Berry Blog

Agriculture at the University of the Fraser Valley

2011-09-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

The University of the Fraser Valley offers agricultural programs that range from essentials certificates, to one year certificates, to two year diplomas, and finally to four year degrees. Students can major in either horticulture or livestock sciences; and all of the programs ladder into one another so as a student you can start anywhere and keep studying as long as you want.

Sarah has been attending UFV for three years so far. She started by taking an equine studies class out of personal interest after she finished high school and feel in love with the school and the agriculture programs. In September 2009 she began her Agriculture Technology Diploma as a full time livestock production student. Sarah graduated in April 2011 with her Ag Tech Diploma. Now, this September she is going back to school to obtain a horticulture certificate. Her favourite aspect of these programs is the huge amount of hands on learning and field trips. For her learning concepts in class and then getting the opportunity to practice them really cements the information, making studying for exams or applying the concepts at a job much easier.

The UFV Agriculture Department is currently expanding. It is getting a new building, greenhouses, and barns at the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack BC as well as more land for students to work with. The department is also getting a new research chair that will be focusing on food safety and food security. Two new degrees are currently being created; one will focus on plant sciences and the other will focus on animal sciences.

Fresh Delicious Strawberries Still Available!!!

2011-09-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

We went to visit strawberry farms in the Langley and Abbotsford in the Fraser Valley yesterday. Wow, were the fresh-picked strawberries delicious! The ever-bearing strawberries are one of the best we’ve ever tasted.

With the warm, dry weather they have amazing aromas, are, large and red-coloured from inside to outside. They were available at Krause Berry Farms and Maan Farms. Who would ever have thought, that in early September, you could find delicious fresh strawberries. They are the best!

Local vs. California Strawberries

2011-09-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

The main difference between local and California strawberries is that in BC our berries are picked fresh. When strawberries are picked in California they are picked unripe to give them a longer shelf life. This allows them to travel 2,000 km to a grocery store in BC; the berries ripen on the drive up and are then ready to eat by the time we buy them. BC grown strawberries do not need to travel long distances to reach consumers so they are picked at the peak of ripeness. Because of this BC grown strawberries taste better, are healthier, and full of anti-oxidants.

There are also varietal difference between strawberries grown in BC and California; different varieties can attest for some flavour differences as well as the ripeness at picking. June bearing varieties that are grown in BC are Puget Reliance, Totem, Reinier, and Stolo. Whereas the June bearing variety grown in California is Camarosa. In BC we grow two types of day neutrals, Albion and Diamonte. In California they grow only one type of day neutral, Albion.

Health Benefits of Strawberries

2011-09-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

The health benefits of strawberries are almost endless. They are high in vitamins, mineral, and anti-oxidants. One cup of strawberries has 55 calories, no cholesterol, and no fat! Who knew something that tasted so good was also so good for you. One of the core vitamins in strawberries is vitamin C which is used in the body to form an important protein that is used to make skin, tendon, and ligament cells.

Potassium is the key mineral in strawberries. In the body it is crucial for heart function and plays a major role in skeletal and smooth muscle contractions. Meaning it’s important for digestive and muscle function. The seeds of strawberries also hold an important ingredient. Whereas most of the strawberries nutritious value is found in the flesh, ellagic acid, an anti-oxidant is found only in the seeds. This anti-oxidant boosts your immune system, reduces the effects of ageing, and contains anti-cancer properties.

So with one little berry you can build skin cells, keep your heart beating, and boost your immune system...start filling up on those strawberries and you will be living a healthy life style in no time.

Benefits of a 100 Mile Diet

2011-08-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

We are sure everyone has heard of the popular 100 mile diet; if you have not, the concept is simple. Basically you find your house on a map, and then draw a 100 mile circle around it. Now you can only eat foods that have been grown within this circle. In the Fraser Valley this means no coffee, no sugar, and very little grains. You can, however, eat lots of strawberries!

The theory behind this radical diet is to eat and source locally grown foods that have not travelled thousands of miles to you dinner plate. Eating a local diet will provide you with fresher more nutritious foods that taste better.

Strawberries are a great part of a local diet. They are available almost year round because they grown both in fields and in greenhouses in the Fraser Valley. They have high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. They can be eaten fresh, canned, baked into a pie, or made into jam. They are a versatile fruit and can be sourced from Vancouver Island to the Okanagan, making them accessible to everyone in BC.

Some local vendors that offer strawberries for a large portion of the year are Krause Berry Farms in Langley, KBF Enterprises in Abbotsford, and your local grocery or produce store.

Caring For Strawberries: The First Year

2011-08-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

In the first year a growers main goal is to encouraging quick establishment of strawberries as well as runner growth and strength (daughter plants), as the number of early runners determines the crop size in the second year. Five categories will determine the success of a growers strawberry field; plant care, weed control, nutrition, soil care, and runner management.

Plant Care

Plant establishment is critical for growers as healthy growth will determine the crops yield for years to come. In new plantings the common practice is to remove the first two flower trusses at the start of blooming. This results in earlier and increased vegetative reproduction (growth of runners), a more developed root system, more crowns, and thus a larger first crop for the grower. In some vigorous strawberry varieties, like Rainier, that runner well and naturally establish quickly, flowers can be left on to flower and turn to fruit. This gives the grower a crop in his first year without affecting establishment of the crop seriously.

Weed Control

Weed control is critical in new plantings as weeds will compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight. An excessively weedy field will not establish properly and as result the grower will have a poor yielding strawberry crop. Hand weeding and cultivation (tilling) is the usual practice for new planting of strawberries, as herbicides can be too harsh on young plants. Use of herbicides should be left for when the crop is established and cultivation should be shallow so as not to damage the strawberries roots.

Nutrition

First a grower will conduct a soil test to determine which nutrients the soil lacks. Once this is determined a grower may apply compost or manure to make up the short fall. Then after the application of manure or compost and right before planting another soil test is taken to see is fertilizers are required during plant establishment. Nutrients are important for good plant establishment and in the future a good crop. Growers will monitor their soil health carefully with soil tests and crop growth during establishment to ensure a productive crop in the future.

