TARBORO —
An extremely mild winter has caused strawberries to bloom two weeks earlier than normal, which, according to local strawberry producers, means early picking.
Edgecombe County has two strawberry farms — Dail Strawberry Farm and Morris Strawberry Farm — and both are anticipating bright red berries to be available this week.
Normally, this time of the year is much cooler than it has been over the past week weeks, said Scott Dail, who has operated Dail Strawberry Farm at 1118 Burnette Farm Road in Conetoe with his father, Eddie, mother, Noreen and sister Emily for the past seven years.
“We plant this crop in the fall (October) and over the winter season, we maintain them,” he said. “They will go dormant and by the first of March, they will break dormancy and start putting on new growth. That is when we begin to push the new crop. Everything this year is running about two weeks earlier than normal. Here we are at the first week of April, and we have ripe berries out already. We’re looking to open up next week.”
The 1.5 acres of strawberries are usually available for picking on the April 20, but this year, Dail said people can start heading out to the farm at least 10 days earlier.
“We’re going to be picking heavy towards the end of April, so I would like to encourage people to come on out and get the strawberries when we’re open,” Dail said.
Donald Morris of Morris Strawberry Farm at 692 Webbs Chapel Road in Macclesfield has worked with his wife, Jean, on their farm for 18 years and he said this is the second earliest bloom he has experienced.
“We opened the farm in 1994 and the earliest we have ever opened was April 6, because of a mild winter,” he said. “It looks like this is going to be the second earliest that we’ve ever opened since 1994. I think they are going to be plentiful, they are going to come real quickly and the field is going to load up really good.
“I really can’t predict that it will be a very profitable year yet, because we haven’t finished it,” he added. “It’s too early to really speculate. The only thing I can tell you is that they’re coming quickly.”
Although the sunny days are more preferable to the farmers and their customers, a shift of a cool breeze isn’t so bad for the berries, according to Morris.
“I personally don’t like the cool days and my pickers don’t like the cool days, but the berries do,” he said.
Morris and his wife begin preparing for the season in August as they place plastic on top of the ground to control weeds. By September, the seeds have been planted and in April and May, some 3.5 acres of strawberries are ready to be picked and enjoyed in all their sweetness.
He especially enjoys when children come out with their parents on a sunny day and eat the biggest berry they can find, while its juice stains their clothes a shade of red. Morris said he thinks that is adorable.
Customers travel from surrounding communities to have the option to either hand pick or have the buy a basket or a flat already picked, according to Morris.
These berries are considered that of “luxury,” because humans don’t have to rely on them for survival, but yet it is a tasty treat to enjoy, Morris said.
The experience of seeing families come out and bond together is pleasurable to Dail as well. His one concern about an early season is the uncertainty of it being cut short.
“The peak for strawberries this year just seems to be really concentrated,” he said. “There will be a lot at one time and then it’s going to drop off and there won’t be as many berries. Since the season is starting two weeks early, you can go ahead and expect that it will end two weeks early. We normally expect a six-week season, so we’ll probably be done by the third week of May.
“Some years, you could pick through June,” Dail continued. “This is definitely one of the best looking crops we have had since we’ve been in business. We really have a tremendous amount of berries on the crop. With the economy being down, I do notice a trend of a few more people coming and actually picking their own strawberries, but a majority of our business is pre-picked. We’re open every day of the week for you pick. Our typical customers for you pick are elderly people and people with children.”
North Carolina is ranked third in the nation in strawberry production, bringing in more than $25 million annually for the state, according to North Carolina Strawberry Association.
Dail Strawberry Farm is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 on Sunday. Their van can also be seen daily at Ace Home Center on N. Main St. in Tarboro. Call 823-0138 for more information and visit www.facebook.com/DailsStrawberries.
Morris Strawberry Farm is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 827-4736 for more information.
Local News
Related Photos
Strawberries ripening earlier
- Local News
-
-
Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average
With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, travelers on U.S. 64 exiting into Tarboro could discover some of the cheapest gas in North Carolina.
On Wednesday, Murphy Express reported the cheapest gas at $3.35 while Hadi's, Raceway and Hess prices were one cent higher. -
Tar River United Way recognizes ‘community champions’
“Be the change” was the theme of a United Way Tar River Region luncheon Wednesday at The Gateway Convention Center in Rocky Mount. United Way TRR recognized “community champions,” celebrated the success of its 2012 fundraising campaign and encouraged volunteers and partner agencies to “be the change” they want to see in the community.
-
America in Bloom judges’ visit Tarboro next month
Tarboro’s America in Bloom (AIB) steering committee is gearing up for the AIB judges’ visit to town next month. AIB is a national non-profit organization that promotes “beautification through education and community involvement.”
“Please join us as Tarboro prepares for the visit of national AIB judges on June 17 and 18,” said AIB co-chair Connie Sherrill in a competition planning update. “Help us bring out the beauty of our exceptional town.” -
Local Principal Completes Leadership Program
Donnell Brown, principal of Phillips Middle School, recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a yearlong leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and UNC-LearnNC.
-
Woman faces 32 charges
A Tarboro woman's scam has led authorities to arrest her on 28 charges.
According to a Tarboro Police Department report, Jennifer Ann Carr, 29, 1609 Barlow Rd. Apt. 9, took out loans in the names of 16 customers of a local business from January through April. Carr was employed through a temp agency with a local business, said Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton. Braxton said the total loan amount netted $4,300.
Carr was charged with 16 counts of identity theft and 16 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. She was place in Edgecombe County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.
-
Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. -
Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus. -
NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.
-
Measles cases have state health officials concerned
Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
“It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. -
County still looking for bids on 41 properties
While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid. - More Local News Headlines
-
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
