For Morris Gervais of Barrie Hill Farms, a fairly dry spring has proven a blessing in disguise.
The dry conditions mean his staff have been able to irrigate the strawberries, which are now available for picking as of this week. Early irrigation brings out the beauty in the leaves and the flavour in the fruit, not to mention warding off disease. If the ground was too wet for too long, the berries might soften, leaving them vulnerable.
The berry of which Gervais is particularly proud is the Jewel, which is as its name suggests.
“It’s a big, shiny, great berry. It is simply a gorgeous berry with excellent flavour. It looks like a jewel, and it’s firm, not crunchy, unlike some California strawberries. Those should be available for picking by Canada Day.”
For now, he says, the strawberries in the field up Minesing way are of the Annapolis variety, which ripen a bit earlier than the Jewel.
Toward the end of July, tourists and local guests alike can help themselves to the Albion strawberry, part of the fall strawberry collection, available until early October.
For Gervais, farming has been in the blood since the late 1960s, his father having been a tobacco farmer with some fruit growing experience on the side.
“In the late 1970s (however), there were things happening which made my father realize that tobacco was not where he wanted to be, and he got more into growing strawberries,” thus turning from raising crops that could cause cancer to those that can help fight cancer.
And, since 1977, Barrie Hill Farms has provided a pick-your-own haven for folks with a taste for hybrid blueberries, not to mention asparagus in the late spring, sugar-snap peas, and raspberries later on in the summer. As the weather turns cooler, looks for some of the biggest, finest pumpkins you ever saw.
CaptionThe farm boasts of the busiest strawberry festivals in Ontario, and it all kicks off Saturday morning, June 25, with clowns, entertainment, hot dogs on the barbecue, and of course, all the berries you can fit in your basket.
The fields are open for picking 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. Saturday, and the market is open 8 till 5. All other days, the market and the fields are open from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m.
Barrie Hill Farms is located at 2935 Barrie Hill Rd., just east of George Johnston Road in Minesing. For more information call (705)728-0571, or click http://www.barriehillfarms.com/
