Northeast Ohio strawberries ready to pick or be purchased at farm markets

Ask anyone from around here who's tried them and you’ll learn there's nothing — no, nothing — like ripe strawberries from Northeast Ohio.

Their season, which has just begun, is a short one — just a month long and usually ending around the Fourth of July.

The strawberries are smaller and more delicate than their California and Florida counterparts, found year-round in supermarkets. They easily dissolve into mush if bounced around or left to sit on a hot car seat with car windows closed.

They can be found in some farm markets and even in early-season farmers’ markets, but the best of all local strawberries are picked early in the cool of morning before the dew has evaporated.

The opportunity to pick your own strawberries is one with a solid following in this area, and several area farms serve those folks.

But there aren't as many pick-your-own strawberry fields open this year.

A late-April freeze, when temperatures fell to 22 degrees in some areas, claimed some of the strawberries being grown at Rainbow Farms in Perry.

To combat the freeze, many farmers watered their plants as temperatures dropped, letting a layer of ice form on the strawberries to insulate them from the cold.

"I expect we’ll be open for picking on June 10 and will have them at our own market a day or two before that," said farmer Larry Klco of Rainbow. "They’re a little smaller but much sweeter this year."

He takes his Rainbow Farms produce — including strawberries — to the Painesville Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons in Painesville Square and the Heart of Willoughby Outdoor Market on Saturday mornings in Downtown Willoughby. His crops also are sold at the Mentor Farmers Market, which opens on June 16, at Garfield Park in Mentor and continues there on Friday afternoons through Sept. 15.

Some of the strawberry fields at Patterson Fruit Farm in Chester Township are being used for cover crops to enrich the soil this year, so those who want to pick their own should be sure to call before they come to the farm. Just four acres are devoted to strawberries this summer.

"Once a field is picked out, we close it for the day," said Bill Patterson, the fourth generation of the family farm that has become known for its pick-your-own strawberries in the spring and apples in the late summer and fall.

"That could be at 8:30 (a.m.) or noon but people should plan to come and pick first thing in the morning," he said. "It's unlikely we’ll still be open for picking by afternoon."

This is the 52nd year Patterson's has opened for those wishing to pick their own strawberries.

"We had seven frosts this growing season," said Patterson. "The warm weather in May helped the berries become sweeter, while the cooler weather in June has slowed their growth and allowed them to grow bigger.

"It should be a pretty good strawberry season this year," he said.

Those who miss being able to pick their own can buy strawberries that have already been picked at Patterson's Farm Market.

With nearly four acres dedicated to the you-pick customers, the strawberry fields at Secor Nursery in Perry are rarely picked out, said farmer Larry Secor.

"We have berries in our market, but with the recent cool weather, I’m not sure when we’ll open for the you-pick folks," he said. "Those who want to pick this weekend should call first."

He said the recent hot dry days have resulted in very sweet berries, but he's needed regular irrigation to make them bigger.

Today's recipes are from Kristin Patterson who developed them from Patterson family desserts. She blogs as localfarmmom.com. They’re super easy to make, she said.

Mile High Strawberry Pie

Ingredients

For the crust:

½ cup softened butter

¼ cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

For the filling:

2 cups sliced strawberries

½ cup white sugar

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

⅛ teaspoon salt

2 egg whites

For whipped cream:

1 cup whipping cream

¼ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

To make crust:

Mix all crust ingredients together until crumbly. Press into a spring form pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

To make filling:

Combine strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites in a mixer bowl. Beat for 20 minutes. Set aside.

To make whipped cream:

In a mixer, combine whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat this all together until it is whipped but not too stiff. Fold the whipped mixture into the filling mixture.

Place the combined filling and whipped cream into the crust. Cover the top with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Let it freeze for several hours or overnight.

Store any leftovers in the freezer. This softens up very fast.

Strawberry Lemon Icebox Cake

Ingredients

1 box lemon cake mix

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 16-ounce container lemon frosting

1 18-ounce container whipped topping, thawed

½ cup diced strawberries

For strawberry filling:

1 cup strawberries crushed

½ cup white sugar

1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

To make strawberry filling:

Cook together all ingredients in a saucepan, stirring constantly until thickened. Set filling aside and cool.

To make lemon cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-13-inch pan with nonstick spray. Bake the lemon cake mix according to the package directions.

Let the cake cool for 5 minutes, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the warm cake.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the cake, letting it soak into the holes.

Remove the foil liner from the can of frosting. Microwave the frosting for 30 seconds. Stir and pour over the top of the cake. Spread it out with a spatula. Let the cake cool for an hour, then refrigerate until completely cooled.

Pour the prepared strawberry pie filling in a bowl. Fold the container of whipped topping into the pie filling. Spread on top of the cooled cake.

Sprinkle the diced strawberries on top. Keep the cake refrigerated until ready to serve.

— Recipes adapted from localfarmmom.com

Here's where to find pick-your-own strawberries and where to call to learn if they’re ready.

Rainbow Farms: 2464 Townline Road, Perry Township; 440-259-4924.

Patterson's Fruit Farm: 11414 Caves Road (pick your own) and 8765 Mulberry Road (farm market); 440-729-9808 (strawberry hotline).

West Orchards: 3034 N. Ridge Road, Perry; 440-259-3192.

Secor Nursery: 4940 N. Ridge Road, Perry Township; 440-259-3487.

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