EASY PICKIN’
Strawberry season is now in full swing at Wilton farm
WILTON, N.Y. » To many people, strawberry picking is as much a rite of summer as burgers on the grill or a day at the beach.
Doris Ayres thought she’d have to forego such fun after moving to Saratoga Springs recently from New Jersey, the “Garden State.”
Much to her delight, however, she discovered Ariel’s Farm, which has about a half-dozen varieties of berries under production on 3.1 acres.
“There’s lots of them,” Ayres said Tuesday, while filling a large box. “My favorite things are strawberry-rhubarb pie and strawberry shortcake.”
A cool breeze, bright sun and low humidity made it a perfect time for picking.
“I like to come in the morning so we beat the crowd, and during the week, too,” said Jane Moumblo of Hudson Falls. “They’re easy picking. I’m actually getting some for my mother. She’s going to make jam. The rest I’ll use for strawberry shortcake. I come here every year.”
Farm owner John Ariel opened the fields for business on June 8 and expects the season to run through July 4, thanks to a new late-season variety called Malwina, which are bred in Germany. Ariel buys all his plants from Nourse Farms in central Massa-
"They’re easy picking. I’m actually getting some for my mother. She’s going to make jam. The rest I’ll use for strawberry shortcake." — Jane Moumblo of Hudson Falls
chusetts, whose website says Malwina strawberries are “glossy and dark red, having excellent flavor. Berries are large and hold berry size well through the season.”
Ariel’s favorite variety is AC Valley Sunset, another late-season type that originated in Nova Scotia. The farm also raises Jewel, a traditional favorite, along with AC Wendy, Cavendish and Flavorfest.
“We could use some rain, but we don’t have to worry about any spoilage in the field with this dryness,” Ariel said. “So far, so good.”
First-time farm visitor Kevin Balamut brought his step-daughter, Stevie Rose of Lake Luzerne, for an early-summer outing. She’s happy school is finally over.
“We’re just looking for something fun to do,” Balamut said.
In addition to strawberries, Ariel and his wife, Cathy, raise a variety of other produce that becomes available as summer progresses. One customer was already busy picking snap peas.
This year the farm added another greenhouse where hydroponic tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are grown indoors. There’s also a separate open-air greenhouse for raspberries, which should be ready for picking in about two weeks. Ariel’s Farm, located at 194 Northern Pines Road in Wilton, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, seven days per week.