Customers flock to Carlton strawberry farm
Jul. 14—CARLTON — Long before Spectrum Farm Strawberries in Carlton hadopened its rows of berries to eager pickers at 9 a.m., a line of cars stretched across Carlton County Road 4 in anticipation of another day of berry picking on Wednesday, July 13.
Spectrum Farm Strawberries, located roughly four miles west of Hay Lake, is in its fifth-season of berry picking after the tradition was formed through their purchase of Finke's Berry Farm in 2017.
The farm celebrated its opening day for this year's season on July 6, and ever since, customers have come in droves to take advantage of the short window to get fresh strawberries.
"Somebody told me that we had about 400 cars, and it worked out to be about a mile-long line," Spectrum Farm Strawberries co-owner Steve Schulstrom said during an interview Monday, July 11. "So there were a lot of people. Everybody got in, and we had everybody picking in the fields in about 20 minutes. Everybody got the berries that they were looking for. It's been a really good year."
Upon arriving at the farm, customers are greeted by employees wearing red aprons, who guide them to where they will pick. Containers to carry the strawberries, which are priced at $4 a pound, are available for purchase on-site, or customers may bring their own from home.
Experienced berry picker Stacy White, of Duluth, had an old ice cream bucket brought from home filled with berries after a short time spent introducing the tradition to the next generation in her family.
"I was picking strawberries with my kids back in the '90s, and now I'm picking strawberries with my grandchildren," White said. "They love strawberries, and it's so fun for them to see where they actually grow."
Days to enjoy strawberry picking season are numbered and will likely only last one to two more weeks. According to Schulstrom, the season typically only lasts three weeks as temperatures and rainfall dictate its duration.
Schulstrom went on to report that the season has gone well thus far, especially when compared to the drought conditions experienced last season that made for a very short window to pick fruit.
"This year we've done pretty well. Early on it was pretty hot, but then it only lasted for a couple of days ... We've had good rainfall and everything's going really well, so until we run out of berries, then we'll be picking berries. I anticipate another, I'd say 12-14 days," Schulstrom said on Monday.
With the schedule for berry picking constantly changing, Schulstrom said those who are interested in coming to the farm visit the Spectrum Farm Strawberries
Facebook page
for the latest updates, or call their hotline at 218-389-6265.
