The U-pick season has already begun.

Andy Loewen with Friedensfeld Honey & Berry Farm says their strawberry fields were ready for U-pick on July first.

That said, Loewen notes the up and down weather this spring has made things a little complicated.

"Our fields are a little bit spread out this season because we had some fairly hard frost there about a month ago so some of our fields are coming into full production now and others are set back by about a week but we are still expecting a reasonable number of berries."

Loewen says they have already had a lot of interest from customers who are chomping at the bit. He adds this is especially exciting considering how the 2020 season turned out.

"We weren't open at all last year due to that big hail storm we had on June 20th and so everybody is waiting for strawberries. That part is very positive. I think we will be able to supply everybody that wants strawberries."

If everything goes according to plan, Loewen says expects the strawberry season to run into the last half of July.

"If we get reasonable weather, if we don't get too much of that heat, like if we get plus 35 everything moves along very quickly, but if we get more into the regular temperature ranges here then we are expecting to be picking for about two and a half to three weeks."

Loewen suggests checking their website before dropping by the farm just in case they are picked out for the day or closed for weather.