Feb. 23—DICKINSON — Winter may be lingering, but the taste of summer is just around the corner for Dickinson residents as The Fruit Truck arrives with fresh Florida strawberries and Georgia pecans. The truck, which travels directly from growers to communities, will be stationed in the Runnings parking lot on Friday, March 3, offering preservative-free produce to satiate area customers.

While fresh strawberries in North Dakota in March may seem like a dream, this family-owned business is making it a reality, bringing farm-picked fruit to over 15 states. The Fruit Truck will be located in the Runnings parking lot at 2003 Third Ave W., between the hours of 4:45 pm and 5:45 pm next Friday.

"In Dickinson, you are going to get fresh strawberries that, if you don't have your bib on, you are going to get red stains all over your shirt," employee Glen Stanley said.

Customers can purchase fruit directly from the truck the day of, though Stanley recommends reserving your fruit ahead of time online at myfruittruck.com.

Fruit fanatics can look forward to enjoying an 8-9lb box of farm-picked fruit for $30 payable by cash, check, or Venmo.

Eliminating the need for a middleman, the produce will never see the walls of a warehouse or the need for preservatives.

"This is fresh picked and it comes directly from the grower. It's picked in the fields, loaded into boxes, put on pallets, and put right on our trucks, and as soon as the truck is loaded it's on its way," Stanley said.

Everything is dependent on mother nature, Stanley warns, not only the fruit but the travel and dates due to weather.

The Fruit Truck has been bringing fresh fruit directly from growers to communities across 15 states, Stanley said.

Not only does the truck travel across states, but all across North Dakota from Bismark to Fargo and over 20 cities between March 3-6.

The family business originated in South Dakota 8 years ago by owner Irina Keinsasser but has since traveled all around the country.

Keinsasser, her husband and their kids all work together in various areas of the business with the main focus being bringing fresh produce to communities.

Their dedication to providing fresh preservative-free fruit as Stanley puts it, "How does it get any better than that?".

Whether it's homemade pie, fresh jam or strawberry shortcake, there's no limit to what you can make with these berries.

If you are opting to wait to enjoy your strawberries for a few days, it is recommended to store them whole and unwashed in a partially closed container lined with paper towels where they should last 5-7 days.

The best place to keep them is in the crisper drawer to keep the berries from losing moisture.

For those looking to enjoy their berries into the summer months, it is recommended to remove the stems, slice them, and then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid.

Once frozen, transfer the berries to an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag until you are ready to enjoy them. Stanley even recommends canning the produce for a variety of uses.

With temperatures on the rise next week, fresh strawberries are a sweet kickoff to the long-awaited spring months.