Strawberry picking

[Joette]

Hi,

Does anyone know of a place with organic pick your own strawberries?

Thanks.
Joette

[Pat]

As far as I know organic strawberry farming is rare. In fact, strawberries have some of the highest pesticide residue of all produce. Pesticides and Produce: http://www.eartheasy.com/eat_pesticides_produce.htm

The closest organic strawberry farm I found was three hours west of here. We use Bi-O-Kleen Produce Wash before we eat produce, unless it is organic. http://www.bi-o-kleen.com/pdfs/ProduceWash.lo.pdf

Conventional strawberries: I found Hall Family Farms on Providence Rd. West with strawberries.
http://www.pickyourown.org/PYO.php?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hallfamilyf...

10713 Providence Road West
Charlotte, NC 28277.
Phone: [phone]

Strawberry Picking-Marshville. (about 20 miles south, out I-74)

Creekside Farms - Strawberries
3424 Lanes Creek Road, Marshville, NC 28102.
Phone: [phone]. Phone: [phone].
Directions: Located on SR 1941, Old Pageland-Monroe Road at
intersection with SR 1940, Belk Mill Road.
Open: Monday - Saturday (Call for hours.).

(Call to see for certain that they have strawberries this year.)


Strawberry Picking-Monroe (about 14 miles east off I-485)

Piedmont Produce - Strawberries, tomatoes, summer vegetables
9601 Morgan Mill Road, Monroe, NC 28110.
Phone: [phone] or 704-753-4264.
Directions: Take Albemarle Road to Mint Hill. Go east on N.C. 218,
cross N.C. 601 and turn left on N.C. 200. Go 1.8 miles. Field on left
at 9601 Morgan Mill Road. Or take Independence Blvd. to Monroe. Go
north on N.C. 200 (Morgan Mill Road) for 13 miles.
Crop availability: Picking strawberries starting about May 1. $8 a
gallon.

(Apparently, they'll work out quart prices if a group wants to go with
a bunch of kids, call Marie at 704-753-4264.)


You can find more info about "Pick Your Own Produce" for any county in the area: http://www.pickyourown.org/NCpiedmont.htm#listings

Also, check out Springs Farm in Fort Mill.

Here is the link for "Pick Your Own" for SC: http://www.pickyourown.org/SC.htm


Pat

[Anna]

Pat,

Wasn't there one from Rock Hill that wasn't classified organic but didn't spray? Remember they sold at some stands in Charlotte also. I can't remember the name though. I'll see if I can find it but I'm running out of the door.

Also Joette, we just planted our strawberry patch in the fall and it's LOADED with berries. So you might want to consider planting your own too.

~Anna

[Pat]

That is right!! Now I remember. Not sure the name of the producer...


Pat

[Joette]

Thanks ladies. I found some also that were far away. I was hoping there was one closer that I was missing. If you remember the name of the Rock Hill farm please let me know, that is not far at all. Springs Farm in Fort Mill sprays also.

I have a question about the fruit and veggie washes...would you feel comfortable eating a conventional strawberry/peach washed in Bio-Kleen? It just seems that pesticides would seep into the berry and washing would not be able to get it all off. Maybe with the hard skinned fruits and veggies, but berries and peaches etc. I am skeptical. What are your thoughts on this?

Somewhat off topic as well...I am still not being notified through email when someone responds to my discussions. I have clicked that I want to follow the discussion, but it does not notify me. Any thoughts?

Thanks.
Joette

[Anna]

Pat just posted this to another group. This was the one I was talking about:

>>There is a farm in York, SC which doesn't use any pesticides! It is Bush-N-Vine Farm. They are not "certified organic". But, they have strawberry stands all around the Charlotte area. You can pick your own there too.

http://www.bushnvine.com/index.htmlbr />

I do soak any berries in the veggie wash. It's not perfect but I prefer local berries, especially ones like these above where they are trying not to use pesticides. I try to avoid buying strawberries from the grocery store. My oldest dd has eaten her weight in strawberries and fresh whipped cream in the past couple of days :) She's a fruit lover so she loves this time of year and knows that local peaches and nectarines are right around the corner!

~Anna

[Kara]

What a great idea! I'm going to check this out and try to get out there! Thanks for the info!

[Joette]

We are going to Bush N Vine tomorrow. We also made some whipped cream this week and it was so good! So easy too!

Anna, do you make your whipped cream with raw milk cream?

Joette

[Jenn]

Anna said:

Pat,

Wasn't there one from Rock Hill that wasn't classified organic but didn't spray? Remember they sold at some stands in Charlotte also. I can't remember the name though. I'll see if I can find it but I'm running out of the door.

Also Joette, we just planted our strawberry patch in the fall and it's LOADED with berries. So you might want to consider planting your own too.

~Anna

I planted strawberries last year also and it spread nicely. Lots of flowers and berries on my plants. I think I will have to make it bigger this year but we should get enough for picking at daily. Plus I got the plants that will produce again.

[Anna]

I haven't used raw cream yet. I may try to get some next time I pick up milk. I'm just using organic from the grocery store. I'll let you know if it works after I get some.

~Anna



Anna, do you make your whipped cream with raw milk cream?

[Marnita Causby]

I made fresh whipped cream with my raw cream I get. It was absolutely delicious!!! A must for your strawberries!

Marnita

[Leigh Fransen]

Joette, how did it go at Bushnvine? Looks like we only have a few more days to go, but I really want to get out there!

[Joette]

It ended up raining the day we were supposed to go. Although they sell their strawberries in Rock Hill off Cherry Road. We have made several trips down there to buy strawberries. They are delicious! $12 for a gallon. I would definitely recommend them. We will probably go get more tomorrow, now that I am thinking about it! Have fun if you go. I think we are going to wait for the blueberries to go picking. I think this is their last week for picking strawberries.

Joette