Minnesota's strawberry season is off to a slow start due to cold temperatures, but farmers expect to see an abundant berry season.
Because conditions vary from region to region, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture recommended checking with the local strawberry patches for information on availability before heading out to the farm.
Strawberry season in Minnesota is short and sweet, typically two to three weeks long, but the length of harvest varies depending on varieties planted, weather, and soil type.
In Northeast Minnesota, Michael Lunemann of Lunemann's Luney Berry Strawberry Farm noted his crop is a few weeks behind.
"A couple of fields are blooming and by next week we'll be in full bloom, so it'll be closer to the 10th of July before we open," he stated in a news release.
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In southeast Minnesota, farmer Kelsey Fitzgerald of Willie Nillie Farm expects to see berries a little sooner. "The crop went through the winter really well and they look lush. I am hoping to see ripe berries the third week of June," she said. The farm includes fresh strawberries in its community supported agriculture shares each summer.
Whether people choose to pick-their-own or are part of a CSA, be sure to choose local this berry season, the state ag department reported.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Minnesota Grown Directory, available in print or online at https://bit.ly/2WRZFkz provides a resource to find local pick-your-own strawberry operations or farmers market. The 2019 Directory, at https://bit.ly/2MYhONR , includes 75 strawberry farms.
Free printed directories may be ordered online at https://bit.ly/2J19rMm or call 1-800-657-3878.
