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
Strawberry Measures | Strawberry Conversions | Strawberry Substitutions | Strawberry Equivalents
1.5 lbs = 1 quart or 2 pints or 4 cups
1 quart = 4 servings
1 small basket = 1 pint
1 pint = 3.25 cups of whole strawberries
1 pint = between 1.5 and 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
1 pint = between 1.25 and 1.67 cups of pureed strawberries
1 cup = approximately 4 oz of strawberries
1 cup whole strawberries = 0.5 cup pureed strawberries
1 pint = 12 large strawberries
1 pint = 24 medium strawberries
1 pint = 36 small strawberries
1 pint = 2.5 cups whole small strawberries
1.5 cups = 10 oz package of frozen strawberries
1.25 cups = 10 oz package of frozen strawberries in syrup
4 cups = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
2.50 cups sliced = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
2.25 cups pureed = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
Virtually all berries are interchangeable in recipes, measure for measure. If you want raspberries or blueberries or blackberries in your raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry pie, just swap them. But, really, why would you want to do that?! Additionally, this chart of approximate metric equivalents may help you
1.5 lbs = 1 quart or 2 pints or 4 cups
1 quart = 4 servings
1 small basket = 1 pint
1 pint = 3.25 cups of whole strawberries
1 pint = between 1.5 and 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
1 pint = between 1.25 and 1.67 cups of pureed strawberries
1 cup = approximately 4 oz of strawberries
1 cup whole strawberries = 0.5 cup pureed strawberries
1 pint = 12 large strawberries
1 pint = 24 medium strawberries
1 pint = 36 small strawberries
1 pint = 2.5 cups whole small strawberries
1.5 cups = 10 oz package of frozen strawberries
1.25 cups = 10 oz package of frozen strawberries in syrup
4 cups = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
2.50 cups sliced = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
2.25 cups pureed = 20 oz package of frozen whole strawberries
Virtually all berries are interchangeable in recipes, measure for measure. If you want raspberries or blueberries or blackberries in your raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry pie, just swap them. But, really, why would you want to do that?! Additionally, this chart of approximate metric equivalents may help you