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US: Strawberries in southeast Michigan are ripe for the picking
There is one bright spot in the endlessly cool spring we've endured this year: It's strawberry time in Michigan.
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The sweet, juicy gems that kick off the summer fruit season are beginning to ripen.
A few farms south of Detroit opened late last week, and others are expected to open during the next two weeks, according to Bob Tritten, district fruit educator for Michigan State University Extension.
Whittaker's Berry Farm in Ida in Monroe County opened its 4 1/2 acres for picking on Monday.
"The plants are loaded with berries and it's been an ideal growing season," says Marilyn Whittaker. "They're sizable and have excellent flavor."
This is the third harvest season for Whittaker, who started the operation with her husband Bill and their two children.
"My parents used to operate Rauch Berry Farm for 26 years, that went out of business 7 years ago when my father passed away," says Whittaker. "We've taken on the same operations 2 1/2 miles west of their farm."
Farmers predict the strawberries could hang around longer than the usual three weeks this year.
"The very cool spring helps extend the berry season, as does lots of moisture," Tritten says. "I expect to have a high-quality berry crop this year."
At DeGroot's Strawberries in Gregory, 16 acres of lush plants are close to ripening.
"It's not too hot and could be a little warmer," says Marsha DeGroot, who with her family has owned the Livingston County farm since 1978. "But the lovely winter with lots of snow made for a nice insulating blanket for the plants."
Pick-your-own strawberries will be $1.20 a pound at DeGroot's this year. Whittaker's strawberries sell for $1.25 a pound. And at Rowe's Produce Farm in Ypsilanti, the cost is $1.46 per pound, up 3 cents from last year.
"People are trying to hold the line as much as they can on prices," says Tritten, "... even though their costs for fuel and fertilizer have has gone up."
The next fruit crops to come in will be sweet cherries in early July, then tart cherries, summer red raspberries and then blueberries.
Source: freep.com
There is one bright spot in the endlessly cool spring we've endured this year: It's strawberry time in Michigan.
Advertisement
The sweet, juicy gems that kick off the summer fruit season are beginning to ripen.
A few farms south of Detroit opened late last week, and others are expected to open during the next two weeks, according to Bob Tritten, district fruit educator for Michigan State University Extension.
Whittaker's Berry Farm in Ida in Monroe County opened its 4 1/2 acres for picking on Monday.
"The plants are loaded with berries and it's been an ideal growing season," says Marilyn Whittaker. "They're sizable and have excellent flavor."
This is the third harvest season for Whittaker, who started the operation with her husband Bill and their two children.
"My parents used to operate Rauch Berry Farm for 26 years, that went out of business 7 years ago when my father passed away," says Whittaker. "We've taken on the same operations 2 1/2 miles west of their farm."
Farmers predict the strawberries could hang around longer than the usual three weeks this year.
"The very cool spring helps extend the berry season, as does lots of moisture," Tritten says. "I expect to have a high-quality berry crop this year."
At DeGroot's Strawberries in Gregory, 16 acres of lush plants are close to ripening.
"It's not too hot and could be a little warmer," says Marsha DeGroot, who with her family has owned the Livingston County farm since 1978. "But the lovely winter with lots of snow made for a nice insulating blanket for the plants."
Pick-your-own strawberries will be $1.20 a pound at DeGroot's this year. Whittaker's strawberries sell for $1.25 a pound. And at Rowe's Produce Farm in Ypsilanti, the cost is $1.46 per pound, up 3 cents from last year.
"People are trying to hold the line as much as they can on prices," says Tritten, "... even though their costs for fuel and fertilizer have has gone up."
The next fruit crops to come in will be sweet cherries in early July, then tart cherries, summer red raspberries and then blueberries.
Source: freep.com
Publication date: 6/12/2009
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