HOULTON, Maine — Strawberries are the kind of summer fruit that everyone seems to love and picking the bright red berries a summer highlight.
Recently, I visited two pick-your-own (PYO) farms during the height of strawberry season and met with the owners. Heading east on U.S. Route 2 from Island Falls, the road dips and rises against glimpses of mountains and passes long-established farmsteads.
It was one of those perfect summer mornings when nature is at its most lush and the humidity hasn’t yet crept into the heat of the day. Just beyond the Sherman town line, there’s a painted wooden sign hanging from the side of an old garage letting me know I’ve arrived at Golden Ridge Farm.
Following the field road, I parked and met strawberry farmer Frank Cox, who was busy with locals starting to arrive for PYO along with overseeing the local seasonal workers picking strawberries for a delivery to Eastport later that afternoon. I later learned that the workers were picking 1,500 quarts of strawberries, a not uncommon daily task during the 14-20 days of the season. Frank’s farm is situated on top of a hill, providing stunning views. The quintessential summer day felt even more so when standing in a field surrounded by ten acres of plump red berries.
Frank started out as second generation potato farmer but for various reasons made the decision 25 years ago to diversify and try something new. Growing strawberries for PYO seemed to be a good niche and something his three daughters and their friends could be involved in. His daughters grew up, left the area, and Frank continues on his own with occasional help from his grandkids.
Much has changed since he first began. As the local population has decreased and with closure of industries such as the mills in Millinocket, he now trucks more of his strawberries to markets east and south, relying less on PYO to sell all of the berries. Frank delivers to the markets in the afternoon after the pickers have completed the day’s orders. His fields are on a 4 year rotation, planting timothy for 3 years before strawberries are reintroduced. He brushed aside any questions of cutting back on acreage and pointed out the graveyard located at the edge of the property. He quipped, “I won’t have traveled very far from the farm in my life, will I?”
Heading to the opposite end of Southern Aroostook, I stopped to meet Meredith and Phyllis Folsom at their 3 acre strawberry field in Monticello, again at the crest of a hill with views all around. Former potato farmers, they first diversified into vegetables sold from a roadside stand for many years.
When they closed that a few years ago, they decided to try planting some strawberry plants to gauge local interest and it has taken off from there. Phyllis says they started the strawberries because Meredith is “just a farmer that can’t let go. He’s got to be planting something.”
It’s clear that they both enjoy the bustle of PYO and talking and meeting their customers. Having the strawberries also allows them to involve their family and have their grandkids help out, connect them a bit with local agriculture. Meredith admits that it was a learning curve and while he still doesn’t have all the answers, they have an effective management system in place. Getting the word out they’ve left to their kids. Once their daughter posted “PYO open” on Facebook, Phyllis said it spiraled from there and the customers started coming.
Golden Ridge Farm strawberries are available to buy or pick on-farm, at local grocery stores, and daily in McDonald’s parking lot. Folsom’s Strawberries are available on-farm. Call the Folsom’s ahead to make sure season hasn’t ended, 538-7687 or 538-8256.
Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via email at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net
