8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 12, 2001 4 *Cemx Visit us ai Wjwkarulfolorsp.co, 487 Laurier Ave. ' 878-2881,e /Strawberry season just around the corner Pick-your-own bernies should be ready this weekend By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Local strawberry producers are busy prepar- ing for the rush to the fields as the season draws near. Patches throughout the Milton area are expected to be ready in mid-June. "The pace around the farin really picks Up as soon as strawber- ry season hits. Its one of our two busiest times of the year - the other being October with the pumpkins," said Bert Andrews of Andrews Scenic Acres. "We have a kew ripe bernies now, but flot many. Itil ail depend on the weather (as to when the rest ripen>." Though the mid-June opening prediction is fairly standard for the savoured benries, Laura Hughes of Spiingoidge Farin said the long winter bas slowed tings down a bit. Sometirnes it's a littie earlier and sometirnes it's a littlc later (than rid-June). This year i's a littie later than usual," she said. "If we get some nice, wanîn sun like we had (Wednesday) and (Thursday) it won't be too long (before tbey're ready for pick- ing)." Even witb the long winter, this year's crops are looking to be top of the line, agree the two area producers. Both the quantity and > quality of the favoured fruit have given farmners rcason for opti- misin. -It looks like a lovcly crop. Thcy'rc sizing up niccly witb the rain We didn't have any trouble with frost this year and there was enough sun for the becs to pollinate them," said Ms Hughes. Picking strawbcrries is a popular event at area farrins as people welcomc the summer- with a stroîl through thc berry patch. The experience offers families an opportunity to tcach children about the growing process and gct a hitle fresh air while they stock u p j, on the jamrning lavourite. Aspc-your-own strawberry sea- But increasingly, people don't have the turne to spend in theAspc field, opting instead to snatcb up a basket of pre-picked bernies, sn apoce, Mlo' Mr. Andrews said. Springridge Farm on Bell School "When memrbers of the family arc aIl working, thcy might prc-Lneppasfo aotrya. fer to just buy thern already picked. On thc other hand, we also .. Here (above) a wagon load of visi- have a lot of people coi-ne out for the tarin experience of picking tr ae t a akt h ak strawberries. We selI a lot both ways,- he said. n loar w le mpyeErn While most beiries are still a littlc green, Springridge Farin has ' Walsh picks sonne of the early aslect few that are ready for enjoyrnent. The farrn grows a haîf -srwere u ntefed hs aceof berries witb the assistance of a black biodegradable plastic looking ta pick their own barries used to b.at the ground, creatlng a greenhouse-type affect. sol eal ad 0 erya "TMe sun on the black (plastic) heats the soi l and the plants corne ti ekn.Srwer esn out carlier. We've just done a sinaîl area that way so that we would lasabghtrn glo lre- have a few bernies to pick carly," Ms Hughes said. "John (ber bus- dabs ou gadod rn n band and tarin grower) is doing a bit of an experirnient with thern aotmud-July. and it's been quite successful." The strawberry patcb at Andrews Sccnic Acres is expected to- open June 15. Tbe farin is alrcady open with several other attrac- - Photos by tions. Springridge Farin anticipates a June 16 opening for the GRAHAM PAINE strawberry season. ~1~tNP ~PP ~COGECO 14 Programmîng Schedule - June l2th- June 18th 2001. 1W!0W!3 ~ i ia i, la,1&N4 om ,, In laiIoiN Pqe l!9n4c&j 1ed o k lea! qa 184110 m bg a 09 0N4lnnNn mn a Encore EncoreEncore core Ene pm & 73Opm Pqla! dî fSp.a& 7:T3OM Plujedla! Sm 4Om 7:34m. Podla! Spo,1m7:30pu Phla!d 5130p&A401 Pk«W bl 5jpe se *k& n SM h h I«Wc e- e hu 530m . Llug aote 21 a nStret ortla RW&3M2o là .3MTh lneInEo W vwww.cogeco.ca :3Opm O9&" TV Ed linc 0pOutrlIm 63Opu unco.634a. MoyWoee& Biv 630p. Swap TalkCoMci. 7Olon Ou minhal 7*OplThe l- NORTH HALTON STUDIO 8.pm loe hoc te . Jo.hCkPate Com.-Iinenwon3OU eAE Adtos ON L7J 1V9 goa p.m (519) 853-4700 Featuse thîs week: The SkasceFina.ofION 81«o & Swr a kl - Tesedo a k esda 6.»30 p i ,F"1"1