It's strawberry fields time out east
Strawberry picking at Harbes Family Farm on Sound Avenue in Mattituck. (June 2007) Credit: Newsday
There's not much that beats the taste of a ripe, sun-warmed strawberry -- unless you've got a whole quart of them. This is the time when Long Island farmers open their fields to customers to pick their berries. Here's what you need to know to make your outings fun and fruitful.
WHEN TO GO
Long Island's colder, wetter spring means slow picking for strawberry lovers this year.
"We really haven't had a spring," says Mary Lewin of Fritz Lewin Farms in Calverton. "We went from cold to hot. Strawberries like warm days and cool nights for the best yield."
While some fields are open now, it may just take a little longer to fill that quart container.
"There will be strawberries in early June, but the second and third weeks of June should be the best picking," says Faye Anderson, co-owner of Anderson Farms Riverhead.
To lengthen the season, many farms plant multiple varieties of berries that are ready early and late.
If you're going picking, it's best to call ahead to make sure the fields are open and not too wet or picked out for the day. Some farms stop taking pickers within a half-hour of closing.
WHAT IT COSTS
U-pick strawberries range from about $2.50 to $5 a quart, with already-picked strawberries running about $4.50 to $7 a quart at farm stands.
A few fields are now charging an admission fee -- many will waive the container fee (10 cents to 25 cents) if you bring your own.
WHERE TO PICK BERRIES
Anderson Farms
Riverhead Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead
631-727-2559
HOURS 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, U-pick closed Tuesday
CONTAINER FEE 10 cents a quart or 50 cents for 4-quart basket
Condzella's Farm
Route 25A east of William Floyd Parkway, Wading River 631-929-5058
HOURS 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
CONTAINER FEE 10 cents to 25 cents
Densieski Farms
Lewis Road, East Quogue 631-653-5221
HOURS 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
CONTAINER FEE To be determined
Domaleski Farms
Route 48, Mattituck 631-734-6886
HOURS 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
No fee for containers.
Fritz Lewin Farms
Corner of Sound and Edwards avenues, Calverton 631-727-3346
HOURS 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
CONTAINER FEE 50 cents (but you can bring your own)
Golden Earthworm Organic Farm
652 Peconic Bay Blvd., Jamesport 631-722-3302
HOURS 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
No fee for containers.
Glover Farms
633 Victory Rd., Brookhaven 631-286-2226
HOURS 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends
CONTAINER FEE 50 cents per quart, $1 4-quart container
Hank's Farm Stand
County Road 39, Southampton 631-726-4667
HOURS 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
ADMISSION $5 (includes one quart of berries)
Lewin Farms
812 Sound Ave., Calverton 631-929-4327
HOURS Varies
CONTAINER FEE 10 cents, but you can bring your own
Patty's Berries and Bunches
(Formerly Harbes Berry Farm)
410 Sound Ave., Mattituck 631-298-4679, pattysberriesandbunches.com
HOURS 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
No fee for containers.
Rottkamp's Fox Hollow Farm
2287 Sound Ave., Calverton 631-727-1786
HOURS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
Container fees.
Wickham's Fruit Farm
28700 Rte. 25, Cutchogue 631-734-6441, wickhamsfruitfarm.com
HOURS 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
ADMISSION $20 annual U-pick club fee per family
Windy Acres
3810 Middle Country Rd. (Route 25), Calverton 631-727-4554
HOURS 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
ADMISSION $1
No fee for containers.
