trawberry season starts approximately the second week in June, and runs through the week of July 4th - 8th. We are open 7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm, weather permitting. Always call for an update on picking conditions or a change in our hours before coming to pick berries.
There are picnic tables and a small petting zoo for your enjoyment. It is helpful if you bring a water bottle on the really hot days and a kneepad for you early bird pickers! The dew in the fields can be heavy in the morning!
We provide picking boxes for your berries at no charge, but it is helpful if you bring your own containers for picking. It's a great way to recycle those boxes from previous years or use the ice cream buckets that are piling up in the garage. Young children like to have their own containers so it is easier for them to pick into a bucket or pail. That way they have their very own berries to show off!
We carry homemade jams, sugar-free jams, fresh honey, sweet maple syrup, a variety of creamy fruit butters and several varieties of fruit pectin's are available. We also have recipe books and cold pop for sale!
So bring your families, friends and neighbors to enjoy a beautiful day on our strawberry fields!!! There is nothing better than a fresh Minnesota grown strawberry!
Strawberry Facts
With strawberries you get flavor, fiber, potassium and 140% of the RDA for vitamin C in 1 cup of fresh berries, with only 45 calories and under 1 gram of fat.
- 1 quart weighs 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. They yield about 4 - 5 servings.
- 1 1/2 quarts are needed for a 9" pie
- 1 cup sliced fresh berries + 10oz. package of frozen berries.
- It takes 1 strawberry picker 1 minute to pick 1 pint of berries!
- The average strawberry has about 200 seeds.
Picking and Handling Tips
- Berries picked in the early morning or evening will be better than berries picked in the hot sun.
- Always pick berries with the stem on.
- Pick all of the ripe fruit large and small - look under the leaves, they like to hide. Leave bad fruit beside the row. Handle berries gently, don't pile too high in the containers.
- Place then out of the direct sunlight in your car.
- Refrigerate berries as soon as possible.
- If not serving right away, do not wash. Leave hulls on strawberries and place in container and cover with a slightly damp paper towel.
- Just before using, under a gentle spray of water, wash strawberries with the hulls still attached. Then you can remove the hulls. Let drain.
- Keep berries in refrigerator 3 - 5 days only, or freeze.
Freezing Tips
Set berries individually on a cookie sheet; making sure they don't touch each other. Put in freezer approximately 30 minutes or until frozen. Once berries are frozen, they can be packed in bags or containers for easy storage. These are great for salads or garnishes when slightly thawed. Freeze berries whole, halved or sliced. Small or soft berries are better frozen as mashed fruit or use for jam. Freeze berries with or with out sugar.
If you hate the extra step of boiling jars, try this: Invert the jars. Pour hot mixture immediately into the jars, cover and invert for 5 minutes. Make sure lids pop down.