Summer ushers in sunshine and strawberries.
The primary season for this popular fruit in Michigan is in June according to Derek Plotkowski, Michigan State University Extension fruit extension educator.
“This year, strawberry harvest began in the warmest parts of the state in late May,” Plotkowski said in an email. “The season at a given farm usually lasts about two weeks, though that depends on the varieties a farm is growing. The season for June-bearing strawberries usually wraps up in early July.”
Stotz Berry Farm on Albain Road opened last week, offering customers the options to pick-your-own strawberries or buy pre-picked ones.
On the 15-acre farm, five acres are reserved to grow Jewel strawberries. Ben Stotz owns the farm started by his father Bill Stotz.
Since opening on June 11, the Monroe farm has sold more than 4,000 quarts and estimates its strawberry season will last two weeks. The farm provides containers for customers picking their own berries.
Once picked, Stotz recommends storing the berries dry and cold.
“If washed right away, make sure to damp them off with a paper towel and store in the fridge at 35 degrees or so,” Stotz said.
He says the fresh fruit taste is not the same as what is found in the grocery store and he enjoys being able to provide fresh produce to his customers.
In Michigan, Plotkowski says a wide variety of strawberries are grown and are usually either everbearing or June bearing.
“Everbearing strawberries are berries whose flowers do not respond to the daylength, which allows them to flower and produce fruit for a longer period of time,” he said.
The season for everbearing strawberries can go into fall. Yields are generally lower than the June bearing strawberries which are more commonly grown.
“Usually June-bearing strawberry varieties are classified into early, mid-season, or late bearing varieties depending on what part of the season they are picked,” Plotkowski added. “Unlike apples, it is not common to label (or) identify the strawberry variety at the market or even in the u-pick fields.”
Common varieties grown in Michigan include Allstar, Annapolis, Honeoye and Jewel.
“According to the USDA, the top counties in Michigan for acres of strawberries are Manistee, Washtenaw and Macomb, with Monroe coming in at No.10 with 24 acres,” Plotkowski said.
Whittaker’s Berry Farm on Todd Road offers pick-your-own berries.
According to the Ida farm’s Facebook page, customers can pick Allstar strawberries, a very deep orange berry with an exceptional flavor and perfect for freezing, jams, pies and shortcake.
The farm’s average season is approximately 18-20 days in length so the business encourages customers to sign up for its mail list to receive daily updates during harvest and for the most “real time” updates.
Plotkowski says different strawberry farms will have varying hours, with pick times ending once the field has been picked over.
“It is not uncommon for a strawberry U-pick to close for a few days to allow for strawberries to ripen in time for another pick,” he said. “You should follow social media pages from your favorite strawberry farms to keep up to date on their hours. If you can’t make it to a farm, many growers will sell their fruit at farm stands and farmer’s markets.”
U-pick farms in Michigan
If you looking to pick your own strawberries in Michigan, upickfarmsusa.com offers a list of many farms that offer different produce that you can pick, not just strawberries. The steps are simple — choose what you want to pick, find your state, find a county near you then view the farms in your area that offer pick-your-own produce.
Know of a new business in Monroe County? Email the information to reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: It’s strawberry season. These farms offer pick-your-own berries
Reporting by Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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