Social media helps strawberry farmers out of jam
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Strawberry fans must wait a bit longer this season for the annual ritual of picking and preservin...
Social media helps strawberry farmers out of jam WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Strawberry fans must wait a bit longer this season for the annual ritual of picking and preservin... Check out this story on wausaudailyherald.com: https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/local/everest-herald/2014/06/26/social-media-helps-strawberry-farmers-out-of-jam/11108551/
Danielle Pahl Published 11:00 p.m. CT June 25, 2014 | Updated 11:01 p.m. CT June 25, 2014
Strawberries are ripening and pick-your-own farms in the area are opening, many a week or more later than usual because the cold, wet spring delayed blooming. (Photo: CASEY LAKE/DAILY HERALD MEDIA )Buy Photo
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Strawberry fans must wait a bit longer this season for the annual ritual of picking and preserving the lush red fruit at local berry farms.
Many strawberry farmers across central Wisconsin have delayed opening for the season as many of their crops still are recovering from a late winter and extremely wet April and May months.
"It's going to be a slow start because of the cool spring," said Tim Stroik, owner of Stroik's Lake Dubay Berry Farm near Mosinee. "We do need some heat."
Stroik said he has been getting 40 to 60 phone calls every day from customers eager to pick his strawberries. He said although the plants are bearing fruit, they are about a week behind the farm's usual season opening of Father's Day weekend. He anticipates opening for the season Saturday or Sunday, depending on when the first crop of strawberries is fully ripe and ready for picking.
Other farmers in the area also estimate opening as early as this weekend, and they're using social media to keep customers up to date on the ripeness of their berries.
Lakeview Berry Farm in Mosinee, for example, used Facebook to let regulars know that the farm should be open to the first harvest Saturday.
Mike's Berry Farm in Wausau and its sister field, Engleberry Farm in Merrill, anticipate strawberries will be ready after Sunday, but encouraged pickers to check their Facebook page for updates and pictures of the strawberries for a more definite time.
Mother Nature appears to have been less kind to Merry's Berries in Antigo. According to the farm's most recent Facebook status, its plants still are in the process of blooming, and managers don't expect to open until July 4.
Harold Altenburg, owner of Altenburg's County Gardens in Wisconsin Rapids, planned ahead to dodge the worst of the hostile spring weather. Altenburg's, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, opened for the season June 13.
To combat cool weather, Altenburg uses a type of floating cover to protect his crop. He said the cover acts as an absorbent shield that holds in the sun's heat to enhance the plants' growth. Because the fabric is so expensive, costing him about $700 per acre, he covered only two acres of his eight-acre farm, but it was enough to allow him to beat competitors and open on time.
Sandy Sanger of Wisconsin Rapids said she has been going to Altenburg's for three year and was impressed with the 12 pounds she picked Tuesday for fresh strawberry pie and jam.
"I thought it was very good compared to last year," Sanger said. "The berries are all red and all ripe."
Veteran picker Marsha Haynes of Stevens Point began visiting Altenburg's in 1995. Haynes said she picks for herself and for friends, which requires her to make multiple trips to the patch every week of the season. She said her 35 pounds on Tuesday were the best she has ever seen.
"The berries today were the juiciest," Haynes said. "They were like drinking the berry."
Altenburg said Thursday that all of his plants were ready for picking and he was unsure of how long the berries will last.
"It's difficult to say," Altenburg said. "I hope we get three weeks. That would be outstanding."
Stroik estimates his 25th season to be open for three to four weeks. However, for pickers looking for larger berries, he said picking earlier in the season is key.
"Don't wait until the end of the season, because berries are bigger in the beginning," Stroik said. "They get smaller as the season goes on. It's just how the strawberry plant is."
Danielle Pahl can be reached at 715-845-0621. Find her on Twitter as @Danielle Pahl
To locate berry farms in your area, visit the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association at www.wiberries.org/.
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