By visiting Govin's Farm, you voluntarily assume all risks related to Covid-19.
Hours: These can change daily!
Monday - Friday 7am-noon & 3pm-7pm
Saturdays - 7am - 4pm
Sundays - 9am - 4pm
All hours subject to change due to berry availability and weather.
Monday - Friday 7am-noon & 3pm-7pm
Saturdays - 7am - 4pm
Sundays - 9am - 4pm
All hours subject to change due to berry availability and weather.
Our Strawberry Patch
Come out and enjoy our mouthwatering summertime treats. The season is not very long, about three weeks depending on mother nature, so don't wait too long to join the fun at Govin's Farm.
Here at Govin's we make strawberry picking a family event. We have rides to and from the patch and love to see the families year after year making it a tradition to come out and pick. We have both u-pick and pre-picked strawberries available and we provide you with containers to pick into at no charge. Here at Govin's, we pick into flats (about 12 lbs.) which is equal to about 2 buckets of berries. Picking into a flat lets the berries spread out and breath better. The old myth of berries are done by the 4th of July is not true, some years they are just getting a good start. Call the Berry hotline 715-231-2377 and we will be more than happy to give you an update on the strawberries. We started out strawberry patch in the spring of 2002 by planting 3 acres (about 20,000) plants) of strawberries. In the summer of 2002, the plants started to form blossoms. At that time you remove all the blossoms so the plants don't bare fruit. By doing this the plants conserve energy which allows them to grow stronger in their first year of life. We now have six acres of strawberries. In the fall after the ground is slightly frozen we cover the berry plants with straw to keep the plants safe from the cold. The straw that is applied in the fall is removed the following spring and used for mulch and weed control in between the rows, this also conserves the soil moisture. Now that the berry plants are uncovered they start to develop new leaves and form blossoms. This time you let the blossoms develop into strawberries. About 21 days after blossoms start, the fruit is ready for picking. If you want to make sure not to miss the season, join our email list.
For more information call the Berry Hotline 715-231-BERRY(2377) N6134 670th street Menomonie, WI |
U-Pick Strawberries
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Strawberry Picking and Handling
Q. Do you provide containers? Yes, we provide all containers for your strawberries.
Q. Do you take credit cards? Yes, we take credit and debit cards, but we do not take checks.
Q. Do you have a minimum picking pound requirement for strawberries? Yes, the minimum pound requirement is 6 pounds which is equal to a 5 quart bucket. If you pick less, you will be charged for the 6 pounds regardless. We will have a scale in the field so you can check the weight of your berries.
Q. Can I pick in the rain? We will allow you to pick in light rain as long as there is no lightning and we are open.
Q. Can I bring my dog to the farm? Sorry, please leave your dogs at home.
Q. Do I need to bring bug spray? It is very rare that we need bug spray in our patch due to the wind always blows a little here on the prairie.
Q. Are strollers allowed in the patch? We try our best to find a place for you to pick when you are have stroller, but sometimes it is not always possible.
Q. Can we park in the strawberry patch? We do not allow parking in the strawberry patch, we give wagon rides to and from the patch.
Q. Will the green berries ripen after they are picked? When picking strawberries, make sure they are fully ripe on both sides, they will not ripen after picked.
Q. Do I need to pick all the red berries in my row or can I leave the smaller ones? We ask that you pick all the red berries in your row, big and small. If the small red berries are not picked they will spoil and also spoil the next berries that are still green. The picking is great as long as everyone picks all berries. Each plant is picked many times during our season and no one likes to pick through spoiled fruit.
Q. Can we eat strawberries while we pick? You are allowed to taste one or two berries, you are not allowed to make it a meal.
Q. Are children welcome in the strawberry patch? Yes, we love our small pickers, we just ask that they stay with you on your row at all times and remember that the plant is still producing fruit so be careful where they step. There is no running down strawberry rows, throwing strawberries or jumping to another row.
Q. Are the fields muddy? We have straw in our walking paths but sometimes there is a very heavy dew in the morning and you will get wet from picking.
Q. How should I store strawberries? When you leave the farm place the berries in a cool part of your car (not the trunk it gets hot). Place them in the refrigerator with just a light towel over them. Do not put plastic over them, they need to breath.
