This past weekend I went Strawberry Picking with Brenda/Lori and Cindy. (And the teens.)
Sadly, the harvest was well, sad. After picking about $8 worth, I was over it. Plus you know HEAT.
I’ve read that several CSA fruit shares in the area had to cancel this season because of the evil early warm weather. And the Lexington Co-op won’t be getting tree fruits from their biggest suppliers this year (no local peaches, apples, apricots, plums…and cherries.) Sad.Very sad.
Luckily our CSA Native Offerings is still able to provide their share. We’ve been receiving strawberries for three weeks now and this week, I heard a rumor of cherries! Yum!
Where did you do your berry picking this year?
We have to drive nearly two hours to higher elevation to get blackberries. We’re pretty limited here.
We didn’t pick strawberries, but we’ll pick blueberries in July or August, probably at Awald’s in North Collins. We’ve also gone to Burdick’s in East Otto. Prices are comparable and both are way cheaper than buying in stores.
SO disappointed about the lack of cherries this year. Luckily, we froze lots of them last year and have quite a few 1-lb. bags left. We bought a FoodSaver vacuum sealer a few years back (to go with a freezer we have in the basement), and a digital scale, too. The FoodSaver was a great investment; everything lasts much longer, without freezer burn. If you don’t already have one, use some of that wedding cash and treat yourself to one. (You’re welcome!)
Gosh I haven’t picked blackberries in forever! We used to have them in our back woods and across the street growing wild. Yum!
Foodsaver. Good idea. I use regular freezer bags right now, but really only use the things we freeze for soups or smoothies so far so never experienced freezer burn. YET.