Wanted: MISSOURI STRAWBERRIES

[Jeff]

I live in Kansas City and I have desperately been searching for a strawberry patch to pick in for the last three years. When I was a kid they were everywhere up here. We use to pick them and make preserves and eat them all year. Now it seems to be a part of history. I have spent hours chasing down leads. I have been known to drive in circles all weekend looking for a u-pick patch. I can't even find them for sale at a road side stand. I know there has to be one. Does anybody pick strawberries in Missouri anymore? If so, please tell me where. Thank you in advance.

[OzarkGarden]

Jeff - I'm not familiar with the Kansas City area as I live in southern MO, very near the AR state line. I found a website that lists "pick your own" places in MO. Keep scrolling down and you will come to a map of MO and the places listed by the county. I did see a place listed in Jackson county called The Berry Patch...they have the address and phone number listed. Surely you must have some Farmer's Markets in and around the Kansas City area? I know it's too early now for strawberries but in another month they should be showing up at the Farmer's Markets. Perhaps you could ask around there if anyone knows where the "u pick your own" places are.

http://www.pickyourown.org/MO.htm

[Jeff]

Ozarkgarden, Thanks for the reply and the research. I am familiar with the web site you posted and the Berry Patch in Jackson County. The Berry Patch has advertised strawberries the last three years but when you go to their web site or call them they always have the same news. No strawberries this year, maybe next year. We do pick blueberries there every year though. I do have a farmers market close by and I do frequently visit it. I will ask around there. However, I have not seen strawberries at the small markets in a while. As a matter of fact, our large farmers market in downtown Kansas City actually ships in their strawberries from some other state. Thank you for your input. I am still puzzled with how difficult my search has been.

[lovetogarden]

I don't know of any strawberry patches to pick from, but I do know that the
Ozark Beauty variety grows well where I am at-Eureka MO.
They are easy to grow and the flavor is unbeatable.

[Trudes]

If you want a road trip sometime come to Omaha, Ne or Lincoln, Ne has strawberry patches. We drive to KC a few times a year it's not so bad. :) But I do find it odd you can't find some sort of strawberry patch. It's a huge kids thing here and they do pumpkin patches in the fall in the same area. Good luck.

[Jeff]

I found another farm that said they have strawberies on the net and when I called they said they don't have them this year because of the frost. I am doomed. No strawberries for me.

[Ma's_Garden]

This past week I bought fresh Missouri strawberries from two different people here in southern Missouri. One was a vendor at the Mountain Grove farmer's market, and the other was an Amish family from Diggins selling strawberries in Marshfield. I wish that I knew of someone who is going up to the Kansas City area soon so I could send some up for you.

[gpicker]

Simpsons Family Farm in Mtn. Grove, Mo has strawberries. The season is over for this year but they will have them May 2013.