'You-pick' strawberry season has arrived in central Ohio, despite bad spring weather

Unlike in the fall, Ohioans wait for the arrival of just one color every spring − red.

As in the strawberries that are getting brighter and brighter as pick-your-own season arrives across the state.

The "you-pick" strawberry window already has opened at a few farms in central Ohio, where daily social-media updates and 24-hour hotlines offer the latest details on hours and availability.

Farms make adjustments depending on how many strawberries are ripe and ready in their fields and how many people come out to pick them on any given day. But usually, it's the fruit that dictates the schedule.

Mitchell's Berries & Blooms outside Plain City in Union County put the word out at 8 p.m. one recent evening that it was scheduling a "mini-pick" the next morning because six rows of strawberries started ripening before the rest.

Gretchen Hann, owner of Hann Farms Market in Franklin County's Hamilton Township, issued the alert on a recent afternoon that customers were welcome to start picking.

Strawberries are typically the first fruit of the year in Ohio, where our relatively mild climate is hospitable for the crop. This spring's early arrival of warm temperatures and heavy rain, though, have been hard on the fruit.

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"The weather has been pretty terrible," she said. "We're having an epic battle."

But the berries are now waiting for you. Here are seven "you-pick" farms in central Ohio for strawberries and other berries.

Franklin County

Doran's Farm Market: The farm just outside New Albany is to welcome strawberry pickers later this month or in early June; it was open seven days a week last year. Doran's also lets visitors pick their own tomatoes, snap peas and other produce throughout the summer and fall. The market sells its own produce and its own products, such as salad dressings, salsas, pickles and preserves. Details: 5462 Babbitt Road, Plain Township; 614-855-3885, doransfarmmarket.com .

Hann Farms Market: "You-pick" season began Mother's Day weekend at Hann's, 12 miles south of Downtown, near Obetz. Hours depend on whether enough strawberries are ready for picking and are sometimes put on hold to let the berries catch up. They're generally seven days a week, though; check the farm's Facebook page for exact times. Through the summer, visitors also can pick their own sugar-snap peas, peppers, tomatoes and green beans. A market at the farm sells fresh produce and other items. Details: 4600 Lockbourne Road, Hamilton Township; 614-491-0812, hannfarmsmarket.com .

Licking County

The Patch on 37: Lynd Fruit Farm's "you-pick" patch about 12 miles east of New Albany is to open in mid-June with red raspberries. Black raspberries should be ripe for the picking by late June. Dates and hours should be posted closer to that timeframe, although they extended seven days a week during last year's peaks. Details: 3131 Johnstown-Alexandria Road, Alexandria; 740-814-4196 (berry hotline), lyndfruitfarm.com .

Willoughby Grove Farm: You'll have to wait until July if you want to pick your own blueberries. And that's all they grow at Willoughby Grove Farm about 20 miles east of Gahanna. The "you-pick" farm is normally open on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August. Details: Close to 5750 Gale Road, Pataskala (that's the address given for GPS entry); 740-963-6010, wildlygoodfruit.com .

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Union County

The Berry Farm: The pick-your-own farm near Richwood, about 30 miles northwest of Dublin, is to have its crop ready for visitors around Memorial Day. The Berry Farm grows several varieties of strawberries to stretch out the season, and you can pick your own blackberries, too, when they ripen around mid-July. The market sells baked goods and berries already picked. The Berry Farm is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays when fruit is available; hours sometimes are added during peak season. Details: 23861 state Route 4, Richwood; 937-594-9173, theberryfarmohio.com .

Jacquemin Farms: The first Ohio-grown strawberries have come in from Chillicothe for sale at the Jacquemin Farms market. You can pick your own strawberries from the farm's 2.5-acre patch starting in June. The market sells locally grown and home-grown produce as it comes in season from May to November, and there's a bakery at the farm, too. It's located about five miles northwest of Dublin. Details: 7437 Hyland-Croy Road, Plain City; 614-873-5725, jacqueminfarms.net .

Mitchell's Berries & Blooms: The first rows of strawberries ripened early this year, and picking began May 7 at the farm nine miles west of Dublin. Mitchell's keeps things orderly with "you-pick" appointments for strawberries now and raspberries when their season starts in June ( sign up for emails here ). The farm also offers "you-pick" flowers and other produce, and it hosts events such as yoga sessions, tea parties, mocktail parties and craft-making. Details: 9331 Mitchell-Dewitt Road, Plain City; 937-243-0635, mitchellsberries.com .

rvitale@dispatch.com

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 'You-pick' strawberry season has arrived in central Ohio, despite bad spring weather