Yesterday we got up early and went to pick strawberries. You know, REAL strawberries. The ones with flavor. 🙂
I had tried to find a u-pick place that was closer, but they were already done for the season so we ended up at Gillespie Farms {which is owned by Pineland Farms} and the berries there were $3.95 a pound.
Last year at Maxwell’s Berries we paid $4.25 a pound which I thought was kind of steep but some things are just worth paying big bucks for. And fresh, local strawberries are one of them.
At the farmstand they had herbs for sale for $4 a pot.
Rhubarb was $6 a pound! What is rhubarb going for in your neck of the woods?
They also had lettuce bowls for $20. Cut and harvest again lettuce. I used to do that. 🙂
After we collected our picking container we were driven out to the field.
There were TONS of strawberry plants!
But sadly, once we were down in the rows a lot of the berries were past their prime.
I think we missed the best strawberries though because it was a bit of a challenge to find the good ones.
Note to self: Go early in the season next year.
All I could think about was making a strawberry shortcake while I was picking. Luckily we ended up with plenty for that and some berries for snacking too.
I briefly thought about making a batch of jam, but my husband just bought a giant jar at Costco and I think I’d rather make blueberry lime jam this year for the pantry instead.
They also had U-Pick flowers at the farm {what a great idea!!}. Kiln Guy are you reading this? They had the most beautiful zinnias!
The price for U-Pick flowers was $15 to fill a vase or $50 to fill a bucket!
There was a lady there with 3 buckets {!!} picking flowers and all I could think was Lady… You can come to my house and I’ll let you pick my flowers for $150.
The HH said that would be weird though. Husbands. They’re a strange lot. But hey, it was a great date day plus we came home with real fruit.
And sometimes, that’s all you need. 😉
I’m curious though, what are the u-pick prices like in YOUR area? I’d love to know.
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis
Sam says
I just picked last Saturday for $3.50 a pound in Minnesota , South of the Twin Cities. I picked enough for 1 batch jam and two strawberry rhubarb pies ( free rhubarb from SILs neighbor is already prepped and measured) I was hoping to go again this morning but might need to cut my grass and can’t handle the heat for both projects, but we’ll see once I’m really going for the day. Many weren’t quite ripe so thought today would be perfect for easy picking.
Briamna says
Most of the strawberry farms here in NOVA were hit with neopestalotiopsis fungus, so little to no production of strawberries and certainly no pick your own. A lot of farms are struggling with pests and fungus problems lately. I know many farmers who don’t do u-pick for this reason.
Cheryl says
Live in South West PA and strawberries have been done for a couple of weeks. I spent $10.00 for a qt of strawberries for my husband but that is once a year.
Mallory Lemieux says
These humid days do a number on the strawberries – I’m glad you were still able to find some good ones though!
In the past, Pineland/Gillespie Farms has occasionally advertised pre-picked flats of “jam berries” for an amazing price. So keep your eye on their social media if you have jam on the brain. Cornerstone Country Market in Waterboro also gets in bulk berries on and off.
I wonder if the woman was picking flowers for an event? That would make DIY arrangements pretty affordable!
Cindy Brick says
Sadly, it’s too dry here in southern Colorado for strawberries. (‘Wuah, wuah,’ as Daughter #2 says.) I miss the bounty we had in Michigan, where I grew up.
The main crop here is potatoes — and it’s too early for that. But I enjoyed the quick peek at HH’s cute legs!
SueD says
$3.50/lb where I live in Michigan, but yesterday was the last day for u-pick where we usually go. Going to a local farm stand tomorrow, hoping for. Couple of pounds to make strawberry jam. We do like it in a Victoria Sponge.
Jamie N says
I live 8 minutes for a few different u-pick farms, but stopped going about three years ago. Two different mothers had their little boys with them. When the boys said they needed to go to the bathroom, instead of taking them to the ports potty, they told them to just go there while they kept picking. The boys were “watering” the strawberry plants like a fire hose dousing plants all down whatever row they were on. Then another boy saw and joined in. The mothers just kept on picking. I was so grossed out I left.
I really love the signs in your pictures. I hope it’s because they are just trying to have good food safety, and not because of similar experiences.
Lana says
We had a field near our vacation house years ago and after they were done for the season they opened up the field for free picking. It was a lot of work picking through them but our kids were still at home and enjoyed the treasure hunt.
On another strawberry topic-if you have sip club at Panera they have a new Strawberry Basil Lemonade Fresca and it is delicious and loaded with fresh strawberries which I happily picked through the ice at the end to eat after the drink was gone. It tasted of fresh strawberries and was not over sweet. I will be living on these all summer!
HollyG says
Most of the U-pick stands here (northern Willamette Valley) are finished for the summer, but they ran about $3.00 per pound.
Gigi says
$3.75/lb in northern Wisconsin. They were ok. The farm needed to use more straw so lots were rotten on the bottom. Did see a birds nest in the strawberries with 3 eggs.
andrea d says
When my daughters and I went a couple weeks ago we paid $3.00/lb (Eastern PA). It was slim pickins’ at the tail end of the season, but three of us still managed to pick 15 lbs in just under an hour (had to pick fast b/c we got there an hour before closing time). We all agreed though, that even a ‘bad’ strawberry fresh picked is better than a good store bought strawberry. Nothing better than fresh sun-kissed berries.