Connecticut Strawberries Ripen Early and Are Ready to Pick According to Fruit Growers

June 1, 2012--Strawberry season has come early to Connecticut this year and pick-your-own operations are ready for customers. Strawberries normally ripeningin early to mid-June, but this season's growing conditions have pushed the berries to ripen one to two weeks early.

 

According to Henry Talmage, Executive Director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association , reports on the strawberry season are positive, but it has arrived early." The hot weather earlier in the spring pushed the fruit trees and berry crops to bear earlier. Although early heat caused some concern, the consistent rainfall and cooler weather in April seemed to bring the strawberry crop along nicely. These warm sunny days will promote the ripe berries customers love to taste," says Talmage.

 

Jamie Jones of Jones Family Farms in Shelton, for example reports that the day after Memorial Day was the first day of their pick-your-own season. In the 40 years that Terry Jones has been growing berries, this is the first time the strawberries have been ready enough for the Jones family to open the fields to picking in May. "The berries look good and taste good," reports Jones. " The early warm weather has speeded up the ripening."

 

In northeastern Connecticut, Shari Hurst of Andover reports she is very optimistic about the season. Shari and Tom farm under an acre of strawberries and distribute their berries through their own Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farm stand, and farmers' markets. "Although we needed to Irrigate our berries early due to the dryness, the frequency of a little rain now and then over the past few weeks has contributed to a good start to our crop. The season is only three weeks long at most, and it has already begun. Folks need to get their strawberries sooner than later."

 

As Jamie Jones urges, " Get them while they're sweet."

 

Strawberry growers and farmers' markets can be found at www.buyctgrown.com and at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's website, www.ctgrown.gov and click on Publications for farm maps.