2011 Strawberry Season
What
Our strawberries are
certified organic by NOFA-NY
Certified Organic, LLC. They are June-bearing varieties and
are usually ready to pick anywhere from June 5th to June 20th, with the
average date around the 15th. Every year is a little different and we
will be sure to keep you well informed! Picking season usually ends sometime
during the week of July 4th. We are primarily a pick-your-own operation.
In 2011 we will have about 3 acres to pick.
Every year a new field is planted and so the location is likely to change
somewhat. You can always find up-to-date information on the location of
the field, price, picking conditions, etc. on the update/home page of
this website.
We plant several different varieties of berries. Each variety tastes and
looks just a little different from the others. Planting several varieties
allows us to extend the season and to educate about the subtle differences
in strawberry flavor, color, size, and texture. In 2011 we have 8 varieties
for you to choose from - but they do not all ripen at the same time: :
Earliglow, Annapolis, Ovation, Allstar, Noreaster, Cabot, Clancy, and
Mesabi. Our favorite is Earliglow, which is the first berry to ripen.
When
8-8 Monday
through Friday
8-4 Saturday and Sunday; We close at 4 on the weekends
Questions about weather closings shuld be directed to the home page of this website or the Farm answering machine: 607-749-4032. If in doubt it is always best to check first. Sometimes it is raining here, and not where you live, and vice versa. Please check so as not to be disappointed if you are driving a distance.
Where
The field
is located at- 2088
Preble Road, just past the railroad tracks. When you get to
Preble, please carefully watch for the signs.
From Syracuse: I-81 South to exit 13. Bear right off
the exit onto Rt. 281 South, to the 4 corners (blinking yellow light).
Turn left onto Preble Road. Continue under the I-81 overpasses, and over
the railroad tracks.
From Tully: Take Route 281 South from the Nice n’
Easy. to the 4 corners (blinking yellow light). Turn left onto Preble
Road. Continue under the I-81 overpasses, and over the railroad tracks.
From Cortland: Take Rt. 281 to the 4 corners in Preble,
Turn right onto Preble Road. Continue under the I-81 overpasses, and over
the railroad tracks.
Pricing
$2.55
per pound for pick-your-own berries. This translates to roughly
$3.50 per quart. It is best to bring your own containers, although
we do have some available for sale at the field. We weigh the containers
before picking and then deduct the tare weight after the berries are picked
so that you are not charged for the weight of the container. A quart container
filled with berries weighs between a pound and a pound and a half. Common
containers include pails, (5 gallon pails are too big; the bottom berries
are crushed) pots, baskets, bowls, tupperware…etc.
Payment methods include cash & check. We do not have the capability
to accept debit and credit cards.
Need to Know
Children
are always welcome at the field. We ask that you teach them how to pick
properly. If you plan on picking for a while it may be a good idea to
bring something for a younger child to play with in case they lose interest
in picking. Please, no throwing berries or running in the field.
Please leave dogs at home. They don't realize that they step on berries!
The name of
our farm, Cobblestone Valley, was not chosen randomly. We named
it such because we have highly mineralized soils which are the result
of glacial till that contains many, many cobblestone size rocks.
Please be aware that older people and much younger people may have a more
difficult time navigating the rocks in the field. People do bring strollers
and walkers in the field when picking, but it is not advisable due to
the number of rocks. Feel free to take some of these home for rock gardens
if you so desire!
There is a Port-a-john available at the field as well as hand wipes, paper
towels, and ice water. This year we will also have Pomona’s Pectin
www.pomonapectin.com
available at the field for $4.75/box. Pomona's is a sugar-free, citrus
pectin that is actived by calcium. Since it does not require sugar to
jell, jams and jellies can be made with less, little, or no sugar, and
can be made with alternative sweeteners as well - honey, stevia, agave,
etc. If the jam is being made with children in mind, you'll want to
use sweetener, but can easily use less than half of what is used for traditional
pectin. We have found that if too much sweetener is removed, the kids
don't like it.
Each 1 oz. box of Pomona's makes two to four recipes of traditional
pectin, but please be sure to follow directions carefully.
Strawberries will not ripen very much after picking, so be sure the berries you pick are fully ripe. Keep stems or hulls on the fruit to preseve freshness. Without them, strawberries will lose their vitamin content, become waterlogged and are more vulnerable to mold causing bacteria. Pick large and small ripe fruit. Avoid over-ripe ones. Look for firm, shiny, bright and well shaped berries. Check under the leaves, as some of the best fruit is hidden. Keep berries out of the sun being careful not to fill containers too full - or bottom berries will be crushed.
Freezing
Strawberries- Whole unsweetened: Wash if necessary, and hull.
Place berries in a single layer on cookie sheet and freeze until hard.
Sweetened Berries - Wash, hull, and slice berries. Sprinkle about 1/4-1/2
cup of sugar to each quart of berries. Mix sugar and berries, let sit
until juice forms, about 1/2 hour. Pack into freezer containers.
Herb Enthusiasts: Because our fields have not been sprayed, we
often have a variety of desirable herbs growing in the fields. Please
feel free to bring trowel and a container if you would like to bring some
plants home with you. We have an abundance of chamomile and mallow growing,
as well as plantain, and sometimes chickweed and red clover can be found.
Questions about weather closings should be directed to the home
page of this website or the farm answering machine: 607-749-4032. If in
doubt it is always best to check first. Sometimes it is raining here,
and not where you live, or vice versa. Please check so as not to be disappointed.