P.E.I. blueberry growers offer $10K reward for info on vandalism

The PEI Wild Blueberry Growers Association has put up a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of theperson or persons responsible forwhat it characterizesas a case of "extreme vandalism" that took place almost a year ago.

According to the association, grower Terence MacDonald left two tractors and related harvesting equipment parked in a field southwest of Mount Stewart on August 23, 2015.

Overnight the tractors were started up "by persons unidentified," according to a media release from the association, and "were driven into each other and into trees, causing extensive damage to the tractors and the two harvesters that were mounted on the tractors."

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Association president John Handrahan said there have been other incidents of vandalism, "but nothing to the extent of damage that was done in this incident. This was pretty shocking."

According to the association, the damage rendered the equipment inoperable for the remainder of last year's harvest and cost $50,000 to repair.

Handrahan saidit took some time for the RCMP investigation to run its course, and he saidthe association had to debate the issue at its annual meeting this spring before offering up the reward, using funds from members' dues.

At that point they decided to wait until the August harvest to issue the reward, "when blueberries are on people's mind to bring this case forward again."

The logistics of the blueberry harvest often require that growers leave equipment parked in fields far from where they live, Handrahan said, "so we feel this is sort of an attack on all growers, or a threat to all growers. That if this goes without some sort of association or industry response, it would not send a good message to those people who seem to think agricultural equipment are their playtoys."

Handrahan said the police investigation led to some tips coming in, but there isn't enough information so far to lead to charges.

His association is asking anyone with information to call RCMP or Crimestoppers.

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