Q. How do you wash Strawberries? Do not wash your berries until you are ready to use them. Berries have a natural protective coat and once you wash your berries, it makes them more prone to spoilage. Place strawberries in colander and rinse. Remove stem after they are washed so the water does not go into the berry. Do not put them in a water bath to wash, they will absorb the water and make mushy berries. Make sure your strawberries are dry before making anything so you do not add water to your recipe, especially jam.
Q. How long is the strawberry season? Our strawberry season usually starts around mid June and runs about 3 weeks. We usually have strawberries thru the 4th of July and sometimes later depending on when we start.
Q. Do you sell Pre-Picked Berries? Yes, we sell pre-picked berries. You can either order them online or call 715-231-2377 to reserve a flat. You are also welcome to stop and see if we have any available. If you place an order and it rained, we might not have them for you until later in the day or the next day, we would call you if that happens.
Q. How many berries to make a pie or jam? Every recipe is different so it is very hard to say how many you need, but hear are some helpful hints:
Q. Do you take credit cards? Yes, we take credit and debit cards, but we do not take checks.
Q. Do you have a minimum picking pound requirement for strawberries? Yes, the minimum pound requirement is 6 pounds which is equal to a 5 quart bucket. If you pick less, you will be charged for the 6 pounds regardless. We will have a scale in the field so you can check the weight of your berries.
Q. Can I pick in the rain? We will allow you to pick in light rain as long as there is no lightning and we are open.
Q. Can I bring my dog to the farm? Sorry, please leave your dogs at home.
Q. Do I need to bring bug spray? It is very rare that we need bug spray in our patch due to the wind always blows a little here on the prairie.
Q. Are strollers allowed in the patch? We try our best to find a place for you to pick when you are have stroller, but sometimes it is not always possible.
Q. Can we park in the strawberry patch? We do not allow parking in the strawberry patch, we give wagon rides to and from the patch.
Q. Will the green berries ripen after they are picked? When picking strawberries, make sure they are fully ripe on both sides, they will not ripen after picked.
Q. Do I need to pick all the red berries in my row or can I leave the smaller ones? We ask that you pick all the red berries in your row, big and small. If the small red berries are not picked they will spoil and also spoil the next berries that are still green. The picking is great as long as everyone picks all berries. Each plant is picked many times during our season and no one likes to pick through spoiled fruit.
Q. Can we eat strawberries while we pick? You are allowed to taste one or two berries, you are not allowed to make it a meal.
Q. Are children welcome in the strawberry patch? Yes, we love our small pickers, we just ask that they stay with you on your row at all times and remember that the plant is still producing fruit so be careful where they step. There is no running down strawberry rows, throwing strawberries or jumping to another row.
Q. Are the fields muddy? We have straw in our walking paths but sometimes there is a very heavy dew in the morning and you will get wet from picking.
Q. How should I store strawberries? When you leave the farm place the berries in a cool part of your car (not the trunk it gets hot). Place them in the refrigerator with just a light towel over them. Do not put plastic over them, they need to breath.
Q. How do you wash Strawberries? Do not wash your berries until you are ready to use them. Berries have a natural protective coat and once you wash your berries, it makes them more prone to spoilage. Place strawberries in colander and rinse. Remove stem after they are washed so the water does not go into the berry. Do not put them in a water bath to wash, they will absorb the water and make mushy berries. Make sure your strawberries are dry before making anything so you do not add water to your recipe, especially jam.
Q. How long is the strawberry season? Our strawberry season usually starts around mid June and runs about 3 weeks. We usually have strawberries thru the 4th of July and sometimes later depending on when we start.
Q. Do you sell Pre-Picked Berries? Yes, we sell pre-picked berries. You can either order them online or call 715-231-2377 to reserve a flat. You are also welcome to stop and see if we have any available. If you place an order and it rained, we might not have them for you until later in the day or the next day, we would call you if that happens.
Q. How many berries to make a pie or jam? Every recipe is different so it is very hard to say how many you need, but hear are some helpful hints:
- 1.5 lbs = 1 quart or 2 pints or 4 cups whole strawberries
- 1 pound = about 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 12 flat = about 24 cups of sliced strawberries
With Covid-19 we have made some changes at the farm, but you DO NOT need to wear a mask unless you would like to. Our high traffic surfaces will be sanitized and cleaned often. We ask that if you have been sick or feeling ill that you please stay home. We look forward to a seeing everyone!.
N6134 670th Street
Menomonie, WI
715-231-2377
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