I'm a Berry Happy Girl

 What says "Summer" more than a big bowl of juicy strawberries.  And not those giant, dry, sour ones.... the small, bright red, bursting with flavor, squish at the touch of your hand kind of strawberries.  Those are the kind that make my day. 

I could hardly wait when I heard the news, I went to the Berry Patch outside Nevada to pick some fresh berries this week.  They survived a freeze late this spring and opened early!

I've been going to the Berry Patch for YEARS. It's a great way to get a TON of berries for not much money.  Plus, you get to pick and choose which berries you bring home, which means you aren't stuck choosing between a container of strawberries that has some smashed berries or the one with some green berries... It's all delicious, red, ripe berries. 

PLUS, one MAJOR bonus is that you cut out quite a few middle men.  You cut out the picker, the packer, the driver, the stocker....  It's all you. Picked strawberries at the Berry Patch are $3.25/lb.  The ones you pick yourself, only $1.95!

I picked a huge flat of the sweet stuff for only $6.  I gave some to my parents, I have fresh berries for a few weeks, and I froze a good bag full for smoothies.  Let's be honest... I also ate my weight in berries.  Hey, the lady told some kids in front of me that it was an unwritten rule that you could sample the goods.  I figured that rule applied to me too. 

I'd say that's an hour, and $6 well spent.


They also have Gooseberries that will be in season in June. 

Raspberries, blueberries, currants and tart cherries are available in July. 

In August you can get apples, blueberries and raspberries, and then September and October you get into pumpkins and gourds along with the apples and raspberries.  

They make an excellent addition to my Homemade Ricotta Cheese, some Kalona Yogurt and granola, or all by their lonesome.