Theyre big, red, juicy and exciting, almost two weeks early and theyre the best crop some of his long-serving workers have ever seen.
Weeks of sustained spring sunshine has forced the large farmers hand of Bill Zylmans into opening up his W&A Farms strawberry U-pick at Westminster Highway and No. 8 Road this week.
Zylmans was contemplating holding off for another week, but the strength and depth of a bumper crop and burgeoning demand meant he had to open the gates on Monday at least a week ahead of schedule.
I opened U-pick today, but weve been selling to the stores for a week now, said Zylmans.
I had so many enquiries, people coming in and the phones have been ringing off the hook, so I said, to hell with it, lets open her up.
Its certainly come earlier than the last few years, thats for sure. Ill probably get about an extra two weeks out of this.
Despite this years strawberry season arriving a shade early, Zylmans recalls just a few years ago, when it was the norm to open up early in June.
Its just the last few years that spring has been disappointing and weve had to wait, he added.
We havent had really hot weather, its been ideal for the strawberries; in the high teens to low 20s is perfect. If its too hot, they ripen too quickly without really growing.
Zylmans said his secret, if you can call it that, is to rotate the land being used.
Using new plants as much as possible also helps, he said. I know some people use the same plants year after year, but they just dont produce the same kind of berry as this.
Last year, one of Zylmans rivals, Ravinder Gill, of Birak Berry Farms, ceremoniously dumped tons of unwanted local strawberries onto the highway in protest over the crippling low prices being paid by Abbotsford-based processors in favour of the cheaper, Californian import.
And, although the processors are paying 50 cents per pound double that of last year Zylmans said its still not worth it, as it costs him 42 cents per pound to harvest.
Some folks have been flooding the market (with strawberries), but theyre still using old plants and theyre producing these small berries, said Zylmans.
People want the big berries, the same size as the Californian ones, but with proper colour right through and the taste the taste is everything.
Im good with the local market and the U-pick, as Im giving people quality and they come back for more.
As for the science of the U-pick, Zylmans isnt too fussy about when he picks them, theyre all great he beamed, unabashed.
Ah, early in the morning, they might not be as flavourful as when the sun gets on them, he mused.
It doesnt matter much, theyre way better than those Californian ones with the white insides.
STRAWBERRY FACTS AND TIPS
- Mid-season local strawberries tend to be red right through
- Choose fully ripe strawberries, they will not ripen after picking.
- Buy only what you plan to eat or freeze within 48 hours.
- One cup of strawberries contains less than 50 calories.
- 150 grams of strawberries contain 150 per cent of your daily requirement of vitamin C.
- To avoid adding calories via sugar, macerate strawberries with balsamic vinegar, black pepper, mint leaves or basil leaves.
