The county strawberry harvest will begin by mid-month, based on observations by Gary Bardenhagen.

Strawberries almost ready

The former head of Leelanau’s largest strawberry operation, Bardenhagen Berries, said the harvest “is about two weeks out.”

“I was in the patch yesterday and our Earliglow, our earliest variety, was all red except for a white tip,” said Bardenhagen, who now works for his son, Steve.

If the projections hold up, it means the harvest will be right on schedule for the first fruit crop of the spring.

“We’re right about where we were last year in terms of degree days,” Bardenhagen said. “We had caught up with warm temperatures last week. But it may be a little later if conditions remain cool.”

Rainfall earlier this week was welcomed by the Bardenhagens, although they irrigate nearly all of their 12 acres now in production in Leland Township, plus the four acres of newly planted berries added this spring.

“We irrigate regularly, but there’s nothing better than a good rain. It saves us money and the berries like it better,” he said.

Interestingly, water was used to keep the strawberry vegetation and fruit from freezing late this spring when Mother Nature forgot to look at the calendar.

“It’s a law of physics. For every gram of water that freezes, it produces one calorie of heat,” Bardenhagen said. “As the water freezes, it gives off heat and keeps the crop from freezing. “

There will be ample labor to complete the berry harvest which usually takes about three weeks.

“Our neighbor (Dave Alpers of Red Path Orchards) has excess help early in the season so we use some of his workers,” Bardenhagen said. “For cherries we may be a little short (of help) but for strawberries we’re OK.”

The bulk of Bardenhagen’s berries are sold fresh in county venues as well as Tom’s Food Markets, Glen’s Markets, and Oleson stores in Traverse City. Smaller fruit is processed at Leelanau Fruit.