Soil Care

Cultivation is done soon after planting, usually while fertilizers are being applied. After this initial cultivation growers will only cultivate to control weeds and to keep the soil loose for rooting runner plants. Growers will also avoid frequent tilling as it damages the soil structure and prevents drainage. Drainage is especially important for strawberries as they can become damaged easily by a high water table; root rot will occur in poor draining soils.

Runner Management

A grower knows that from any mother plant the first runner is the most productive, meaning potential yields decline with each runner. Growers will cultivate their strawberries to position runners within the strawberry row, and not in the isle between the rows. Runners are positioned in the same direction in the row and after the desired row width is established, by mid august, a rotovator is used to cut off runners that extend into the isles. Irrigation is important part of runner management. A grower will irrigate as needed to make sure that runners root and establish well. A good runner management system will result in good yields and a healthy crop for the grower.

Site Preparation - What To Do Before You Plant

2011-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

The six things a grower must consider before planting new strawberries. The six items are weeds, nematodes, cover cropping, manure, soil pH, and nutrients.

Weeds

Weeds are critical to control as having an overwhelming amount of weeds can result in crop failure. Before planting a grower will control established weeds such as quackgrass or clover. A grower will then aim to reduce the number of weed seeds in the field by plowing and chemical controls.

Nematodes

Fields should be tested for nematodes in the Spring or Summer the year before planting. If the field does have a high population of nematodes a grower may choose to either fumigate the soil (chemically control the nematode population) or choose another site for strawberries.

Cover Cropping

The Fall before planting strawberries a grower may plant a cereal cover crop. Reasons for doing this include controlling winter weeds and controlling soil erosion. Also come early Spring the cover crop can be tilled under the soil, adding valuable organic matter to the earth.

Manure

At least two weeks before planting strawberries a grower will broadcast and incorporate composted or aged manure in the early Spring. This helps to increase soil organic matter, improve biodiversity in the soil, and provide nutrients for the strawberries. Poultry manure is readily available in the Fraser Valley and is a great option for a new strawberry field; it will supply the crop with nearly all its nitrogen requirements. Then three weeks after the manure is applied a grower will take a soil sample to see if any other additional nutrients are required for the crop to establish properly.

Soil pH

The soil pH can be easily determined with a simple soil test. The soil pH needs to be within an acceptable range for strawberries to grower optimally. If the pH needs to be lowered a grower will apply lime to the field two months before planting and then incorporate it into the soil.

Nutrients

Nutrient management starts in the Fall before planting with a soil test to determine what nutrients the soil lacks. Once this is know manure and fertilizer applications can be planned.

Choosing A Site For Growing Strawberries

2011-08-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

When a producer is looking for a new site to grow strawberries he or she will look at the following criteria: soil, drainage, irrigation, and rotation.

Soil

The best soil for growing strawberries is a deep, well-drained sandy-loam or loamy silt soil that has a good supply of organic matter. These types of soils hold moisture well which is important for creating a high yield. A well-drained soil is important for strawberries because they are more prone to root rot problems than other fruit plants. Strawberries also grow better in slightly acidic soils with a pH between 5.5 to 6.5.

Drainage

Strawberry roots can be injured if soils are waterlogged or flooded for more one or two days – especially when the plants are actively growing. When a soil is too damp the roots will rot or even die if they become severely wet for a long period of time. A subsurface drainage system, like drainage tile, will be necessary for field that are not naturally well-drained. Surface drainage provided by a slope in the field or raised beds can also aid in keep the strawberries roots dry. To prevent soil erosion a grower will plant across the slope of the field, seed fall cereal cover crops, and plant grassed waterways in areas where water runs in the field.

Irrigation

Irrigation is especially important for strawberries because most of there roots only penetrate the top 15 cm of soil. Meaning they do not have the root depth to pull water from deep under ground. So irrigation is a must. Water can be applied through drip irrigation, overhead reel irrigation, or by overhead sprinkler irrigation. Strawberries also have a low tolerance for salt so it is important that irrigation water be tested once a year for salt content.

Rotation

Crop rotation is sound agricultural practice that should be followed when ever possible. Strawberries should not be grown repeatedly in the same field for many years as insect and disease pest will build up and controlling them will continually become more difficult. Good crops to rotate with strawberries are cole crops (broccoli) and other vegetable crops (carrots) as they do not harbour the similar pest.

Fresh Choice Kitchens Upcoming Workshops

2011-08-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Like many good things, Fresh Choice Kitchens started small, then grew fast. In the mid-1990s, the concept of community kitchens – groups that cook together in a friendly social atmosphere, sharing what they make – caught the imagination of several public-sector professionals in Greater Vancouver whose work included helping people better feed themselves. What could be a more sensible way to encourage people to improve their own health and nutrition, while also strengthening community ties? Read more about their history here.

Here is a list of some of their amazing upcoming workshops for Fall 2011 to Spring 2012:  

SAFE CANNING BASICS  

This one-day session for canning instructors/leaders will review the basics of both boiling water bath (BWB) canning and pressure canning. Learn about old and new canning equipment, tools and current canning products on the market. Get the latest information on safe canning practices.

The workshop will consist of a Powerpoint presentation, demonstration and discussion. Due to time limitations, please note that there will be no hands-on component. Prior canning experience is required for this review.

Bring your canning questions and comments and a lunch!

Presenters:
Diane Collis, Manager
Darlene Tanaka, Training Co-ordinator
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept 8, 2011 9:00am-4:00pm (please bring a lunch)
Location: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, 1150 Raymur Ave, Vancouver BC  
Cost: $45 (Includes Bernardin cookbook & canning toolkit)
To Register: Contact Darlene Tanaka at 604-216-2325, darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca

Registration is limited to 18 per class and payment is required upon registration. Cancellations must be done at the latest, 72 hours before. No refunds for no-shows. Please bring a lunch.

FOODSAFE LEVEL ONE COURSE

We all have questions when it comes to food safety. What should we be concerned with when handling food in our kitchens? What’s safe and what isn’t in our day-to-day work in the kitchen?
Come learn the basics about safe food handling in a friendly classroom environment. This is a provincially recognized course taught by qualified instructors. It is suitable for individuals who have a grade 8 or higher reading comprehension level.

