Why 2 stars?
Our family recently visited Lorence's Berry Farm for strawberry picking and had mixed feelings about the experience. On the positive side, the strawberries were abundant, vibrant, juicy, and very easy to pick. We had three generations together for a fun family outing, including my 4-month-old and 1-year-old granddaughters, and we were excited to spend time outdoors making memories.
Unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by an interaction with an older gentleman who appears to have worked there for quite some time. After a two-hour drive, I briefly pulled over to speak with my daughters and figure out where we should park before unloading the children and heading to the fields. We were apparently stopped in an area where parking was not allowed, although there was no sign indicating that. Rather than approaching us politely, he immediately began yelling. I explained that we were simply trying to get a game plan together and that a softer approach would have been appreciated.
Instead of de-escalating the situation, he continued to yell as I drove away to find a proper parking spot. What was most disappointing was that he then directed his yelling toward my daughters while they were standing with my granddaughters. The commotion upset my 1-year-old granddaughter to the point that she started crying, while my infant granddaughter and daughter looked on. Later, I shared my experience with another employee, who apologized for the earlier behavior. However, while we were in line paying, we witnessed the same gentleman confront another visitor who had parked in the area because she could not find handicap-accessible parking. He berated her, refused to provide his name when asked, and the interaction became so uncomfortable that she began recording the encounter on her phone.
Ironically, a short while later, the very same gentleman approached me and apologized for his actions earlier. While I appreciated the gesture, he immediately followed it by explaining that "it's a stressful thing," which felt more like a justification for his behavior than a sincere acknowledgment of how his actions affected visitors.
The strawberries were wonderful, and the farm itself has the potential to be a great family destination. The fruit quality and ease of picking made for an enjoyable outing, but customer service and the way guests are treated matter just as much as the product. Unfortunately, one employee's repeated behavior toward multiple customers significantly detracted from what otherwise could have been a very positive family experience. read more