Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Paulridge Berry Farm’s strawberry season is off to an early-and extremely busy-start this year.
The family owned and operated farm opened for its first pick-your-own session on Saturday and it’s been a steady crowd of berry lovers ever since. Unique weather conditions meant the strawberries were ripe a full two weeks earlier than usual.
“Our berries are lovely, the flavor is wonderful,” said Ruth Paul, who has operated the strawberry farm with her husband Phillip since 1978. “We hope to have a good week and a half more. Everything’s going well. We love having people come and we just thankful that we’re open and everyone is enjoying getting out of their homes and having something to do.”
It didn’t take long for the secret to get out as there were plenty of families spread throughout the field on Wednesday morning.
COVID-19 safety measures are still in place but this year marks the return of tractor rides to and from the field.
“It’s pretty well back to normal,” said Paul. “We have not as large a crop as some years but we still have lovely berries. The weather has really turned around thankfully. That hot, hot dry weather was killing everybody.”
While the strawberries are going quickly, next week the peas are expected to be in season and towards the end of June and early July the raspberries will be ripe.
Paulridge Berry Farm is located at 2115 Palace Road and is open for picking 8 a.m. to noon Monday to Saturday. Pre-picked berries are also available, though demand is high and the staff is doing its best to keep up. For the latest crop updates, visit Paulridgeberryfarm.com or visit their Paulridge Berry Farm Facebook page.
The history of the family farm dates back to 1920, when Vernon Paul, who had united Empire Loyalist heritage, purchased it. The farm has remained in the Paul family ever since and is now staffed by a fifth generation of Pauls.