Date/Time: Choose from one of the following dates:
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat, Mar 31, 2012, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, 1150 Raymur Ave. Vancouver, BC
Cost: $50.00 – $95.00 (sliding scale)

To register: Contact Darlene Tanaka, at 604-216-2325 or darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca

Please note: Lunch is not provided, so please bring a lunch. Registration is limited to 20 per class. Payment required upon registration. Cancellations must be done at the latest, 72 hours before. No refunds for no-shows. The workshop may be rescheduled if registration numbers are not met. 

COMMUNITY KITCHEN LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

During this workshop you will have the opportunity to find out more about community kitchens, different ways a group can work and how you can lead or start a community kitchen. Learn the history of the community kitchen movement and the effect it has had around the province. Hear about the different kitchen models that run successfully in our communities. Experience a community kitchen first hand! Lunch will be provided.

Dates/Times: Choose from one of the following dates:
Thurs, Oct 13, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Thurs, June 7, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave.
Cost: $45.00 (lunch provided)  
To register: Contact Darlene Tanaka at 604-216-2325 or darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca

Growing Strawberries: 365 Day Process

2011-08-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

We discuss how a typical grower manages strawberries for one year. This is a basic outline, as all growers do some things differently depending on where their fields are located and what varieties they are growing.

January and February

In these cold winter months there is minimal plant care required. The growers main focus is soil care. This means he or she is checking for poor draining areas and soil erosion. The grower may also take soil samples to check the health and fertility of the ground to aid him in deciding which fertilizers to use come Spring. As well as caring for the land the grower will finalize his marketing plan; for a fresh market grower this means ordering containers and for a processing grower this means communicating with a packer.

March

Early Growth Starts.

At the beginning of Spring growers will start removing old leaves from the crop and tilling them into the soil between the crop rows. Removing the old leaves aids in disease control; by removing the leaves the grower is reducing his chances of getting fruit rot, powdery mildew, and leaf spot diseases. The grower will also inspect weak areas in his field for red stele, a fungal disease that affects the roots of strawberry plants. After checking and controlling for diseases insect monitoring is the next step. A grower will typically be looking for two-spotted spider mites as well as root weevil larvae, wireworms, and leather jackets. If any of these pests are found the grower may choose to control the pest using IPM. Weeding will also commence in this month in order to remove overwintering weeds before new weed seeds germinate. Finally, a grower may incorporate a Winter cover crop into the soil (if one was used) and ensure his food safety plan is in place for the year.

April

Early growth continues.

The growers main job this month is fertilizing. Using soil test from the Winter the grower will determine what nutrients are lacking in the soil and select a fertilizer that will compensate for the soils short Fall. Monitoring for pests and weeding will continue into this month as well. A new pest that grower will be watching out for is slugs, especially if the weather is wet.

May

Flower buds appear and open.

Growers will be monitoring aggressively for fruit rot and will begin a control program for it. Powdery mildew and leaf spot will also show up this month as well as aphids, growers will be controlling and monitoring for these pests as well. The never ending task of weeding again continues into May. Finally, the grower will be testing his irrigation water for E.coli and fecal coliforms for food safety requirements and they will also be ordering toilets and hand washing stations for pickers and other farm visitors.

June

Flowering continues. Fruit development and ripening occurs.

Harvesting and marketing for fruit will begin depending on the varieties the grower has in his fields. Pest monitoring and controlling continues and as well as weeding. A grower may also test his soil for nematodes if they plans to replant the field into strawberries the following Spring.

July and August

Post-harvest care starts.

For the last months in Summer growers will start post-harvest care in their fields. This entails mowing the tops off the plants and tilling plant debris in between the strawberry rows. Fertilizer and irrigation is also applied to encourage strong regrowth for the crop. Monitoring for pests continues and these are the last months for growers to apply controls for weeds, diseases, and insects before winter sets in. Field renovations may occur in these months like installing drainage and seeding cover crops for the winter.

September

Pest monitoring continues and soil care, like planting a cover crop and sub-soiling (to break up compacted soil) will commence.

October and November

Applying a control for red stele is typical for November to suppress the disease over Winter. The last chance to control weeds is during these months and growers should now begin to monitor and control rodent pests.

November and December

Rodent control is important and the grower now has to be concerned about deer (in some areas of BC). If deer become a problem a grower will contact a conservation officer from BCMA to help control the problem.

Langley Eats Local

2011-07-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow August 6th - marks the 3rd Annual Sustainable Food Festival: Langley Eats Local. This year's event is being hosted at Driediger Farms Market. The goal of the festival is to promote local farmers, processors and vendors that are working hard to produce food in a sustainable way and to encourage citizens of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to shop in our region.

You're invited to come out and enjoy some great local food for the whole family! There will be a variety of food items to sample and purchase including: local wines, produce, honey, flowers, music, local artisan products, face painting and of course lots of berries! This is a free family event (donations are welcome).

Vendors & Exhibitors include:
•    JD Farms Specialty Turkey
•    Good Roots Farm
•    Johnston's
•    Glorious Organics Cooperative/Fraser Common Farm Co-op
•    Lotusland Vineyards
•    Face Painting by the Doodle Girls
•    Concession by Suburban Spoon
•    Edible Vancouver
•    Campbell's Gold - Honey & Meadery
•    Doggie Two Shoes Bakery
•    Frogs Not Included
•    LadyBug Manor Organic Turkey
•    De La Bouche Specialty Foods
•    Pampered Chef
•    Farm Folk City Folk
•    Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op
•    Oxfam
•    Langley Environmental Partners Society
•    and of course Driediger!

So come out an support our awesome Fraser Valley growers and businesses!!

An Agriculture Career Worth Pursuing

2011-07-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Sarah Zonneveld has been writing the field updates our Berry Blog you have all been reading and we asked her to give a bit of a personal biography. Are you curious how she became involved in the agriculture industry?

Sarah's connection started when she was young; Sarah lived across the street from a broiler farm (a farm that raises chickens for meat) that also had a vast amount of hobby animals from goats and pigs to peacocks and horses. After spending countless hours over at the farm and trying to bring every animal home, something her parents were not thrilled about and promptly sent the animals back across the street, she began taking horse back riding lessons. Sarah has now been riding and competing for over thirteen years!

