Dave Beck
Hillsbrough County Master Gardener
Strawberry Picking Coordinator
email: davebeck@TAMPABAY.RR.COM
phone: 813-684-3308
Site last Updated 12/12/2006
ATTENTION MASTER GARDENERS --- Please use the red navigation buttons at the top of each web page to reach all 5 pages of this web site.
2007 STRAWBERRY PICKING OPPORTUNITY FOR MASTER GARDENERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATES.
GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
14625 County Route 672 Wimauma, Florida 33598 Phone: 813 634-0000
Dr Craig Chandler and field foreman Jose Morena have invited Hillsborough County Master Gardeners
to pick strawberries at the new Wimauma location on CR 672.
The strawberry fields will open on 12/12/2006. The current picking days and times are listed below:
1. Days open for picking Monday and Thursday (fields are sprayed on Friday);
a. All assigned areas are to be picked twice a week;
b. The assigned areas are:
West Tunnel Bed/Variety
MG 1 - Treasure
MG 2 - FL 00-51
MG 3 - Festival
MG 4 - Carmine
East Tunnel Bed/Variety
MG 5 - FL 99-117
MG 6 - Ruby Gem
MG 7 - Winter Dawn
MG 8 - FL 01-116
MG 9 - Sweet Charlie
MG 10 - FL99-164
MG 11 - FL 01-116S
Open field east of East Tunnel Bed/Variety
MG 12 - Sweet Charlie
MG 13 - FL 01-116S
MG 14 - FL 01-116S
MG 15 - FL 01-116
MG 16 - FL 01-116
MG 17 - FL 01-116
MG 18 - FL 01-116
MG 19 - Ruby Gem
MG 20 - FL 99-117
MG 21 - FL 99-117
MG 22 - FL 99-117
2. Times for picking 7:30 AM to 11 AM is recommended but you can pick as late as 4:30 PM;
3. Master Gardeners are allowed to bring non master gardener people with them to assist
in the picking of the strawberries.
4. The Research center has provided 2 liter containers to measure what is picked. The containers will be stored in Tunnel 1 (MG 1). Fill these containers (level at the top) as you go down the mound. When the mound is complete, the 2 liter containers are then emptied into your containers to take home. Be sure to keep accurate count of the number of 2 liter containers filled from each mound. The misshaped and over ripe berries should be dropped in the pathway. Dave Beck will maintain a master inventory of picked berries. Please return the empty containers to the storage box in Tunnel 1.
At tunnel 1 on the MG 1 sign, you will find a statistical spreadsheet to record your picking activity. Please enter the following data: date, mound id, number of containers filled and your name. This same data needs to be emailed to Dave Beck by end of picking day. The paper spreadsheet will inform other pickers what mounds have been picked and will be a backup for the statistical data that Dave Beck must submit to Dr. Chandler.
Rember - Be sure to keep accurate count of the number of 2 liter containers filled from each mound. The misshaped and over ripe berries should be dropped in the pathway. Dave Beck will maintain a master inventory of picked berries. Please return the empty containers to the storage box in Tunnel 1.
At tunnel 1 on the MG 1 sign, you will find a statistical spreadsheet to record your picking activity. Please enter the following data: date, mound id, number of containers filled and your name. This same data needs to be emailed to Dave Beck by end of picking day. The paper spreadsheet will inform other pickers what mounds have been picked and will be a backup for the statistical data that Dave Beck must submit to Dr. Chandler.
MG Strawberry Picking Information
1. Picking season begins in December and continues until the end of March;
2. Picking days are Monday through Thursday;
3. Picking hours are 7 to 11 AM After 10 the berries start to warm up and can be mashed easier -
Heat of day effects quality of berries. The gates open about 7 AM. If you need to come later in the day, you may pick until 4:30 PM.
4. Parking Parallel to the right of the dirt road but to the left of the small trees;
5. Never step / walk across a strawberry mound;
6. Wear shoes suitable for mud and rubber gloves to keep your hands clean;
7. Car pool whenever possible;
8. Cold snap production down to half for 3 weeks - all mounds need to be picked twice a week;
9. After 3 weeks of nice weather, production will be at its peak;
10. When it rains Monday through Thursday, berry bottoms tend to rot; pull rotten berries and drop in path. Always throw bad (dark brown or rotten) berries into the path between the mounds;
11. To remove berry from plant - Pull on stem behind the berry bend and pull do not pull
on the berry. Be careful not to pull off the flowers / new berries that are growing
from the same stem;
12. Use shallow container to put berries into so they do not get smashed I use box lids;
13. Dr Craig Chandler suggests not washing the berry until you are ready to use them and
to keep the berries covered in the refrigerator so they do not dry out;
14. Please offer your suggestions and hints for the benefit of the rest of the pickers.
Remember - Be sure to keep accurate count of the number of 2 liter containers filled from each mound. The misshaped and over ripe berries should be dropped in the pathway. Dave Beck will maintain a master inventory of picked berries. Please return the empty containers to the storage box in Tunnel 1.
At tunnel 1 on the MG 1 sign, you will find a statistical spreadsheet to record your picking activity. Please enter the following data: date, mound id, number of containers filled and your name. This same data needs to be emailed to Dave Beck by end of picking day. The paper spreadsheet will inform other pickers what mounds have been picked and will be a backup for the statistical data that Dave Beck must submit to Dr. Chandler.