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Strawberry fields yield early crop
United States
Thursday 29 May 2008
The first local strawberries are ready, but you needed a winter parka not a T-shirt and a sun hat to pick them Tuesday.
The early strawberries grown under plastic tunnels or in plastic-covered mounds of earth are an eagerly awaited treat in Essex County.
"Ohhh, yeah," said Bruce Chapman Tuesday when asked if he'd been waiting to buy local strawberries. Chapman said he'd been driving past Raymont's Berries northeast of Cottam daily during the last week as he waited for some of the first local berries. He bought four quart baskets Tuesday and said the berries would last a day.
"It's all you've got to do when you're retired is eat berries," he joked.
Strawberry grower Brad Raymont said he started picking a few strawberries Friday and by this week had enough to keep his roadside stand open all day. His stand is at 447 Road 9 -- also known as County Road 14 -- and he expects that by the weekend, other fruit stands will also be carrying his berries. He is charging $4 a quart.
He said the cool weather shouldn't hurt the berries, although he was expecting a sleepless night Tuesday making sure the temperature didn't dip too low to harm the crop. Earlier this year he saved his berry plants from freezing by spraying water on them all night. He said the cooler weather will allow the berries to grow larger before they must be picked.
Raymont said he expects his other strawberries grown the traditional way won't be ready for at least three weeks. Depending on the weather, they may be a week or two behind.
The berries grown in the plastic-covered mounds are about a week later than usual, he said.
For the first time, Raymont is also trying to grow strawberry plants in a tunnel of white plastic. It was the only spot in the field Tuesday out of the wind and cold.
"For sure, it's been a different year this year."
The forecast calls for sun today and Thursday with a high of 23 C Thursday and a low of 9. There is a 30 per cent chance of showers Friday and more showers expected Saturday with a high of 21. Raymont said that temperature, close to 70 for those who still think in fahrenheit, is perfect weather for berries.
The early strawberries grown under plastic tunnels or in plastic-covered mounds of earth are an eagerly awaited treat in Essex County.
"Ohhh, yeah," said Bruce Chapman Tuesday when asked if he'd been waiting to buy local strawberries. Chapman said he'd been driving past Raymont's Berries northeast of Cottam daily during the last week as he waited for some of the first local berries. He bought four quart baskets Tuesday and said the berries would last a day.
"It's all you've got to do when you're retired is eat berries," he joked.
Strawberry grower Brad Raymont said he started picking a few strawberries Friday and by this week had enough to keep his roadside stand open all day. His stand is at 447 Road 9 -- also known as County Road 14 -- and he expects that by the weekend, other fruit stands will also be carrying his berries. He is charging $4 a quart.
He said the cool weather shouldn't hurt the berries, although he was expecting a sleepless night Tuesday making sure the temperature didn't dip too low to harm the crop. Earlier this year he saved his berry plants from freezing by spraying water on them all night. He said the cooler weather will allow the berries to grow larger before they must be picked.
Raymont said he expects his other strawberries grown the traditional way won't be ready for at least three weeks. Depending on the weather, they may be a week or two behind.
The berries grown in the plastic-covered mounds are about a week later than usual, he said.
For the first time, Raymont is also trying to grow strawberry plants in a tunnel of white plastic. It was the only spot in the field Tuesday out of the wind and cold.
"For sure, it's been a different year this year."
The forecast calls for sun today and Thursday with a high of 23 C Thursday and a low of 9. There is a 30 per cent chance of showers Friday and more showers expected Saturday with a high of 21. Raymont said that temperature, close to 70 for those who still think in fahrenheit, is perfect weather for berries.
