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Strawberry picking season in Central New York is short -- but well worth it.
(Gary Walts / The Post-Standard 2011 photo)
It's a short but sweet season. And it's getting underway.
Strawberries from Hencle's Patch, Perry Road., Baldwinsville.
It's strawberry time in Central New York, and many of the local farms and berry patches are open this weekend, or soon will be.
So get out there while you can. Because, as we all know, in Central New York strawberry fields are not forever.
The following is a list of places to pick strawberries in Central New York. The patches open as the strawberries ripen; picking will begin at some places earlier than others. Be sure to call ahead to check on conditions and availability.
If you know of a U Pick strawberry farm not on this list, email Don Cazentre at dcazentre@syracuse.com.
Abbott Farms U-Pick Berries, 3275 Cold Springs Road, Baldwinsville; 638-7783. Take I-690 west to Baldwinsville exit, take Route 31 east, go t through village of Baldwinsville, take slight right onto Route 370 east. Continue 2 miles down the road. Strawberry farm is on your left, across the road from the farm store. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 638-7783 for field conditions. email: apples@abbottfarms.com. Supervised children OK. Extras: Ice cream, homemade fudge, country store, petting animals.
Burdock's Berries, 2208 state Route 174, Marietta; 673-1981. On the west side of Otisco Lake, north of Borodino, minutes from Marcellus and Skaneateles. Open dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Supervised children OK. Call ahead for field conditions.
Hafner's U-Pick, 1801 W. Genesee St. Road (Route 370), three miles west of Baldwinsville; 638-4033. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Closed Saturday. Call ahead for field conditions.
Hencle's Berry Patch, 7470 Perry Road, Baldwinsville; 638-0767. Take Route 690 west to Route 31 west exit (Baldwinsville/Jordan). Go west two miles to Perry Road and turn left. Go 1.5 miles on Perry Road. Follow signs. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Supervised children OK. Call for field conditions; also on Facebook.
Lelakowski's Pompey Hill Strawberry Farm, Route 20, Burwin Road, Pompey Hill (500 feet Route 20) (one mile west of Pompey, six miles east of LaFayette); 677-9547. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call for availability (no calls before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m.). Supervised children OK. Opening next week.
Matson Road Farms, 1330 Matson Road, Fabius; 810-4135. Take Interstate 81 south to Route 80, turn east through Tully; Matson Road is between Apulia Station and Fabius. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily. Farm stand open through November. (depending on weather). Opens third week in June
Navarino Orchard, 3655 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Route 20, town of Onondaga (nine miles west of LaFayette and nine miles east of Skaneateles); 673-9181. Open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call for conditions. Supervised children OK. email: navarino_orchard@yahoo.com. Opens this Monday (tentatively)
Reeves Farms, 1220 W Genesee Road, Route 370, four miles west of Baldwinsville; 635-3357. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Supervised children OK. Organic strawberry picking by appointment. email: brian.reeves56@gmail.com Opens Saturday, June 14
Williams Farm, 6545 State Route 31, Whiting Road and Route 31, Cicero; 699-3442. Three miles off Route 81 north at the Cicero exit. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call for conditions. Supervised children OK.
Tre-G Farms, 8183 Route 20, Pompey Center; three miles east of Pompey and six miles west of Cazenovia. 682-9315. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call ahead for hours and conditions. Supervised children OK. (Starting June 15).
Behling Orchards, 114 Potter Road, Mexico; 963-7068 or 727-4784. Take Route 104 west of Mexico, turn onto Fravor Road, follow to Potter Road. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Supervised children OK. Call ahead for field conditions. (Starting June 20).
Ferlito's Berry Patch and Roadside Market, 1269 Route 53, Scriba; 343-7159. Take Route 104 east to county Route 53 (about two miles east of Oswego). From Syracuse, take Route 481 north to county Route 45; turn left onto Route 53 (about three miles). 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Call for field conditions. Supervised children OK.
Gian Carelli Farm & Winery (SG&S Farms), 1025 Shortcut Road, Weedsport; 626-2830. Take Thruway to Exit 40, left on Route 34, north toward Cato three miles, take a right on Shortcut Road and go three-quarters of a mile. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Supervised children OK. Call for conditions. email: piefarm@verizon.net. June 21.
Grisamore Farms, 4069 Goose Street, Locke; 497-1347. Route 90 between Locke and Genoa. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Supervised children OK. email: info@grisamorefarms.com. June 21
Berry Harvest Farm, 12766 White Cemetery Road, Cato; 626-6307. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily, June 17.
Clear Path for Veterans U Pick Strawberry Field, 1223 Salt Springs Road, Chittenango; 687-3300. From village of Fayetteville, take Salt Springs Road (Route 132) five miles east; it's the first left after Palmer Road. The non-profit field is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Two acres with 22,000 plants and 7 varieties.
Mosher Farms, Routes 26 and 46, town of Eaton; 893-7173. Take Route 20 east to Route 46 south a half mile. Open 8 a.m. to noon daily weather permitting. Call for field conditions. Supervised children OK.
Cobblestone Valley Enterprises, Preble, 607-749-4032. Take Exit 13 off Route 81 south; bear right, follow signs. Certified organic strawberries. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Call for recorded message or check Web site. Supervised children OK. Expected opening June 20.