Strawberry season is just about over, but we managed to get to Berry Hill Farm this past weekend. And it was worth it!
The drive is around 30 minutes from Minneapolis. Be forewarned, as Google Maps tells you to get onto Cleary Road, start counting your miles because it's just a weeny street sign as you're driving 60mph along N Ferry/MN-47.
It's very casual. You drive past the owners' house and up a short ways to the strawberry patch. It's HUGE. If you're picking with someone, it's best that each person gets their own basket. The going was about $1.65 per pound. So cheap! If you're a lazy mofo, they also have pre-picked strawberries.
The strawberries are DELICIOUS. Very small but red all the way through, not like the store-bought kind, and sweet. It's too easy to pick a lot, but you can always give them to friends and family, which impresses them a lot and increases your popularity.
Unlike store-bought strawberries, these have a short shelf life. While regular strawberries can be left in the fridge for a week, I only felt comfortable with these for about two days. We ate a lot right away - with vanilla ice cream, mmmm - but we also froze the rest. It's pretty easy, just clean the berries and dry them thoroughly. Cut off the caps, put some wax paper or cling wrap on a baking sheet, and place them cut-side down. Cover loosely with another sheet of cling wrap and put in the freezer for a few hours. Then put them in a freezer bag and try to suck as much air out as you can.
The most important thing about berry picking is to CALL AHEAD. Berry Hill does have a website, but it's always better to call and make sure they will be open the day and hour you want to go.
PS. According to those in the know, strawberry picking is best done when the weather is not scorchingly hot. read more