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Treasure Awaits: U-Pick Fields Welcome All

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: March 25, 2009

PLANT CITY - If you're crazy about fresh strawberries and don't mind getting your fingers stained with berry juice, you can save some money by visiting one of several farms in the area now open for U-pick.

Mark Harrell, the grower at Strawberry Station, 5805 Varn Road, opened his farm to U-pick on March 23.

"The season for shipping is fast coming to an end," Harrell said. "But there are still plenty of good strawberries in the field. We'll have the fields open for a few more weeks."

Plant City fields generally open for U-pick after competing California berries enter the market.

Fancy Farms, which has a vegetable and strawberry stand at Rice Road and South County Line Road, offered U-pick berries for one day, March 21. Carl Grooms, owner of the farm, opens the field each year for a day as a fundraising and community service event sponsored by the Hillsborough County Extension's 4-H Youth Foundation.

"The local strawberry market will be good for a couple of weeks," Grooms said. "But the California berries are hitting the national market, and shipping costs for our berries are high. But there are plenty of good berries in the field."

Here are a few farms with open fields. Customers are expected to bring their own containers.

•Harrell's farm is on Varn Road about 11/2 miles west of Paul Buchman Highway, also known as State Road 39. Berries are selling for two quarts for $1. The hours of operation weren't available.

•Favorite Farms, on McIntosh Road 11/2 miles north of Interstate 4, is also selling U-pick strawberries at the going rate of two quarts for $1. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

•Spivey Farms, at 6101 S. County Road 39 south of State Road 60, also has U-pick berries also selling for two quarts for $1. Call (813) 650-8999 for information. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

•The Parke Family Hydrofarms, 3715 Tanner Road, Dover, has U-pick strawberries available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (813) 927-4049 for information.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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