Strawberry picking season in full swing at Leisure Farms

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Leisure Farms opens fields for annual strawberry picking season

Strawberry season hits stride amid ideal picking conditions

Strawberry picking season has begun across northern Ontario, with eager customers already filling baskets at local farms.

16-year tradition draws generations

For 16 years, Marci Grandmond and her granddaughter Maddy have made the annual trip to Leisure Farms, just south of Sturgeon Falls, Ont., to pick as many juicy strawberries as they can carry.

“They have the best berries by far,” Grandmond said. “This year, I want to teach her some old-fashioned traditions of making jams and preserves.”

‘Beautiful, fresh’ berries attract crowds

They’re not alone. Leisure Farms’ four strawberry fields have been bustling with pickers searching for the plumpest, reddest and tastiest berries.

“Look at these strawberries. They’re beautiful,” said picker Cheryl Lindsay. “That’s why we come out. They’re nice and fresh, and you can’t get any fresher than that.”

Weather aids strong start after rocky season elsewhere

While some farms in southern and eastern Ontario faced challenges early in the season due to inconsistent weather, Leisure Farms has had a strong start, according to farm manager Mitch Deschatelets. He told CTV News their season began June 30.

Depending on weather conditions, the season typically lasts about four weeks.

“We pick what we get,” Deschatelets said. “But I do tell people don’t wait for the very last day of strawberry picking.”

Cooler temps perfect for preservation

Though there’s no perfect formula for the best berries, cooler temperatures and steady breezes have helped prevent over-ripening.

“He (my husband) wants a strawberry pie. So, it looks like we’re making strawberry pie,” Lindsay said with a laughed. “Then I’ll also be freezing a basket as well so we can enjoy them in the winter.”

‘Better than most years’: Farm reports bumper crop

The four-week strawberry season is one of the farm’s busiest periods, with customers willing to pay a premium for fresh-picked fruit.

Molly Robertson and her family filled seven baskets during their visit.

“My mom likes to make some jam every year,” she said. “So, we pick for that and obviously for eating and maybe some for some desserts.”

Deschatelets said this year’s average yield has been “better than most years.”

Revival of ‘back in the day’ traditions

“There are more and more people doing preserves. I think that’s awesome,” he said. “It’s about time that we get going back just like we used to do, back in the day.”

For many, the berries are the perfect ingredient for a sweet summer treat.

“They’re so good,” Grandmond said.

Leisure Farms is open for pick-your-own strawberries weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A four-litre basket costs $17, while a two-litre basket is $10.

More information is available at ShopLeisureFarms.ca.