Strawberry Picking & Handling

Sorry, please leave your dogs at home and not in your car even if you are just picking up pre-picked strawberries. We have livestock guardian dogs to protect our sheep and any dog (even when they are in your car) are considered a predator to them and they will not be happy. They are here, just doing their job, to protect the livestock.

Yes, we provide all containers for your strawberries.

Yes, we take credit and debit cards, but we do not take checks.

Yes, the minimum pound requirement is 6 pounds which is equal to a 5 quart bucket (ice cream pail). 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.

We will allow you to pick in light rain as long as there is no lightning and we are open.

It is very rare that we need bug spray in our patch due to the wind always blows a little here on the prairie.

We try our best to find a place for you to pick when you are have stroller, but sometimes it is not always possible.

We do not allow parking in the strawberry patch, we give wagon rides to and from the strawberry patch.

When picking strawberries, make sure they are fully ripe on both sides, they will not ripen after picked.

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.

You are allowed to taste one or two berries, you are not allowed to make it a meal.

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.

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.

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.

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 a 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.

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.

Yes, we sell pre-picked berries. To place an order call 715-231-2377 between 7am-7pm to reserve your strawberries for pick up at the farm. You are also welcome to stop and see if we have any available also. But if you know you need them for a certain day it is best to call and get strawberries reserved for you.

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

We recommend freezing them whole (strawberry tops removed) on a cookie sheet and after about 30 minutes you can put them in freezer bags or containers to use later.