Strawberry Season starts late May and lasts for about 4 weeks.
Rules
- Do NOT throw the berries.
- Children must be monitored at all times.
- As with other fruit, sampling is OK, but gluttony is theft. We want you to know what you are picking, but please do not eat more than a few.
- Do not wander to other fields. Only pick the fruit that is advertised as being ripe.
- It is OK to sit a short while and enjoy our farm. But please understand that we are not a park, and need to cover our costs by selling food.
How to Pick the Best Berry!
- Color is a primary indicator of ripeness. If it isn’t red, it isn’t ripe.
- Go for berries that are red all the way to the tip.
- Pale or white shoulders = underripe (they won’t get sweeter later).
- They should feel firm but not hard.
- Mushy spots = overripe or starting to spoil.
Pro Tip: Smaller strawberries often pack more flavor than the giant show-offs!
After Picking Care
- Washing is always recommended before eating fruit.
- Make sure the berries are fully dry before putting them in an air tight container in your fridge.
- You can even place a towel at the bottom of your container to catch any lingering moisture.
- First, wash and dry them, then cap the berries (slice off the green foliage),
Freezing Instructions
If you wish to freeze your strawberries;
- First, properly wash and dry you berries as instructed above
- Next, cap the berries (slice off the leafy crown and bit of white flesh). Feel free to even slice or dice them at this point.
- Then, lay them out on a baking sheet, make sure they aren’t touching.
- After that, place the baking sheet in a freezer overnight.
- Finally, scoop them into a plastic bag or container of your choosing.
You now have berries that will keep for up to a year and can be used for pies, jam/jelly, or any baked good of your choosing!
Varieties
- Earliglow – Small to medium, very early, the “reference” berry for great taste!
- Flavorfest – Medium to large, firm, very sweet, developed in Maryland
- Keepsake – A new improved version of Flavorfest, developed by USDA in Maryland
- AC Wendy – Medium to large, sweet mid-season berry
- AC Valley Sunset – Large, glossy red, sweet. Late season berry