SANFORD — By 8 a.m., some pickers had already filled their boxes with sweet red, juicy strawberries — picking early to beat the heat and humidity.

Others were just arriving, ready to pick the fruit that signals summer like no other, and then go home to make jam, or shortcake.

The season for picking began about two weeks ago. For some growers, it will extend further into July with fruit that matures later in the season.

Lavigne’s Farm will be open for picking today — and perhaps on July 5, said Elaine Laine from the shed where she was dispensing cardboard containers and weighing up berries. The u-pick will be closed for the July 4 holiday, and after that, folks should check in at 324-5497, she said.

The berries are sweet and the picking is good, said Laine, though the berries are a bit smaller than in previous years — the cold winter had an effect on the plants.

Frank Wertheim, of the York County Cooperative Extension Agency, said the low snow cover and wind that blew the straw mulch off the plants caused winter kill in some cases.

In Limington at Doles Orchard, the strawberry up-pick was to-open at 6 a.m. on
July 4 and then “play it by ear,” said owner Nancy Bunting and so folks should check in at 793-4409. The Buntings grow eight varieties of strawberries, and the last of them — a late variety — will be ready in about a week, she said.

“We’ve had record numbers of people,” said Bunting — due in part because they’ve had berries when some other growers have run out.

At Spillers in Wells, Bill and Anna Spiller are thinking ahead to other u-pick crops — and for those who want to try a different — but equally inviting — berry for shortcake or to perk up their cereal — their raspberry patch will be ready on America’s birthday, July 4, and will open from 9 to 11 a.m. To check picking hours for Spillers, call 985-2585.

Back at Lavigne’s, Martin and Sarah Campbell of North Berwick brought their 9-month-old son Jaden for his first foray into the berry patch. Sarah said she planned to turn the lush red fruit into jam.

Kylie Stevens of West Newfield was in the field with her mother, Amy, picking. The mother and daughter duo look forward to shortcake and jam, Amy said.

What’s the best way to serve berries?

“Chop them up and put them on ice cream,” said Phil Drew of Cape Neddick, who brought his grandchildren along to pick.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.