It's that time again... Strawberry 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! It's super easy for children, the berries are delicious, and the weather is beautiful!
It has become a family tradition to visit Gieringer's Orchard in Edgerton (just 40 min. drive for us in South KC... generally 30-60 min from most spots in the metro) for a day of strawberry picking. They are open 9-6 on 5/21. Watch the Gieringer's Orchard Facebook Page for picking updates as the schedule will vary according to weather and number of visitors.
Coupon Alert: Bring your Gieringer's Pick 5 lb get 1 lb Free Coupon!
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! Gieringer's Orchard is clean, beautiful, hospitable and organized - as "tidy" as a farm could possibly be... but let's face it, you are bent over in the dirt picking juicy berries. It is our tradition for the girls to wear their favorite tie-dyed t-shirts from last summer.... any new stains are just part of the design, right? Remember to 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 water (and perhaps snacks too depending on your lunch plans). Gieringer's Orchard does have a nice area where you may picnic if you like (they have a picnic table guests may use). We opted to drive into Gardner for lunch.
- Plan to spend an hour at least (last year, we picked 7 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.
Gieringer's Orchard U-Pick Strawberry Facts & Tips
- Gieringer's Orchard is located at 39675 W. 183rd in Edgerton, Kansas. Mid-Summer they will welcome PEACH Picking Season and U-Pick Blackberries! Follow Gieringer's Orchard on Facebook for those updates as well!
- Bring your Gieringer's Pick 5 lb get 1 lb Free Coupon!
- Call ahead to verify hours and availability (913.893.9626)... 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 Gieringer's Orchard Facebook Page for details. Picking season typically lasts through mid-June.
- 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.
- They provide a porta-potty for your use.
- Picnic tables are available and you are welcome to pack a picnic and make a day of it!
- Gieringer's is just down the road from Lanesfield School Historic Site.
Favorite Uses for Fresh - Picked 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! Our FAVORITE is 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!