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14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 23, 1992 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" By Marnie Luke Port Perry Star Sometimes, the best things in life are worth waiting for. And there couldn't be better proof of that than the Ontario strawberry season which is off to a late start this year. A cold, late spring is to blame Strawberry picker Tanya Guenther for the delay, but the berries will be just as delicious none- theless. In past years, Ontario straw- berries have been available by June 20, or even earlier, de- pending on weather conditions. Expected to hit the store shelves some time after June 8 (front) R 3 3 $F S . N Rw Sn at WO * RN Ralls Seed Re a Sg 5 a tS sneaks a berry, while fellow workers Samantha 27, this year's berries should be quite large in size due to the heavy rain early in the spring. Marlene McKay of Willow- tree Farms on Regional Road 21 has been keeping busy with oth- er strawberry workers, pulling weeds, in preparation for the season. McMullen (centre) and Kim Guenther (behind) pull weeds from around the bushes. Berry season is just a few days away she said. But the customers are not only buying Ontario berries be- cause they are fresher, but for another reason as well. The novelty of "U-Picking", in which customers go right out into the stawberry fields with their own crates, garbage bags, or even garbage pails, and pick berries at their own leisure. There are many U-Pick loca- tions throughout the Scugog area, most of which will be open by next week. But while many people show up to the farms with the best in- tentions of going out into the fields to pick thier own, and even get some light exercise, the plan doesn't always materi- alize. "A lot of people pull up and see that we have them here fresh, already picked for them, and they just end up buying them instead of picking," Mrs. McKay said. For those who do venture out into the strawberry fields, Foodland Ontario has a few picking tips: - wear loose clothing, long sleeves and long pants and sun- block to prevent scratches and sunburn. - bring along insect repellent we and water or juice to avoid de- t hydration. "It's too early now to tell what the quality of the berries will be, or how many we'll have, but we're expecting a good season," Mrs. McKay said. She has been growing straw- berries at Willowtree Farms for the past 13 years, and says this year's late season is not highly unusual. Strawberries are already available in supermarkets, and have been for some weeks. They are shipped in from the United States, whose growing season 1s much earlier than that of Onta- rio. Local berries tend to be slightly more expensive than those from the U.S., but are also much fresher. Those already available are often two to three days old by the time they reach Canada. Strawberries are one of the few fruits which do not continue to ripen once they are picked, so they're best if eaten soon after picking. Those berries purchased from local farms are picked the same day they're sold, and tend to be very sweet. Mrs. McKay said freshness and sweetness are vital require- ments when selling berries to - if picking berries to make | Jams and preserves, choose the & smallest ones possible. - pick early in the morning } 5 § i \ Bo ; a = B % b & 4 \ § when the selection is best and 3 TIRED OF the weathisr 00s) esl 4 - place berries in layers of four (i Forder-Parks LONG DISTANCE to five in shallow containers to IR { avoid crushing. : Insurance Brokers Inc. _ CHARGES! . Most U-Pick farms open at Personal attention to all of gown vicinity, including Newmarket, appiovimately Sam. and close YC. Ota. Port Pairs anywhere from early evening to : 5 & surrounding counties dusk. 34 Water St., Port Perry, Ontario LIL 1J2 for a fixed flat rate ; § But as soon as it's here, the 985-8471 We also provide Private Metro NE id season's gone, lasting a short numbers that ring direct to your line. A hn 3 three-and-a-half weeks. flat fixed rate for home or business. bX 2 "Torihe locations ahd hours of | 433-1515 the public. Joca) U-Pick strawberry, ras- : " . clei rry, and blueberry farms, call Customers are getting picki- pq 4" Ontario's toll.free Hl er, and so they should be. They Berry Hotline at 1-800-263- I want fresh Ontario produce." 3262. i a Durham Read 57 A South of Blacksteck l = +/ 986-4437 DIVISION OF 665126 ONTARIO INC. f Ld 13110 | Thursday, July 9 * Friday, July 10 © 1 eee er | rsday, July ay, July 10 * Saturday, July 1 NEW & USED ITEMS i IXIA =1=Te [0 el=le MIs MOF I SOV] MO le Bo) LoYol DIRT BIKE PANTS $75.00 « LEATHER MOTORCYCLE i GLOVES $25.00 - HELMETS ON SALE - $5. $10. TABLE AS JS DIRT BIKE SHIRTS 15° OFF & much, much more | Also on Display -- used motorcycles. used ATV's. new bikes, new ATV's | THE E DATE , NOMINATE or VOTE for Friday, June 26 - 8:30 to 8pm Saturday, June 27 - 9 to 3pm | your favourite: West's Best Baby e Emma Donnelly... 2183 | * Dillan Hiozan............ 1930 |* VOTES cost 1¢ each « Daniel Peterson....... 1234 | Top votes in each category wm Cetol DEK e Cameron Mitton........... 586 receives a West's Best Trophy = ns . West's Best Belle © Darla Goresk.............. 25 [© Overall winner receives 125 - AUTHORIZED A Now Superio f Wood Finish | Co ' 0 e Pam Henshall... 8 loonies in honour of Canada's DEALER its protective barrier repels water West's Best Senior © Myrtle Snelgrove........ 50 125th Birthday Effectively penetrates and J e Marion Lee.................. 9 |* Deadline for rolled votes is protects wood surfaces | West's Best Vilain ~~» Roy Walker Smith.....501 | oaturday, July 11 at 12 noon - i * Dave Robinson............ 26 SHARP! o Elgin Knopp... 12 | ® Net proceeds will be donated to West's Best e Mary Fines... 2738 Port Perry Community Hospital. | Business Person oe KenKoury.................. 17 Nominations & votes may be phoned in or CENTRAL : * Ken Gamruthers. 8 | dropped off to Virginia at Marlin Travel, 246 Co Queen Street - 985-2268. PAINT & WALLPAPER 295 Ritson Rd. S., Oshawa 434-3939 Ps P PY eats rd een REP PY TA oat ay ETI A er eer bs A RNIN E renee a 9 « R 7 2 LLAAASNSSLS od LR ALANS PIIT RELL TENN oi ah Aas ad AL . . [= 3 20D EALA ME 81 0 ANY CARARNY S