Merrimack Valley

Strawberry fields are thriving Mild weather produces particularly strong crop

By Jim Patten
Staff Writer
Published: June 22, 2008

Clear, sunny skies and a slight breeze combined to make for ideal strawberry picking weather yesterday, and area farms reported that their fields were full of strawberries — and of people looking to pick a basket or two.

Smolak Farms in North Andover held its annual Strawberry Festival yesterday, drawing thousands of people from around the region. In addition to the strawberries, there were hot air balloon rides and hay rides.

Carol Smith, manager of Smolak's bakery and farm stand, said people of all ages came to the event. The pick-your-own strawberries feature at the festival is a big draw, she said.

"I think it is a New England tradition," she said. "It's getting back to being on a farm, coming back to your roots."

The weather has produced an especially good crop of strawberries this year, Smith said. Strawberries like heat and lots of sun, she explained.

"This is the height of the strawberry season, the next two weeks, so people will be coming," she said. "It's fun to see the kids."

Other area farms reported full fields as well, as people flocked to pick their own berries.

"It was a great spring for us," said Terry Donnelly, a clerk at the Boston Hill Farm stand on Route 114 in North Andover. "Our strawberries are awesome; they are huge."

Diane Barker Coco, owner of Barker's Farm on Osgood Street in North Andover, also said this year's crop has been excellent.

"They have had enough sun and enough rain, and the cool nights make them even sweeter," she said. "They are large and just the best."

Betty Rogers, owner of Rogers Spring Hill Farm in Haverhill, said the weather has been the key.

"So far, so good," she said. "As long as the rain holds off."

Those doing the picking — and eating — at Smolak Farms yesterday certainly had no complaints.

Craig Stellmach, 40, and his wife Brenda, 37, of Reading, picked a whole flat of strawberries to bring home.

"It's our first time here. It's very nice," Craig Stellmach said. "There are a lot of activities."

He said they planned to make strawberry jam with some of the berries, and the remainder of the crop would be made into strawberry pies.

The Smolak Farms Strawberry Festival continues today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm on South Bradford Street.

Photos

Tim Jean/Staff photo

The Sciacca family, from left, James, 2, Dominic, 5, and their mom Patty Sciacca, of North Andover, watch as the hot air balloon is filled up during the start of the Strawberry Festival at Smolak Farms. This year, balloon rides were offered to raise money that will go toward a fund set up by the North Andover Foundation for Education that pays for art and music in the schools.

Tim Jean/Staff photo

Camille Scudder, 3, of North Andover, at left, places a bunch of strawberries into a tray that she and her friend, Ella Tanso, 3, of Bradford, picked during the Strawberry Festival at Smolak Farms in North Andover yesterday.

Tim Jean/Staff photo

Katarina Hodge, 9, at right, inspects a strawberry she picked as her sister Olivia Hodge, 6, in back, looks for strawberries that are ready to be picked.

Tim Jean/Staff photo

Maria Zucco, 2, of Boxford, places a strawberry into a basket after she picked it yesterday.