REGION — Strawberry picking has arrived for some local growers with U-pick operations now open as berries are available.

Berry Fruit Farm with strawberry fields on the Crash Road in Livermore picked their first strawberries of the season Monday, June 12, and had them available for sale in their Livermore Falls store, employee Sarah Judd said Tuesday, June 13.

“The Crash Road location will be open some days starting tomorrow for U-pick for short amounts of time until the crop gets in full force,” owner Joel Gilbert said on June 14. “It is looking like a great crop with a lot of berries. The weather has been about right for what we need for a decent crop.”

The fields were scheduled to be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday – or until picked out, according to the farm’s Facebook page. As of June 17 there were still some Senior FarmShares available. For those who meet age and income requirements, participating farmers provide free local produce.

Gilbert said he thinks this year is pretty average as far as the timing of the strawberry harvest is concerned, maybe a little bit early compared to some years.

“We haven’t had extreme heat,” he said. “The plants look healthy. Spring rains have been a blessing, we haven’t had to irrigate as much.”

Inflation has been an important factor this year, Gilbert said. “Fertilizer costs are very high, transportation is high, some brands have increased their prices significantly on berry boxes,” he noted. “We are trying our best to walk a balance with it all.”

Berry Fruit Farm has more acres in strawberry production this year and has split the farm up a bit for better crop rotation, Gilbert said.

“All U-pick will be on the Crash Road so people can look forward to experiences similar to what they have had in past years,” he added.

For more information on picking availability, visit their Facebook page or call 897-4767. Call for more information on the Senior FarmShare program or visit the store at 54 Main Street in Livermore Falls.

Pike’s Strawberries operated by David and Verna Pike in Farmington will not have strawberries this year, Verna Pike told the Livermore Falls Advertiser June 14. She said age was a factor; however, their son will have corn and some other vegetables later this summer.

According to a message on their phone, Stevenson’s Strawberries operated by Tom and Ashley Stevenson at 271 Temple Road in Wayne opened for picking June 21. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, including July 4 and during showers, the message said which also noted peas are not available yet.

An email requesting more information sent last week by The Livermore Falls Advertiser was not returned.

For more information visit the farm’s Facebook page or call 207-685-3532.

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