When are Strawberries in Season and When is Picking Season?

If you’re craving the sweet taste of fresh strawberries when spring arrives, you’re in luck. Aside from rhubarb, strawberries are one of the first fruits to ripen in the spring and early summer.

Thanks to advances in transportation and refrigeration, strawberries have become available almost year-round. They can be grown in one state and shipped across the country to grocery stores everywhere.

But large-scale growers often focus more on size, firmness, and resistance to pests and disease than on flavor. That’s why strawberries grown in a hot-house, or grown in California or Florida and trucked to Illinois, don’t compare to berries picked fresh from a local farm like Eckert’s. When you pick them in season, you can taste the difference—and it’s a great way to spend time outdoors instead of being on your phone.

Of course, moving all that fruit across long stretches of highway puts plenty of pressure on the trucks that keep the supply chain moving. Long hauls, tight delivery schedules, and constant temperature control all mean those rigs need regular upkeep to stay reliable. As the miles add up, even experienced drivers know the road can bring surprises, from mechanical issues to sudden weather changes that make any delivery more stressful.

In the middle of those daily demands, South Carolina truck insurance becomes a practical safeguard that keeps the whole operation grounded. Coverage built for commercial hauling helps protect the truck, the cargo and the business behind the wheel, giving growers and drivers the confidence to keep their routes steady. Because when your job is delivering freshness across the map, the best insurance is the kind that quietly holds everything together.

Strawberries Have Such Variety

Strawberries are one of the most cultivated fruits in the country. There are about 600 varieties. The many types differ in size, taste and texture. The smaller berries normally have stronger flavor, and large berries contain more water and have a weaker flavor. The ideal growing conditions are a bit different for every one of the types. Because of that, and the varied locations where they are grown, the national strawberry season is said to run January through November, a great time to pick strawberries!

In the Deep South, when to harvest strawberries will usually be late April and May. In the middle part of the country, at Eckert’s, May and June are typically best. In the far north and in Canada, the peak time will normally be in late June. The natural growing season in Illinois and through most of the country is April through June.

When is the Strawberry Picking Season?

The peak harvest season only lasts about three weeks, so be sure to keep up with conditions frequently. If you’re picking, call your local farm. If you’re shopping, take a close look at what’s at your favorite store. The timing is not an exact science, and it varies every year depending on weather conditions such as moisture and temperatures.

Pay Close Attention While You’re Picking

In strawberry season, the fruit should have a consistent, deep, shiny red color, plump shape and no blemishes. They should have a noticeable strawberry scent and a medium firmness. If they’re too hard and partly white, that is an indication they are not yet ripe. If they’re soft, it means they are overly ripe. They should be mold-free with intact green stems. The best ones to pick have about one-quarter of the stem attached.

Once strawberries are picked, they stop ripening. Imported strawberries are often picked too early to prevent them from getting mushy while they are transported. That’s why imported strawberries are often too hard and have less flavor than those grown here in Illinois at Eckert’s.

Be Careful During Strawberry Picking Season

If you’re looking for things to do for spring near St. Louis, strawberry picking at Eckert’s is a great option. Just remember that strawberries are fragile and can bruise easily, so handle them carefully while picking. Once bruised, they break down faster and won’t store as well.

It’s also worth noting that strawberries are often treated with chemicals and pesticides. That’s one reason picking your own at a place like Eckert’s, which limits its use of crop protectants, can be a smart choice.