It’s strawberry season - and Beaver Farms is open for picking

“Picking strawberries can be a very fruitful endeavor!” – Anonymous

Spenser Cass shows off the first berries of the seasonPhoto byKim McKinney

It’s strawberry season in Statesville - and taste buds across the county are ready.

What are you thinking? Strawberry shortcake or strawberry pie? Homemade ice cream? Jelly or jam? How about a bowl of strawberries straight from the vine, perfectly complete in their own sweetness?

You can either pick your own strawberries, or they will pick them for you at Beaver Farms, located at 270 Beaver Farm Rd. in Statesville (exit 154, the road is next to Davis Regional Hospital).

The Beaver family has been farming in Iredell County since the late 1860's. Formerly a dairy farm, now they plant strawberries in the spring, have a sunflower maze blooming at the end of the summer/early fall, and sell beef throughout the year.

Photo byKim McKinney

The cost to pick your own berries is $14 a gallon and $4 a quart. The cost for ready picked berries is $17 a gallon and $5 a quart.

Beef will also be available for sale during those hours.

Hours of operation during strawberry season are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Check their Facebook page before you make a trip, though. They keep it updated and things, such as weather, can impact their hours of operation.

The farm will remain open for picking until the berries diminish, so also check Facebook to see when the farm will close for strawberry picking.