After finishing high school she took a year off to work, ride and to decide what she wanted to go to post secondary for. Sarah had considered becoming a large animal vet but decided that was not quite her thing, so during her year off from school she stumbled upon an agricultural program at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). She applied and was accepted into the program as a full time livestock student in September 2009. She fell in love with the hands on program and instantly knew she had found an industry worth pursuing a career in.

While at school as a livestock major she learned about chickens, beef cows, dairy cow, dairy goats and lots of other production animals. Along with production classes, she took business classes ranging from economics to marketing, in order to gain a well rounded view of the industry. During this period she completed two practicums (hands on industry training) one at Rossdown Farms, an integrated poultry operation, and one at the BC Chicken Marketing Board.

Sarah is currently working at Expert Agriculture Team (E.A.T) Ltd which is a horticultural consulting company. One of the many aspects of the company is doing third party inspections for production insurance (previously called crop insurance). For these inspections they go to growers fields and look for insurable damages like hail and frost. They then write reports for the production insurance office, which is based out of BCMA (British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture). They also do research trials each year and attend field days like the annual blossom tour you might have read about earlier in the Berry Blog.

Next, on her exploration in BC's agriculture industry is completing a certificate in Horticulture Production and Protection at UFV starting in September. And, after that she will continue onward to finish a Bachelors in Agricultural Sciences at UFV with major in either animal or plant sciences. She still have not decided which one!

Hopefully this post has peaked your interest in the study of agriculture - for more information about the program please visit the University of Fraser Valley site to find out how you can have a career in this exciting field.

Continued Berryside Chat with Berry Expert Tom Baumann

2011-07-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Last week we had an amazing Berryside Chat with Berry Expert Tom Baumann - you can read our interview here in case you missed it here. A ton of interesting information about the state of local farming, strawberry and knowledge shared.

This week we continue our conversation with Tom.

What do you enjoy most about visiting a local Fraser Valley berry farm?
Interacting with grower, the workers and the supporting industry reps I meet. We make for an excellent network that exchange ideas. We help each other out.

What is the difference between local strawberries and imported?
Local strawberries do not travel 2,000 km, they are picked fresh with more flavour as opposed to a more unripe berry that is picked for it to travel so far to us. Locally grown, I also know what we use to grow our berries and how they come to market. We have many checks and balances in our systems in Canada that help us keep food safe, and as a consumer myself I am pleased with this idea. And do understand that I am more critical than most, as I work in that industry and want everyone to their utmost to bring us sustainable, high quality, fresh food to the table.

What are the health benefits of strawberries?
Strawberries are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, so when we consume them we eat a burst of health in addition to the great flavour which pleases our mind. Ellagic Acid is found in the flesh of the strawberry, usually only in seeds of other fruit crops, and that particular one is an anti-viral.

Is there a diminishing population of young farms? How do we start getting younger people to into farming? Is there support available?

I am so pleased to see the “next generation” of berry farmers attending my classes at UFV. Not matter what ethic background, they educate themselves and improve on the farm their parents or relatives started. In 2010, then Minister of State Agriculture, the Honorable Jean-Pierre Blackburn attended a meeting in Abbotsford that was geared specifically toward finding out what the federal government could do for the next generation of farmers. Help is on the way and some of our many comments have already resulted in programs that teach business skills, communication skills to young farmers. So, fret not, the next generation is on its way!

Is it cool to be a farmer? Why or why not?
When I talk with non-farmers, I get the impression that we are stuck 50 years ago. In reality, farming is big business now; you need computer skills, technology skills, communications and business skills to guide even a smaller farm that feeds a family. I have to every year make sure I am updated at shows (in particular our annual growers Shortcourse in January at Tradex in Abbotsford), through the internet, via visits to research centres and my own research. Agriculture surely has changed even in the past 10 years. Weather stations, automatic tractors with cabs and PGS guidance systems, precision seeders, picking machines and the like are now the norm, not the exception.

Yes, we work in all sorts of weather, but we also now build high tunnels to keep out of the weather. Yes we deal with soil, but we also grow soil less in hydroponic now, just for two examples of perception and reality.

Cool? You bet, I have a never ending stream of folks that want to work for me or even just spend a day in the fields with me and learn.

Why has the strawberry business diminished in the last 20 years? A long time ago the strawberry business was thriving in BC, what happened? What do you predict in the near future - how can we get them back?

Strawberry acreage has gone down significantly. The reason behind that is that world market prices for Strawberries dropped below what we could grow them at. Therefore the industry has completely changed and has gone mainly fresh marketing, which of course is to the benefit of the local consumer wanting local product. I think the fresh component will increase dramatically over the next 10 years. Processed will likely not come back.

What is your favorite strawberry dessert?
There are too many to name, but by far my most favourite is fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate, you can make that white or milk or even dark chocolate. What a combination this is!!!

Berryside Chat with Berry Expert Tom Baumann

2011-07-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

We interviewed Tom Baumann recently and decided to make it a two part piece just becuase he shares so much rich and interesting information about strawberries, farms and the industry.

Who is Tom you ask? Tom's main job is professor and department coordinator at the Agriculture Dept. at the University of Fraser Valley. He mostly teaches production courses, such as fruit and vegetable production. Secondly he is a consultant to industry, be it solving a problem for a grower or assisting in insurance and disputes within the industry. Thirdly he is the resident berry expert for crop insurance. Oh and lastly he is a nursery grower on four acres. Everyone thinks he is working non-stop, but which of these jobs does he drop? He LOVES them all.

Why did you choose this field? What do you love about your job?
I love the variety of things that I can do. I have a short attention span and need to do something different all the time. My many jobs allow for that and when I get paid walking through berry and vegetable fields making sure they bear their fruit/corn cobs, I have a smile on my face!

How are in involved with FVSGA?
I am the research director for FVSGA and a related huge research project of all four berry commodities (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and Cranberries). I have worked in this capacity for the past 27 years for FVSGA. I am the intermediary between researchers and the growers, I give interviews on the industry to various media outlets.

What is your role? What do you love about this role?
My role as a researcher, extension person allows me to interact with growers, researchers, supply companies and so on, bringing them all together and take away all the messages, digest them and come up with something new and exciting, such as the dayneutrals or ever bearing strawberries that prolong our season into November. This also gives me a great opportunity to be very much up to date and my students benefit greatly from this experience.

