Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Please use the button below to manage your account.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Please purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
A family picks strawberries at the Ivy Place Berry Farm in Van Wyck. Lancaster County farms are anticipating a strong turnout during strawberry season.
Fully ripe red strawberries are the best ones to pick, due to their strong flavor. More photos on page A2.
A woman picks strawberries at the Ivy Place Berry Farm in Van Wyck.
A family picks strawberries in the fields at Ivy Place Berry Farm.
Strawberry fields must be protected during the winter, so farms can experience a successful season.
LANCASTER, S.C. — Local farms across Lancaster County are putting strong efforts into hosting a successful strawberry season.
The strawberry season, which runs from April-June according to the S.C. Department of Agriculture, brings in many customers throughout the week, but especially on the weekend.
Besides strawberries, local farms also sell other products such as jams, jellies and flowers, during the season.
“We are in full production now. We’re picking every day,” said Kirk Hovis, operator of Rich Hill Farms in Heath Springs.
His farm is producing about 100 gallons per day to keep up with customers’ demands. Hovis said turnout was strong during spring break, with kids being out of school.
Other local farms are also looking forward to successful seasons after a mild winter.
“Right now, they (the strawberries) look really good. We made it through all the frost and freeze issues with no damage at all,” said Kevin Hall, owner of Hall Family Farm in Lancaster.
Hall said strawberry farmers must deal with fungi issues, frost and rain prior to the berries’ peak season. He says that in order for the strawberries to blossom in the spring, farmers take many precautions to prevent the fields from being affected.
“We are either covering the fields or sprinkling water over them on those nights when the freeze can occur or a heavy frost,” Hall said.
Stuart Graham, who manages the Ivy Place Berry Farm in Van Wyck, says that it’s important to offer a variety of strawberries to allow customers to experience different kinds.
“We really want to see a bunch of people come out here and bring their kids and get local, fresh-grown fruits and produce. Anytime we can do that, it’s good,” Graham said.
Graham says that the reddest strawberries are the best ones to pick, since they will be the sweetest out of the bunch.
He also encourages people to be flexible in their picking schedules since the farms can fill up on the weekends.
“If you have flexibility in your schedule, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the week are the best time to come out because it’s a lot slower pace in terms of the crowds that are out here,” Graham said.
Rich Hill Farms is at 3061 Rocky River Road in Heath Springs and operates 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
Hall Family Farm is at 445 W. Rebound Road in Lancaster and is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Updates are provided on its Facebook page.
The Ivy Place Berry Farm is at 8525 Van Wyck Road, Lancaster, and operates 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. Updates are posted on its website at www.ivyplace.com.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
