Christina Lindskog picks blueberries near La Ronge, as well as at a cabin. (Submitted photo/Christina Lindskog)

By Derek Cornet

superfood

Blueberry crop best its been in decades says northern picker

Aug 11, 2023 | 2:59 PM

Blueberries are abundant in the Lac La Ronge region with one local picker saying the blueberry crop is the best it’s been in more than 20 years.

“This is the best year I have seen since I have been picking,” said Julie Powder, who sets up a camp south of Air Ronge every year. “We have certain areas we usually go to every year. We just set up camp in a good area and go out picking every morning. We usually pick five to six pails a day.”

Powder began picking blueberries in July and she expects to continue doing so until some time in September. She believes the blueberry crop is so abundant this summer due to ideal weather conditions for growing.

Powder sells a full ice cream pail of blueberries for $40 and has so far earned $1,000 in sales. She mostly picks alone, but sometimes her husband also joins her.

“I get a lot of compliments when I deliver my berries through private sales,” Powder said. “They really appreciate what I do. The wild berries are tastier. They are better than the ones you buy in the store.”

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Christina Lindskog is another local berry picker who also thinks it is a really good year for blueberries. She’s been picking for many years as well and has a loyal customer base she sells to.

Blueberries can be found growing in large clusters. (Submitted photo/Julie Powder)

Christina Lindskog said berry picking can be a fun activity for families. (Submitted photo/Christina Lindskog)

“You can pretty well go anywhere you want, walk in far enough and you can find some,” Lindskog said. “They like a lot of the moist areas and old burns. They are good in those areas too. You just got to do the walking. [On Wednesday], we picked seven or eight pails all together – three of us with my mom and my son, and there are big clusters.”

Lindskog also plans to continue picking berries until September, usually until the first frost. She has also so far earned more than $1,000 picking berries, charging $50 for the equivalent of a full ice cream pail.

While there is money to be made picking berries, Lingskog mentioned it is also nice to be out on the land. She said it’s a great way to escape from stress or anything else that’s bothering a person.

“Just go out there and scout. You have to walk in and you will be surprised on what you find,” Lindskog said. “When you are out there with your kids, you can tell them different safety rules, the directions, all of that kind of stuff. It is really good education.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com