What makes the Fraser Valley a hub for farming and agriculture?
The Fraser Valley has a population base nearing 3 million people, has some of the very best farm land in the country and has some excellent, caring growers. The ideal location near a major consumption hub is so important. Our fresh farm grown food can be transported to people or people can come to the farms with very little effort, not like some imports from half-way around the planet. We also have some of the most sophisticated growers from all over the world here.

Why is it important to support local growers in the Fraser Valley?
For the industry it is important to see that locally produced food still has an edge over any imported products. We pride ourselves in taking good care fo the land, growing sustainably, protecting our water resources, keeping the carbon footprint low, while actually fixing carbon into our crops. Not only do we produce safe and fresh food, but we also make the landscape look like someone cares.

What ideas need to be implemented so that people visit farms and support the farmer more often?
As a professor, I believe strongly in education and participation. There’s nothing more uplifting than harvesting the (literally!!!) fruits of your labours. Farmers have gotten so much better to invite the public into their farms during the season, so many more produce stands have appeared, even entire fresh food shopping centres. Right now is the season for slow food farm tours in the Fraser Valley, and thousands are by bike visiting farms and sampling the food. THAT is education. Many community gardens have sprung up and while the allotments are usually small, those working them gain an appreciation for the tremendous job the growers do. We will need to even more, get agriculture into the school curriculum, although agriculture in the class room is already making great strides in that regard. I’d like a few demonstration centres built that show what you can grow in a greenhouse and in plain soil, sort of like a theme park. The Epcot Centre greenhouse facility is my big example for that, check it out on the web!

Soak all this in and stay tuned for part deux of our Berryside Chat with Tom.

Watch our Tom in our Support Local Strawberry Growers video - he eats local grown strawberries!

Integrated Pest Management Program

2011-07-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Integrated Pest Management or IPM is a production system that effectively manages pests using a combination of tools in a way that is economically and environmentally sound. First, what is a pest? A pest simply, is anything that a grower does not want in his field and can range from a type of bug, to a bird, and even to a person…caution do not enter a growers field without his or her permission!

Usually though, a pest will cause economic damage to the crop, lessening the growers profit.
IPM programs aim to create conditions that are optimal for the crop and less favourable for pest development. Strong and healthy plants usually have the best chance of resisting pest damage, therefore, good irrigation, pruning, soil, and weather all play a part in managing pests.

Steps In An IPM Program
1.    Identify and understand the pest
2.    Regular monitoring to determine the level of pest pressure
3.    Decide if and when to control the pest
4.    Choose control methods
5.    Evaluate the effectiveness of the IPM program

Identifying and understanding the pest means learning how the crop and pest interact, does the pest eat the plants leave? Does it eat the plants fruit? And finally understanding the pest lifecycle, when does it reproduce? How long does it live? Next regular monitoring encompasses going out to the field and physically counting the number of pests present and determining if the current weather conditions are favourable for the pest to develop. Deciding when to control the pest is determined from the monitoring data and comparing the cost of controlling the pest to the lost profit if the pest is not controlled. If it is viable to control the pest a grower will then choose one or a number of tools from his IPM tool box.

The Tool Box
1.    Cultural Controls: Tools used to preventing the pest from establishing. Examples: resistant crop varieties and mowing to reduce pest habitat
2.    Biological Controls: Using natural enemies of the pest for control. Example: releasing lady bugs into your field to eat pesky aphids.
3.    Physical Controls: Creating an actual physical barrier to prevent pests from entering the field. Examples: an exclusion fence made of fine mesh to keep low flying insects away from the crop and bird netting over ripening fruit.
4.    Chemical Controls: Responsibly using pesticides to reduce the pest pressure. Example: applying copper to the field to reduce a fungal pest.

Finally, when a grower has chosen one or more methods to control his or her pest they enter the final stage of an IPM program; evaluating the effectiveness of the program will show a grower if his program was successful. It will also highlight the strong and weak points of the program and the following production year allow the grower fine tune his techniques.

Circle Farm Tour

2011-07-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

Need some ideas for this weekend? Why not try a Circle Farm Tour?

A Circle Farm Tour is a road map that directs you to a variety of specialty farm-gate vendors, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs, and other special events. There’s a brochure and map for each participating community.

The tours are self-guided, meaning that you travel in your own car, at your own pace, when it suits you. Each community map directs you to about twelve venues. All are related in some way to agriculture and the area’s farming heritage.

We recommend you explore Langley as Krause Berry Farms and Driediger Farms are there and then adventure to Abbotsford where you have Maan Farms and Neufeld Farms. They all will have strawberries and other delicious treats!

Have Fun!

Fresh. Ripe. Ready. Videos Launched

2011-07-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

As you have noticed we produced four videos and have been sharing them on our website and social channels recently.

The purpose of these videos is to take a tour of the Fraser Valley farms and meet the passionate growers in this community who grow sweet strawberries for us to consume.

These videos were a whole lot of fun to put together. We got to sample loads of local strawberries, get insights from leading experts as well as get to know our local growers stories a whole lot better. There is so much history that goes along with these farms and the strawberry industry.

Please pass these videos along to people who would be interested in visiting a local farm and passionate foodies.

Strawberry Connection focuses on visit a local strawberry field and learning where your food comes from.

Strawberry Fun Farm focuses on visiting your local Fraser Valley strawberry farm for some fun with the family.

Strawberry Sustainability focuses on reduce your carbon footprint by buying local strawberries.

Supporting Local Strawberry Growers focuses on visit Fraser Valley strawberry farms and supporting your local economy in BC.

When Does the Strawberry Season End?

2011-07-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

A question that may be on the minds of many strawberry lovers in the Fraser Valley is how long will I be able to purchase BC grown strawberries? The answer is, until the first frost of the fall.
Dayneutral or everbearing strawberry varieties are grown in the Fraser Valley and the most common of these are Albion and Diamante. These types of strawberries are perfectly suited BC’s ever expanding fresh market as they produce fruit starting in June and then continuously produce a yield for the remainder of the season (first fall frost).

Everbearing strawberries at Birak Berry Farm in Richmond, B.C.

