Local Kentucky Strawberries are RIPE!

Strawberries are delightfully early this year and you can pick your own, or buy them by the quart, at several area growers including Wilson's Cedar Point Farm, just over the line in Pulaski County (along Highway 837 south, from Mintonville in eastern Casey County or just off Route 80). Their website reports that "U-pick" are $1.70 a pound and that a gallon, picked, is $12 (or $3.50 a quart).

Joel and Beth Wilson have been growing produce at their farm since 2000. While the farm is not certifiably organic, they believe in "sustainable growing techniques and integrated pest management." You can reach them via email at wilsonscedarpointfarm@gmail.com or you can call Joel's cell phone at 606-305-8762 for crop information throughout the season (or check their website for more details).

The farm is located at 66 Garfield Tarter Road in Nancy, just off of Hwy 837, a few miles south of Route 80 at Cain's Store. Wilson's is also still offering affordable shares in their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) when you get a basket of produce each week during the growing season. Click here for more information on this increasingly popular program: they'll even deliver to adjoining counties if you get ten or more subscribers to sign up together.

Their baskets also make nifty storage boxes.

My family is still using up some of last year's berries from Wilson's that we put up for the freezer: and they are still delicious, sweet and juicy. But there is nothing like fresh and local strawberries for your health and for flavor. Enjoy them while you can! Strawberries on cereal, strawberry shortcake, strawberry preserves, strawberry-rhubarb pie, strawberry ice cream, strawberry-spinach salad, strawberry yogurt. What's your favorite strawberry treat?

NOTE: Photos of Wilson's Farm strawberries taken in 2010 season.