While it’s been a dry year across much of southern Manitoba, local vegetable growers near Portage la Prairie say the 2025 harvest is holding up surprisingly well.
Rebecca McKay, who helps run Kyle’s Fresh Vegetables just outside of Austin, says the growing conditions have been challenging, but manageable.
“Our slough is a little bit drier than normal, so we’re definitely battling with that,” she remarks. “But we’re managing.”
McKay notes that the plot used for vegetable production covers about seven acres, and the growing season so far has been steady.
“So far so good. Definitely need more rain, but it’s coming along good,” she says.
Potatoes, beans and cucumbers thriving
Despite the early dryness, certain crops have responded well this year. Potatoes and beans are especially popular with customers, while cucumbers are emerging as a standout.
“Honestly, I would say that our cucumbers are coming in really nice. They’re probably doing the best so far,” says McKay.
She adds that demand for fresh beans has been high, as local shoppers are eager to grab them while they’re in season.
“Everybody’s really excited the beans are coming in now,” she continues.
Common vegetables like onions, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers and zucchini have also been doing well, with a wide variety reaching maturity around mid-July; roughly in line with previous years.
“This is about the normal time that he [Kyle] starts,” she says of the business’s usual harvest. “He likes to get first to the market and have the freshest of the fresh going out, and then we continue all the way through September, October.”
Local customers keep coming back
While the weather has been less than ideal at times, McKay says community support helps keep local vegetable growers going. Whether it’s people from town or travellers passing through, there’s strong appreciation for farm-fresh produce.
“Honestly, everybody, locals, people driving through town, lots of people that knew him from previous locations—[they’re] coming out to support all the way out here,” she notes. “Just reliably fresh. They come back for what they like, right?”
Kyle’s Fresh Vegetables operates Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., depending on how quantities last, located in the West End Tim Hortons parking lot in Portage la Prairie.
They also sell at the McGregor Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays.
McKay encourages anyone interested in fresh local vegetables to follow along online for updates about what’s in season and when.
“You can give us a follow on Facebook at Kyle’s Fresh Vegetables,” she says. “I post when we do have new stuff coming and where we’re going to be."
With harvest in full swing and plenty more vegetables on the way, local growers in the Portage region are staying optimistic, even as they keep an eye on the sky for rain.
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