Strawberry growers in Virginia were impacted by the early April cold snap, but despite the setback, are optimistic about the season.
Pick-your-own strawberry locations throughout the state opened this weekend.
“It’s like prepping for a big game,” said Tyler Wegmeyer of Wegmeyer Farms in Loudoun County. “When it dropped to 22 degrees, it zapped a lot of blooms that would’ve been strawberries in 30 days.”
Farmers, especially those in Northern Virginia, are used to managing losses from late frosts.
“Every year, farmers with sensitive crops deal with this issue,” he said. “We just have to be really vigilant and do what we can to keep our crops safe.”
Wegmeyer’s Chandler and Ruby June strawberries also softer and sweeter than grocery store varieties.
“There’s nothing like picking a fresh strawberry from the field,” he said.
“People who have never done it before, their eyes are just wide open, and they’re flabbergasted with what the taste is like.”
Visitors to the upcoming Wegmeyer Farms Foundation Lincoln Strawberry Festival May 16-18 can pick their own strawberries while supporting the local community.
The event raised nearly $25,000 last year for local charities and youth scholarships
To find fresh strawberries near you, visit the Virginia Grown website.
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Crystal Graham
