a feature in the Richmond News — the charismatic Zylmans was waxing lyrical about the race to harvest his famous strawberry crop, on 18 acres off Westminster Highway and No. 7 Road, after the warmest winter on record.
Now Mother Nature has again turned the tables on farmers in Richmond and across the region, with Zylmans scurrying around on his plow, trying desperately to get some kind of produce to market with the little staff he has left.
“I’m pissed off right now, that’s for sure,” said Zylmans.
“This time last year, we were picking strawberries; I’d say we’re at least three to four weeks away from that.
“I’ve been in this all my life — and I’m turning 60 this year — and I’ve seen all the ups and all the downs and dealt with all kinds of problems.
“But this is definitely the worst spring we’ve ever seen. This will definitely divide the men from the boys; this is not your typical year and even I’m having to do things a bit differently this year; putting down more fertilizer across the fields to cut corners.”
Historically, added Zylmans, during some really bad seasons, “we’ve had a chance to recover – a week here or there where we could get back into it – but this spring has been a total washout; we’ve simply never had a chance.”
Zylmans, who also grows vegetables, said he has lost drivers due to the significant, weather-related delays.
“They simply couldn’t wait any longer; they went off truck driving, I think,” he said. “Last week, I looked around and it was only me and two other guys left, there’s usually about six to eight of us.
“So, there was nothing else for it. For the first time in about five years, I had to jump on the plow and start driving again. Now I’m doing the running around and the plow.”
All of his crops, said Zylmans, are delayed by at least three weeks, maybe more.
“I have no reference point in my books for this, so I’ve had to figure out in my own head, what am I going to sell in the store?” he said.
“It’s not completely lost, but it is severely delayed. We’re playing catch-up big time now.
“We’re going to have to cut corners and do the best we can to get some kind of crop to the public
“If I’m being optimistic — and I usually am — I’d say June 10 for the strawberries; give or take a couple of days.”
The extended weather forecast for Richmond may put a smile on Zylmans’ face, with warm and sunny days ahead for the next week, at least.
