Wild Rice Crop May Yet Be Saved

Wild Rice Crop May Yet Be Saved

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 13:35

The wild rice harvest is underway in northern Saskatchewan, and the news is not all bad.

Terry Helary of Northern Lights Foods — a company owned by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band — says that despite a cold summer, he’s optimistic things might be turning around for this year’s crop.

He says the recent warm temperatures are making a big difference to much of the rice.

“It was looking pretty bleak here — we had such a cool summer and high water levels, and (now) actually, with this heat that we’ve had in the last week, it’s turning things around, and some areas are actually looking quite good,” he says.

Helary says harvest began on the rivers last weekend, and the lakes should be next.

“It’s not going to be a huge crop, but we’re thinking 50 per cent of last year. (We’ll) keep our fingers and hope the warm weather stays with us.”

Helary says he hopes 2009 is a good year for all the producers out there.