Production of Dayneutral strawberries in the Fraser Valley is limited, however, because they require additional management when compared to June Bearing varieties. Dayneutral’s are usually grown on raised beds covered in black plastic with drip irrigation. Raised beds are employed to allow water to drain away from the plants root system in order to prevent root rot and black plastic is used to keep weed pressure low; decreasing the crops labour requirements.

So if prolonging your enjoyment of strawberries this season seems like a great idea drive down to your closest farm stand and enquire if the grower produces Dayneutral strawberries. If your regular berry stop does not produce these berries take a drive by Krause Berry Farms in Langley, Driediger Farms, Birak Berry Farm, Neufeld Farms, or K.B.F Enterprises in Abbotsford to pick up your Everbearing strawberries.

Strawberry Educational Tours at Krause Berry Farm

2011-07-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

For three days Professor Tom Baumann from the University of the Fraser Valley has been giving educational tours at Krause Berry Farm over the long weekend, as has been the tradition for 5 years now. This is part of a hay wagon ride offered to the public at the farm. Tom actually drives the tractor that pulls the wagon himself! Usually folks are amazed who their driver is, however, they quickly adapt and ask all sorts of berry and vegetable related questions, which Tom is only too happy to answer.

Common questions are: How do I grow my own strawberries? What does integrated pest management mean? How long does the strawberry season go, why is it so late this year? ect.

Next appearance of Tom conducting educational hay wagon tours is at the farmers’ feast on the 17th of July at Krause Berry Farm. Tours will run between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

BC Strawberry Varieties

2011-07-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful field worker Sarah Zonneveld put together this great piece on strawberry varieties. We hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions, please post a comment and we will answer it for you.

Strawberries are classified as either a June Bearing variety or a Dayneutral variety. A June Bearing strawberry only has one or two flushes of flowers allowing for ripening and harvest in the month of June. A Dayneutral or true everbearing strawberries produce flowers no matter what day length so it will fruit from July until the first frost or major rainfall of fall.

June Bearing Varieties
In BC the most common June Bearing varieties are Stolo, Totem, and Puget Reliance. The Stolo variety was created recently through the BC strawberry breeding program. It is a high yielding plant that produces a large, firm fruit. Stolo strawberries are harvested a bit later than the Totem variety and are perfect for the fresh market. It also displays vigorous growth and resistance to viruses and root weevils. Totem is the major processing variety grown in BC and is partially resistant to powdery mildew. It is also relatively winter hardy, meaning it will suffer less damge during the cold winter months that occur in BC. Puget Reliance produces high yields of large, good quality fruit on vigorous, relatively virous-tolerant plants. It is well adapted to a wide range of areas in the Fraser Valley and is also relatively easy to grow. Puget Reliance is mainly destined for processing but can be sold to the fresh market. The fruit is softer than Totem and matures at the same time or slightly earlier.

Strawberries

Dayneutral Varieties
In BC the two most commonly grown Dayneutral varieties are Albion and Diamante. Albion is a variety that hails from California; it produces high yields of firm, large, attractive, and glossy fruit. The internal color of this particular variety is pink, where as BC developed varieties have an internal color of deep red. Despite its pale interior, Albion berries have an excellent flavor. This variety produces fruit evenly throughout the harvest season and can produce higher yields than Diamante. Albion can be used for either the processing or fresh market. Diamante is another variety that originates in California. It produces large crops of sizable, firm fruit that has a fair flavor when ripe. Diamante berries have a light red internal color and are favored by processors due to there excellent shelf life.

Reference

Berry Production Guide 2009-2010 Beneficial Management Practices for Berry Growers in British Columbia. Published By: Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA) and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (BCMAL). © February 2009, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Printed By: Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association.

Happy Berry Day Canada! Events on Canada’s Birthday!

2011-06-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Is it that time of year again, wow time sure flies eh? If you are wondering what to do with your family well we have some sweet ideas for you!

Emma Lea Farms is open for the Canada Day Weekend and they are having a fund-raiser at their Berry Farm with the Delta Police making Strawberry Milkshakes, Sundaes, Cones, and Hot Dogs on July 1 and July 2. They are raising funds to support Juvenile Diabetes and the World Police and Fire Games being held in New York in September. This should be a fun day and there will be lots of berries to buy as well.

Westham Island Herb Farm will be open flying their flags. Drop in to see their animals, beautiful flowers, wander around the farm and pick strawberries too!

Krause Berry Farms is doing their famous Pancake Breakfast on Canada Day. You can have a tasty berry pancake breakfast, by donation, all proceeds benefitting breast cancer research in memory of Liz Krause, from 9-11. They also had some new additions to their barn. Baby goats!

Aww, aren't they cute?

Driediger Farms is also open from 8 am to 8 pm. Check out their “Cutest Kid Photo” contest. Bring your camera and take pictures of your little ones when picking.

Maan Farms is open during the Canada Day weekend too. They have a long weekend special U-Pick for .99/lb (Regular $2.50/lb) on pesticide free strawberries July 1,2,3,4.

W & A Farms are celebrating Canada Day with the most gigantic, sweetest, reddish, no-spray, strawberries. Drop by for either ready picked or U-pick strawberries.

Birak Berry Farm, on Number 6 Road, Richmond, has small, medium and large containers of delicious strawberries. They are open dawn to dusk for the entire long weekend.

Yum!

Enjoy strawberries and ice-cream from Neufeld Farms in Abbotsford. They are open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Canada Day.

Surrey Farms is open on Canada Day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for ready picked and U-pick strawberries.

Need ideas for what to do with your strawberries? Click this link for strawberry recipes.

What is the E.A.T (Expert Agriculture Team) ?

2011-06-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

E.A.T is a consulting company located in the Fraser Valley who contributes to the BC strawberry industry through research and development. They conduct research trials on new production methods and variety comparisons. They also help distribute and evaluate new varieties; working with growers and breeders to find new and better plants.

Below is an example of how E.A.T contributes to the BC strawberry industry, it is also partly what all strawberry growers are doing right now...harvesting fruit!

