Community Corner

Warmer Temps Amp Up Strawberry Harvest

Most U-Pick farms say this weekend will be the last for strawberries.

Mother Nature turned up the heat this spring -- and the warmer temperatures resulted in an earlier harvest for the East End's strawberry crop.

Farmers are urging strawberry lovers to head out to their favorite U-Pick location fast -- before the strawberries are all gone for the season.

According to Joey Picca, metorologist at the National Weather Service office in Upton, temperatures in Islip for March, April and May averaged 54.1 degrees; the normal average is 49 degrees. "It was the number one warmest spring in recorded history," Picca said. Recorded data at Islip goes back to 1984, he said.

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The burst of warm weather means strawberries started blooming earlier than usual this season -- and soon, the crop will depleted, with many U-Pick farms ready to pack in their strawberry picking after this weekend.

"Our strawberries were very early this year," said Maggie Wood, of Golden Earthworm Organic Farm in Jamesport, adding that the crop is waning. "We opened for U-Pick the weekend of Memorial Day and we expect this weekend to be our last."

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The amped up harvest had no impact on the quality of strawberries, she added. "The crop was fine for us with the early warm temps -- they were actually great this year, sweet and productive."

But, Wood added, "It's funny that our 'late' varieties are coming in right now, which would typically be 'mid-season.'"

Gekee Wickham, who owns Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue with her husband, former Southold Town Supervisor Tom Wickham, said the warmer temperatures mean the farm is two weeks ahead -- a welcome scenario. "Whenever fruit comes in early, it's like hitting the jackpot. We are very happy."

Strawberries, Wickham said, are still available. "We also have cherries and raspberries available two weeks ahead of schedule. Usually, we don't have cherries until the beginning of July." Wickham's, she added, is closed on Sundays.

The warm weather posed no threat to the strawberry crop, said Patricia DiVello, owner of Patty's Berries & Bunches in Mattituck -- but the late frost farmers experienced this year was worrisome, she said. "Luckily, we were okay. We were about two degrees away from the worst," DiVello said. "After the frost scare we did experience warmer weather in New York in general. It has not had a significant effect on our berry crop yet. The strawberries are looking and tasting great so far."

Strawberries, she added, were a week or so early but the timing of the harvest always varies. The U-pick farm also grows raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

"However, the heat is yet to come," DiVello said. "It's the hot months like August that can turn the berries to jam if we don't  get rain."

Patty's Berries & Bunches offers a "Berry Chart" tab on its website that is updated every week and shows the berries grown and picking conditions. 

Lolly Rottkamp, of Fox Hollow Farm in Baiting Hollow, agreed that the crop made an early appearance. "We hope we can make Father's Day this year. Normally, we'd have strawberries until the beginning of July. But this will probably be our last weekend, depending on the weather. The rain could hasten it."

In celebration of the season's sweet fruit, the 58th annual Mattituck Lions Strawberry Festival takes place this weekend, kicking off with hulling night on Thursday and running through Sunday.


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