Here’s What You Need To Know Before You Go Strawberry Picking

Berries abound during the summertime, and that’s what makes the pick-your-own season so special. From strawberries to blackberries and blueberries, finding the freshest fruit straight from the farm is a whole lot more exciting than rummaging through raspberries at your supermarket to see which ones are at their peak — and which are past their prime. But strawberry picking isn’t as simple as snapping some stems and collecting the ruby red fruit in a bucket. If you’re planning to spend a fun afternoon at the farm, here’s what you need to know before you go strawberry picking.

There’s no denying that getting your hands dirty directly connects you to Mother Nature. You feel a sense of being one with the world, and a higher purpose. Or, at the very least, you come home with enough fruit to fill your bellies the entire summer. That said, the fruit that you pick somehow tastes sweeter, and you can always boast that the strawberry shortcake you baked came from berries you plucked with your own two hands. Still, you’ll need to know a few facts that will help make you more prepared so that you can enjoy the day with your family.

Bring Gloves

Sure, it’s cute when you first get your hands stained with strawberry juice — until it’s not. Your kid will most likely complain that their hands are sticky, and someone will sob that their hands turned red. Save yourself some misery by bringing gardening gloves to the farm. Explain to your child that they’ll protect their hands so that they can pick to their heart’s content.

Have Water With You

Summer months are hot. Like, really hot. Although you’ll ask your child 10 times if they want to bring their water bottle with them (and they’ll undoubtedly say no), it’s best to have some H2O on hand. That way, you can avoid having to field (ha) requests for water and running back to the car to get what will surely be warm water in their cups.

Call Ahead

Don’t assume that just because it’s strawberry season that your local pick-your-own farm will have a surplus of strawberries. Depending on the weather, you might have a shorter season than others. What can cause it? Well, rain, colder temps, and even snow can kill strawberry crops, speeding up the season. And remember, strawberry season can vary from one state to another (sometimes it runs from April – May, or June – July), so be sure to have an idea of when local strawberries are ripe for the picking.

Research The Rates

If you thought that the prices for pick-your-own fruit is fairly similar, think again. Farmers vary on how much they charge for their crops. For example, some suppliers will charge for flats or baskets that you can fill, while others will have patrons pay per pound. Also, the price can fluctuate if the crops didn’t yield as much, and you can be sure that you’ll pay a pretty penny if you decide to pass over the picking and head straight to the store to score some fruit. Knowing how much the strawberries will more or less cost before you head out means that (hopefully) your child won’t pick an overabundance of fruit that will probably blow your budget.

Account For The Exercise

Unlike apple picking, where you snap the stems from the tree, strawberry picking requires you to put your back into it — literally. You’ll either stand hunched over the vines to pick the fruit, or you’ll simply squat so that you’re closer to the ground. Here’s where having little kids can help. Since they’re closer to the ground anyway, let them look for the best berries and put them in your basket. It’ll help you from having to take Tylenol later.

Find Out What Other Events Are Going On

Pick-your-own farms aren’t just about selling their crops. Many farmers will schedule events to occur at the same time during the season. From live bands to animal attractions, there’s often so much to do while you’re spending the day there. Festivals only add to the fun and makes picking even more pleasant.

Have A Game Plan

Avoid the urge to find as much fruit as possible to purchase. After all, you’ll easily come home with way too much produce to use. And more than likely, your child (who swore they loved strawberries) will suddenly have an aversion to them and refuse to eat them. So think ahead about how you’d like to use your strawberries. Remember, if you’re searching to see how long strawberries last from picking, welp, not too long. More often than not, the berries will be bad within a week. If you’re asking yourself if you should wash berries after picking them, it’s not a good idea. To ensure a longer life, (and minimize the growth of mold), avoid washing strawberries until you’re ready to eat them. Luckily, strawberries are one fruit that you can do a lot with, like making ice cream, tarts, cheesecake — even salads can benefit from this beautifully delicious fruit.

Excitement aside, there’s so much you need to know before going strawberry picking. Having everything planned out will ensure a picture-perfect picking experience, and leave you with enough memories to last long after the summer season comes to a close.

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