Strawberry Picking Time is Here!
It's that time again... Berry Picking Season in Kansas City! Our family loves to pick our own produce annually at Kansas City's local u-pick farms... whether it's blueberries and peaches in the summer or apples in the fall, or fresh vegetables and berries throughout the season... but one of my personal favorites has to be Strawberry Picking! All winter I lamented the lack of snow (please forgive me warm-weather-loving-friends). I love to take my kids sledding, I love to build snowmen, and I enjoy cozy days by the fire with hot cocoa. Alas, this winter was crazy mild and it saddened me - but my consolation prize? Early Strawberry Season!
So, in celebration, my girls and I headed out with some friends to Wohletz Farm Fresh U-Pick Strawberry Patch in Lawrence (just 30 min. drive for us in South KC... generally 30-60 min from most spots in the metro) yesterday for a day of strawberry picking (20 lbs to be exact!), and exploring! If you'd like to take your kids out to the strawberry fields, I have some great picking tips and Lawrence Day Trip Tips just for you!
Strawberry Picking Tips
- Strawberry Plants are low to the ground... the perfect height for toddlers and preschoolers! Be prepared for stooping and bending over.
- Dress for a Mess! The patch is as "tidy" as a farm could possibly be... but let's face it, you are bent over in the dirt picking juicy berries. I chose to dress my kids in their favorite tie-dyed t-shirts from last summer.... any new stains are just part of the design, right? Seriously, dress in comfortable tennis shoes, and jeans/shirts meant for working in a garden.
- Bring wipes for messy fingers.
- Pack a camera, and check the memory and batteries before you go! Strawberry smiles make super cute scrapbook photos!
- Bring bottled water (and perhaps snacks too depending on your lunch plans).
- Plan to spend an hour at least (we picked 20 lbs in one hour, with 3 preschoolers and 1 mom picking... I picked the majority but the girls helped for sure!).
- Teach your children that "Redder is Better" when it comes to strawberries... leave the green behind, they are still growing!
- Bring a cooler and ice to keep berries fresh for the ride home. You may want to bring a few plastic containers that fit properly in your cooler for the berries... the boxes provided were too wide for my cooler and I had to gently pour the berries loosely into the cooler. It worked, but plastic would've been ideal.
Wohletz Farm Facts
- 2012 Strawberries are $2/lb. They are big, beautiful, and delicious!
- Call ahead to verify hours and availability (785.331.3468)... they expect to have plenty for a great season (and we left LOTS behind) - but always call before heading out just in case! Visit the Wohletz Website for details. Picking season typically lasts through mid-June (it began Apr. 23, 2012).
- Lawrence is under construction... follow the detour instructions on the Wohletz site when driving there.
- They will lead you to a row and teach you the proper way to pick berries, pinching stems so as not to hurt plants or berries in the process and get the best quality fruit.
- Wohletz provides a porta-potty for your use.
- Picnic Tables are also provided and you are invited to pack a picnic and make a day of it!
- Wohletz isn't far from Downtown Lawrence... take time to explore Mass St., Prairie Park Nature Center, the KU Natural History Museum or other local attractions. Read our Lawrence Day Trip Tips for ideas! My girls especially enjoy the FREE Prairie Park Nature Center (closed Mondays).
Favorite Uses for 20 lbs of Fresh Strawberries
- Eat them fresh... straight, with cream, or in cereal!
- Make Smoothies! We love to experiment... strawberries, yogurt, ice... some additional favorite fruits and perhaps some milk, toss it in the blender and voila! If you're a recipe follower, the Food Network offers many great Strawberry Smoothie recipes!
- Make Shortcake! Last night we made this Diner-Style Strawberry Shortcake and it was delicious!!! See photos below....
- Bake Pie and Strawberry Muffins. Share with friends and neighbors!
- THEN, if you still have berries... I store them in the fridge till they are "about to turn" - then I clean the rest and freeze them. The frozen berries are used year-round for smoothies, muffins and Strawberry Syrup with Saturday Morning Pancakes!
Favorite Strawberry Syrup:
- 3 c. fresh or frozen strawberries (thaw)... cleaned and diced... juicy is good... you are making syrup!
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 3 tbs. lemon juice
- 2-3 tbs. water
- 2 tbs. cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 c. water.
In a medium saucepan, combine berries, sugar, water and lemon juice and bring to boil (add a bit of water if needed to prevent burning). Once it boils, slowly add cornstarch and water mixture. Then, simmer until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is thickened and reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 in volume (approx. 20 min). Remove from heat and let cool to desired temp before serving. May strain for seeds if desired. Serve with favorite pancakes or waffles.
Signing off... I have a smoothie calling my name!