They team picked Nisgaa strawberries this Tuesday afternoon in Chilliwack, BC in order to gather data for a research trial. The trial encompasses naturally manipulating the strawberry plant using plant growth regulators. These regulators aim to reduce the number of vegetative, or non fruit, reproductive growth a.k.a "runners". When the number of runners are reduced the grower is not required to remove runners, saving labour, time, therefore reducing his production cost; a savings that could potentially be passed onto consumers. This method of controlling runners is used in a production system that employs black plastic mulch as a weed control.

In this system the grower's goal is to have only a certain number of plants each foot, where as, in a system without mulch the grower wants the runners to fill in holes between the individual plants to create a solid row. Once the strawberries were picked we weighted and counted them, all the while recording our findings. And after all the data collection was completed we proceeded to eat our fill of fresh strawberries; not a bad way to conclude a day at work.

Strawberry Field Report

2011-06-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

The last couple of warm sunny days have done wonders for BC strawberries. Most of the farms in the Fraser Valley have begun to pick their fruit. Plenty of signs can be seen from roads advertising freshly picked strawberries, and having sampled quite a few, we recommend you pick some up!

The berries have colored beautifully and have a full bodied strawberry taste, that only a BC grown berry can provide. If you have intentions of freezing strawberries to make jam or to enjoy this coming winter now is the time to by, strawberries are the best for freezing.

Strawberry Tester at Surrey Farms

10 Reason’s to Visit a U-Pick Strawberry Farm

2011-06-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

10: Taste - vine ripened strawberries taste like nothing else you’ll put in your mouth.

9: Sounds – listen closely and you’ll hear the farmers and their neighbours on their tractors, birds telling their stories, farm animals making themselves present, happy farm workers giggling while they sell berries and myriad other country sounds.

8: Fabulous family experience – take the whole family and have a farm experience.

7: Doing your bit for ensuring that the land is producing food.

6: People watch – more accurately child watch, there’s nothing like watching happy kids in a strawberry patch.

5: Preserve ripe strawberries and enjoy them when the season is long gone over.

4: Best price for delicious strawberries.

3: Aroma – ripening strawberries smell like summer.

2: Support your local farmer.

1. Taste – did we say that already? It warrants being repeated.

Strawberry Recipes for this Year

2011-06-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Every year the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association promotes different BC Strawberry recipes. This year, we decided to promote three recipes – Strawberry Misu, Strawberry Green Salad and Maple Strawberry Smooch. These recipes are printed on cards that can be found at any local strawberry stand.

Strawberry Misu
This Misu is an elegant, delicious and decadent dessert that goes well with any summer meal.


© Image Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association

Strawberry Green Salad
If you’re looking for something other than a dessert, try this healthy Strawberry Green Salad. Fresh spinach leaves can be substituted for greens. This salad is filled with fibre, protein and vitamins. Easy to make, complex in flavour!

Maple Strawberry Smooch
If you’re wishing to enjoy local, delicious strawberries, long after the plants have stopped producing, this Maple Strawberry Smooch is worth preparing. The smooch is lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup.

Check a strawberry stand near you and ask for these delicious strawberry recipes.

What Does ‘No Spray’ Mean?

2011-06-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

Like all other crops, animals, and people too, strawberries are constantly fighting diseases and pests. Unless these invaders are kept under control, they can potentially destroy a crop. Our growers use both sprays and natural predators to keep pests at bay. Whether a grower uses sprays or not is an individual choice. There are no laws in Canada that says a grower must or mustn’t apply pesticides to a crop. It is the grower’s preference.

Growers in a Certified Organic Program can only use pesticides that have been approved by an Organic Regulation Committee. These growers must go through a comprehensive program before their crops can be labelled Certified Organic. Growers that are not in a Certified Organic program have access to a larger and different suite of pesticides for use on their crops. All pesticides that have been registered for use on crops in Canada have gone through rigorous screening for toxicity and residue levels. Used properly, as is stated on the label, they are safe for use on strawberries.

All of the strawberry growers in the Fraser Valley use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, where crops are monitored regularly for pests and diseases, beneficial insects and management techniques are used to control them, and pesticide applications are kept at a minimum. So far, this season, the disease and insect pressure on strawberries is low – that means that not many pesticide applications have been necessary.

If a grower labels their strawberries as ‘No Sprays’, it means that they haven’t applied any pesticides to their strawberry crop. They may or may not be involved in a Certified Organic Program. If there are disease and insect pressure on their crop they are most likely using beneficial insects and/or other management techniques to keep pests out of the crop.

Spotted! Fresh, Ripe & Ready BC Strawberries

2011-06-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Spotted! Fresh BC grown strawberries for sale in Chilliwack and Deroche, BC. These first strawberries can be purchased for between $1.50 and $3.00 per pound, depending on picking costs and location.

The next area that will see berries for purchase is Langley in approximately one week. To obtain your berries at the lowest cost visit a growers farm stand, as the closer the berries stay to the farm the less expensive they will be. Also when purchasing from a farm stand the berries will be fresher and more favourable, as they were picked at the peak of ripeness.

In the fields this week pest and disease pressure remains low and the current sunny weather will hasten the ripening of the berries creating an abundance of fresh market fruit available for purchase in the days to come.

Slow Start to Spring Won’t Keep Local Strawberries from Consumers

2011-06-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Time was when strawberry season lasted two or three precious weeks, and here in the Lower Mainland, the eagerly-awaited local berries were one of the first signs that summer was finally here. In fact, Fraser Valley residents of a certain age can remember when the arrival of local strawberries was a sure sign of summer, heralding treats like strawberry shortcake, strawberry sundaes, or U-pick berries eaten right off the stem - sweet, juicy, and delicious.

Today, strawberries are available year-round, as easy to find as apples and bananas, thanks to non-local imports. But going local means you get a flavour burst that’s unmatched by berries grown in other regions, which are often picked before ripe and then transported long distances.

And today, buying locally is even more important to many consumers, thanks to the popularity of “The 100-mile diet.” The principle is a sound one: support local producers and make greener food choices by buying locally. Here in the Lower Mainland, the concept has been embraced by everyone from chefs at some of B.C.’s most prestigious restaurants, to individuals who simply love to offer delicious home-cooked meals from locally-sourced suppliers.

B.C. Strawberry Growers are proud and pleased to be a significant part of this growing trend towards a new food outlook. With a fruit crop that’s unmatched in abundance, flavour and versatility, local strawberry growers are well-placed to provide buyers with product that’s the epitome of flavour and freshness.

