Open at 9:00, heat reduced harvest

Hi gang!

We knew it would happen….. Ma Nature’s oven got a ton of our berries AND we’re coming in to the time when the frosted berries should have been ripening. We’ll take it day by day for the next week. We still get the stand open at 9:00 but sell out around 4:30. Berries will come in today at 9:00, 11:00, and between 1:00 and 2:00 depending on when we finish. We should be open until at least 4:30 again today.

Tips on handling the berries
When the weather has been hot, please be aware that some of the berries will be very, very ripe and need to be eaten immediately. They may not look as pretty as they usually do. Don’t try to hold them much more than 2 days and keep them in the fridge. This is a high sugar, soft berry that does not keep. When the temps get unusually high the plants are stressed and berries ripen faster than desired. We find the very best flavor comes from 70ish degree temps, cool mornings and evenings, and slow ripening. Don’t I wish I could order that kinda weather every season!!! Last year we had it, this year is quite the challenge already.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry
Carstensen Farms

Hours:
Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)
Opening Day May 8th thru June 17 ...... Open daily 9 - 6, closed Tues
June 18 thru July 31 ...... Open 12 - TBD Days closed TBD
Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open daily 12 - 6, closed Tues, Thurs
Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available between transplanting

NOTE:
Our Ely Rd. location will not be open this year due to frost damage and the late season start - Sorry :(