PICKING STARTS IN MOST BERRY PATCHES THIS WEEKEND; STRAWBERRY GROWERS: CROP ONE OF BEST

It's time to pick some big, ripe, ruby-red, juicy, sweet strawberries.

Area strawberry growers say this year's crop is one of the best, thanks to good weather and growing conditions.

Most area growers contacted have started, or will begin picking, strawberries this weekend. They say the quality of the berries is generally excellent.

The picking season is expected to last through the end of the month or early June.

Gerald Bryan, University of Missouri extension agronomist for Cape Girardeau County, said weather conditions this year were ideal for strawberries.

"We haven't had any really hot weather or prolonged wet periods, like last year," he said. "Last year, the rainfall in May caused a lot of problems with fungus growth on the berries that resulted in some loss of yield."

Local growers generally have four varieties of strawberries for picking as the season progresses. The first is Early Glow, followed by Cardinal and Red Chief. The season ends with the picking of the All Star berries.

Joan Illers says her Early Glow berries are "really big" this year, and there are lots of them.

"Everything went right for us this year," she said. "Last year, it started raining right after picking began and kept on raining."

The Iller berry patch is located on County Road 316, east of Highway 25, between Jackson and Gordonville. Persons can call 243-8301 for a recorded message on the berries. "We also accept large orders for strawberries after 6 p.m. each day," she added.

Iller said the price of berries has gone up a nickel from last year. It's the first price increase since they started growing strawberries 10 years ago. "The price for U-pick berries is 60 cents a pound. We-pick berries are 85 cents a pound," she said.

Over at Blueberry Hill Farms, near Cobden, Ill., Rosie Stadalvecher says the strawberry crop, "looks very good" this year.

"We're starting off much better than last year," she said. "We had a mild winter. We only had to irrigate once to protect the plants from freezing. Our early strawberries are very nice sized."

The Blueberry Hill strawberry patch is located along new Route 51, between Anna and Carbondale, Ill. The berry patch is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The price for U-pick strawberries this year is 65 cents a pound.

Stadalvecher said the blueberries are looking exceptional well this year. Picking is expected to start in early July.

At the Mid-America Teen Challenge Center, north of Cape Girardeau, strawberry picking began Thursday. Executive director Jack Smart says the quality of the berries is excellent, with supplies about the same as last year.

"We pick our own berries and offer them ready-to-buy at the center, and later in the season, at local food stores and produce markets," Smart said. "This year, the price is $1.10 per quart."

Smart said strawberries may be purchased at Teen Challenge each day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. "Before coming out, please call the office (335-6508) first, to make sure we have berries available that day," Smart said.

Teen Challenge will hold its first annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Smart said strawberries will be on sale that day.

Mid-America Teen Challenge is located on County Road 621 (Oriole Road), just south of the KBSI-TV tower.