2010 Strawberry Season - Opening on JUNE 15 & 16, and expect to be open through July 4 at least, hopefully longer.

What

Our strawberries are certified organic by NOFA-NY. 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 2010 we will have about 2 acres to pick, and will not be filling any orders for pre-picked berries.

Every year a new field is planted and so the location is likely to change somewhat. This year, we lost about half of our berries and so will not have as many as usual to pick. 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 2010 we have 3 varieties for you to choose from: Earliglow, Annapolis, and Ovation. Our favorite is Earliglow, which is the first berry to ripen.

When

8-8 Monday through Friday
8-4 Saturday and Sunday

Due to lack of a mid-season berry, we may have to close some days to allow the remaining berries time to ripen. Please be sure to check the home page before you come, to make sure that we will be open on that day.

Where

The new field is in an entirely new location this year - 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


$2.50 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.

We will not be taking orders for pre-picked berries this year.



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.

2010- We tried a different method of planting this year. The result was a wider row, but a narrower pathway in which to walk. The pathway is straw covered.Please be aware that this might make it more difficult for younger children to pick berries.

Please leave dogs at home.

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 $4.25/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 always best to check first.