A Saskatoon-area farm has suffered significant losses after a severe hailstorm devastated its strawberry crops, marking a challenging end to a difficult growing season.

Manager Chloe Kook described the scene upon arrival at Prairie Pathways farm on Monday morning, noting widespread hail damage that rendered the crop unrecoverable this season.

The storm, which occurred over the weekend, compounded existing issues like wind and cloudy weather, forcing the farm to pivot plans just days before its opening weekend.

Despite the setback, Kook expressed hope for the farm’s recovery, emphasizing community support and plans to offer local food and snacks during the event.While the strawberry fields are beyond salvage, the corn maze and pumpkin patches remain intact, offering a glimmer of optimism.Nearby, Black Fox Farm and Distillery reported no hail damage, though they faced unseasonable weather delays affecting their peony harvest.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of agricultural operations to extreme weather events, underscoring the need for resilience in the farming sector.