After fighting a constant battle against frost, slugs and sap beetles, and delayed a few weeks by weather, the 2009 strawberry harvest finally is ripe for the picking.
Area farms are offering both prepicked and pick-your-own berries.
"You want to get the nicely shaped berries that are all red," said Steve Mermer, who grows several varieties of strawberries on his 2 1/2 acre property on state Route 7 in Vernon.
Before picking a strawberry, lift up the plant and turn over the berry. If the tip is white, the berry is a couple days away from being ready, area producers say. A ripe berry is one that is red from tip to top.
"Look out for damage. Like this one," Mermer said, holding up a berry that was broken and soft. "A beetle got to that one."
Cool weather this spring has meant the strawberry crop has been slower than normal to ripen. Much of what had been ready for picking was sacrificed to a late frost about three weeks back, Mermer said.
"We were out here with frost blankets, doing what we could to protect them," he said. "But I still think I lost about 15 to 20 percent of the first berries to frost."
Mermer said his berries likely will last until July 4.
Ray Matwich Jr., owner of Matwich's Strawberry Farm in Leavittsburg, echoed Mermer: ''The weather has been a little cool and they came out just a little later than usual.
''There were two days in May, one was a bad freeze and the other a bad frost. I used a 0.9-ounce row cover to cover them up, and it seemed to work,'' he said.
Matwich said he prefers the covers to overhead irrigation systems for fear of getting too much water during the frost.
He still is predicting a good berry season.
''I think so. If the weather holds out ... I think it will be really good,'' he said. ''There will be some big, sweet ones, a good size and bright red.''
Humidity needs to stay low and the weather needs to stay dry, or, if it rains, be warm while it is raining, he said.
He also is expecting a good business, but not because people are looking for bargains.
''The economy doesn't really matter when it comes to local fruit,'' Matwich said. People who prefer the homegrown taste and freshness will turn out whether the overall economy is good or bad.
He did note that he received a boost last year when gasoline prices were higher. Warren-area people weren't inclined to drive to outlying areas.
Sharon Grover of Ridgeview Farms said prime picking season in their Mesopotamia fields has begun.
"Our picking is awesome this week," Grover said. "We'll have berries until the Fourth of July, but the next few weeks will be great for picking."
The prime season should have started a week ago but also was delayed by frost, she said.
''Ridgeview Farm uses overhead water irrigation so that the frost will not 'settle in' on the berries and burn the flowers,'' Grover said.
''(My husband) Steve was up several nights to protect the strawberry flowers. Overhead irrigation is a must for the commercial strawberry grower. If a patch experiences a hard frost, it could burn up to 35 percent of the total crop, so we think the sleepless nights were worth it.
"Picking strawberries is a great family activity that is low-cost," she said.
Her property also is home to a farm market that specializes in Ohio produce and a petting barn for children.
