BOWDOINHAM
People get little antsy this time of year.
“Pssssst. You heard if any U-pick strawberry fields are open yet? It’s just about time, isn’t it?”
Yes, it is just about time. Fairwinds Farm at 555 Brown’s Point Road in Bowdoinham opens its fields to the public at 7 a.m. Saturday, and will be open from 7 to 7, seven days a week, until the season ends in about three weeks. Popp’s Berryland on Popp Road in Dresden, not far from the junctions of Routes 197 and 128, opened on Thursday.
Anxiety aside, this is just about normal as far as an opening date for strawberry fields. The persistent rains of late spring let up just in time for the sun to ripen the berries.
“We’re good,” said Pete Karonis, who with his wife, Cathy, owns and operates Fairwinds Farm. “They want about an inch a week when they’re making berries.”
Unlike some U-pick farms, both Fairwinds and Popp’s plan to keep their fields open seven days a week. Storms could interfere, so the Karonis family advises people to call 729-1872 for updates. Fairwinds Farm also has a website, fairwindsfarmmaine.com, and a Facebook page.
Popp’s also plans to be open every day, from 7 to 7. Call 737-4351 for updates.
Goranson Farm at 250 River Road in Dresden, not far from Popp’s, offers organic berries and will open sometime next week. Call 737-8834.
Fairwinds Farm has six varieties of berries, on 10 acres of fields.
“That’s about 14 miles of berries,” Peter Karonis said.
Fairwinds Farm charges $1.50 a pound for its berries.
Throughout the season, Pete and Cathy Karonis check the fields for weeds, disease and, yes, dryness. In the open sun, it doesn’t take long for the plants to get dry, spring rain or not.
“With this much coverage,” Cathy Karonis said, “you have to be constantly scouring the fields.”
Honeyeye is the most popular variety. Fairwinds Farm also offers Sparkles, Cabots, Valley Sunset and two early varieties, Annapolis and Wendy.
“We open when the Honeyes are ready,” Pete Karonis said.