And although this year’s spring has been cool and wet, local berries are quickly catching up as more seasonal weather returns. Shoppers who hold off on buying strawberries until local crops arrive. Growers predict that this year’s crop will easily match the flavour and quality of warmer years.

“You can have a really cold wet spring and all it takes is a few warm and dry days in June, and they catch up,” says Sharmin Gamiet of the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association.

What sets B.C. strawberries apart from the non-local competition? First and foremost, flavour. Local strawberries are instantly recognizable by their burst of old-fashioned berry sweetness, proof that the berries have been picked when perfectly ripe, meaning their sweetness is natural and irresistible. And because of this, B.C. strawberries are also packed with the intense “old-fashioned” strawberry flavour that makes them such a success in desserts, jams and preserves, or eaten all by themselves.

Rain or no rain, B.C.’s Strawberry Growers can be counted on to provide their consumers with the best that nature has to offer!

Fraser Valley Strawberry Update

2011-06-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

This year the strawberry industry is breaking records; it is going to be the latest starting harvest in thirty years. However, even though the crop is late this does not mean it will be a poor one. There is an abundance of flowers on the strawberry plants, indicating there is potential for a high yield. Pest and disease pressure has remained very low, allowing the crops to remain healthy and strong.

With sun on the way, berries will begin to colour up and develop the rich fresh flavour BC strawberries are known for. Ripening of strawberries will begin in Chiliwack, BC where the first fresh market harvest will take place between June. 20th to 25th followed a week later by harvests in Langley and Delta. Harvesting will last for four weeks on the June bearing varieties such as Stolo, Totem, and Puget Reliance. Dayneutral varieties will, however, be available for purchase though out the summer months; the most common varieties classed as dayneutrals are Albion and Diamante.

Strawberry Desert Contest at Steveston Farmers Market

2011-06-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

On June 19th, bring your winning strawberry dessert to the Steveston Farmers Market for judging (judges: Darlene Tanaka, Chef Kieran Flaherty of The Sweet Spot, and Arlene Kroeker) and a chance to win some great prizes. Strawberries are available and the market, along with Bernardin, the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association, Galloway’s Specialty Foods, and The Sweet Spot Bakery, want to see what you do with the gems of summer!

Prizes include a Bernardin canning kit, cookbook and a voucher for a flat of strawberries - $125 value; $100 gift certificate from the Steveston Farmers Market; $50 gift certificate from Galloway’s; $25 gift certificate from The Sweet Spot. Registration is required. Send your contact info and name of your dessert to akroeker@aol.com.

Good luck!

Fresh Local Strawberries Available in Richmond!

2011-06-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

We went to Richmond to drop off some signs and pick up the recipe cards and lo and behold, strawberries were being harvested at Birak Berry Farms! If you drive along No. 6 Road in Richmond, watch for the sign.

There were rows upon rows of strawberries and as we walked closer to the plants and noticed they were loaded with ripening as well as ripe strawberries.

There were U-pickers in the field as well as the crew harvesting strawberries. Even though it was windy and cool, people were happy to be picking their fresh, ripe, juicy, and ready strawberries.

People were coming in with their pails of strawberries for weighing and driving off with happy grins as they finally have their local strawberries.

While you can pick strawberries yourself, you can simply buy ready picked strawberries at a farm near you. Check out the ‘Find BC Strawberries’ for a farm close to you!

Growing Fresh Strawberries in the Home Garden

2011-06-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

We came across this great video on growing strawberries at home.

Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, shows you how to plant delicious strawberries. Enjoy!

First Blossom Tour

2011-06-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

We had our first blossom tour of the season on Wednesday. Present were research scientists from Agriculture Canada, representatives from industry – BC Blueberry Council, Raspberry Industry Development Council and of course the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association. We started the day at Agriculture Canada’s Clearbook Substation where field experiments are done by the scientists.

The Berry Experts

The reason we do the blossom tour is for us look at new berry varieties that have been developed by Agriculture Canada’s plant breeders. At the field station, we looked at new strawberry varieties that have been in the field for 1 and 2 years. This cold wet spring has been a challenge for the growers but great for the plant breeders because if a variety is doing well during this awful spring, it surely will do well on a normal year.

Agriculture Canada’s Clearbook Substation

According to my untrained eye, most of the 2 year strawberry varieties weren’t doing well. In the 1 year plot, there was an experimental variety that looked really well. I hope this variety will be retained and will be part of future variety development.

Strawberries

Once we finished at the field Substation, we decided to split into 2 different groups. Those of us that were interested in strawberries went to Neufeld Farms, to talk to the farmers and to look at their strawberry fields. The other folks went to look at experimental raspberry and blueberry varieties that are being tested on another farmer’s field.

Strawberry Fields

Wow, there were so many blossoming strawberry plants. These plants were a June bearing variety, which means that the fruit will ripen in June and will stop fruiting around 4 weeks later. We checked out the fruit stand and while there were so many products, no local strawberries were ready, yet. It’s been such a late strawberry season.

We rejoined the other groups at Berry Haven Farms where we looked at more strawberry fields. These fields were ever bearing, meaning that the berries will ripen over the whole summer. Right next to the field were some bee hives. The bees were very active. We stood in the flight of the bees returning to their hives and there were so many bees, we were forced to duck to prevent from being hit by the returning bees. They were pollinating the blackberries, blueberries and strawberries.

Once we finished at Berry Haven Farms onto Krause Berry Farm, another strawberry farm to talk to the farmer and to look at his fields. The recurring theme was – strawberry harvest will be late this year. Normally the stand at Krause’s is open by early June, but not this year. It’s been too cold and wet. Again, the fields looked really great, but no ripe fruit. While the fruit stand is being prepared, Alf Krause likes to open the fruit stand when there are ripe strawberries. After talking to Alf onto another farm we went.

Alf, Owner, Krause Berry Farm

Once again, at Driediger Farm, the stand wasn’t open yet, the strawberry plants were in full bloom – so many blossoms – and not a ripe strawberry in sight. The owner, Rhonda Driediger, felt that their fruit stand will be open by June 25^th.

Hopefully, the next time we do the blossom tour, there will be fresh, ripe and ready strawberries!