By Elaine Sauler-Tumbokon
It was going to be a sunny Saturday, said the weather forecast. So hubby and I thought we should spend the day out so we decided to go for strawberry picking (I haven’t been since last came here for 6 years now) and check out on Prairie Berry, a new strawberry plantation down South of Winnipeg which is about 10 minutes passed University of Manitoba. (Visit their website: http://prairie-berry.com/) I heard there’s more places to go around Manitoba, like Boonstra and Mayfair. These farms all have the Pick Your Own (or U-Pick ) Farm.
Strawberry picking season is short, so better call the U-Pick farm and know these details before going down. Know the strawberry availability, hours of operation, and directions to the strawberry picking location, and the payment methods that are accepted. Many strawberry farms only accept cash, so make sure you take the correct payment vehicle.
Before going to pick strawberries, it is important to know what your quantity goals for strawberry picking are. Try to determine how many strawberries you will be using for cooking, processing, or eating fresh. Once you determine how many strawberries you need, try not to pick strawberries in excess of that amount. Strawberries have a notoriously short “shelf-life” and will go bad quickly. They will quickly begin to get moldy if left at room temperature and only remain edible for 2 or 3 days if refrigerated. Picking too many strawberries will end up costing you time and money if you aren’t able to use them quickly.
Take a hat and sunscreen so that you won’t get sunburned and bring your drinking water so that you don’t get dehydrated. A snack or two might also be a good idea if you will be out strawberry picking for an extended period of time. Bugs aren’t generally a tremendous nuisance, but if it has been especially rainy recently, bug repellant might be a good idea. Make sure to also wear closed shoes, if you don’t want your feet to get wet and bring back some caked mud.
It was a fun and delicious activity, great for groups or families with small children, a great experience for everybody under the sun.
It is very rewarding too! Even though I love strawberry and regularly buying at shops like supermarkets, the feeling is different after you harvest the berries yourself. It is my first time again to experience picking after 12 years, my last was back in the Philippines, in La Trinidad Benguet which is known as the “Strawberry Capital of the Philippines”
It was a great experience and I must say that staff was very delightful and accommodating. They are polite, friendly and very courteous. We highly recommend Prairie Berry, and will surely come back.
Don’t miss the fun! Take a bite out of a fresh, juicy and sweet strawberry.
For more information about U-Pick Strawberry farms, visit the Prairie Fruit Growers Association website – pfga.ca. The Prairie Fruit Growers Association is a voluntary non-profit organization representing fruit crop growers.
Photos by Joy Pascual, Belinda Garcia and Maggie Urbano-Chan
