By Joanna Kutler
Nothing beats fresh-picked strawberries--so sweet and delicious! Right now the berry bushes in Connecticut are loaded with fruit so it's a perfect time to visit a local farm and pick your own strawberries.
Jones Family Farm in Shelton, Connecticut offers pick-your-own strawberries from mid-June to early July (click HERE for directions/map). Strawberries are sold by the pound. Current prices at the Farm are $2.13 for more than 8 pounds in one container; $2.79 for less than 8 pounds (cash or check only, no credit cards). Jones Family Farm provides free picking containers and the scales are set back to account for the weight of the containers. The Farm offers two dedicated strawberry picking fields: Pumpkin Seed Hill or Valley Farm. Look for signs that will direct you to each of the picking fields. Once you park your car and grab a container, a berry truck will drive you out to the picking fields. You will then be assigned a specific row to pick to your heart's content. We picked over 11 pounds in about 45 minutes (we probably ate about 5 more pounds!).
Strawberry bushes are very low to the ground, so picking strawberries involves lots of bending, squatting, and lifting the leaves to find the juiciest berries hidden underneath. Wear a hat and old clothes (the berry juice can get everywhere) and put on plenty of sunscreen. If it's a hot day, bring a bottle of water to drink. Jones Family Farm does provide coolers filled with water in the fields but it's helpful to bring your own bottle and refill as needed at the cooler. The Farm is open Monday-Saturday from 8:00am-5:30pm and on Sunday from 8:00am-12:00pm. Call their daily crop line for updates on picking locations and hours: (203)-929-8425. Also remember that you can recycle your berry box and use it again at the Farm for a credit.
This weekend (June 18th-19th) promises to be a perfect time to visit Jones Family Farm because it is also the 40th Annual Strawberry Festival at nearby Monroe Congregational Church, complete with over 75 juried exhibitors, local artists, strawberry shortcakes, jams, pies, baked goodies, children's games and live entertainment. The festival is open Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00pm-5:00pm. What a great way to spend a summer's day!