Strawberries almost ready for picking

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The 2010 crop of strawberries in Virginia Beach is just about ready to harvest.

"They're always going to be juicy, but I think it's going to be a real good crop this year."

That's the prediction from Virginia Beach strawberry farmer Bruce Henley. Henley and his family have grown the red, freckled fruit for years.

"We'll pick some the last week of April and pick a few in June, but May is the big strawberry month," he said. "Mother's Day weekend is always the peak of the season."

Virginia Beach Agriculture Extension Agent Cal Schiemann says the strawberries look great right now.

"The type of weather we're having, with the mild temperature, is perfect now for growing strawberries," he said

The fruit is mostly green right now, but in a few days he expects to see ripe, red berries in local fields ready for consumers and farmers.

"The public is very important to the farmer for harvesting this crop," said Schiemann. "About 60 percent of this crop is harvested by families. The other 40 percent the farmers pick and will sell at their roadside market."

He says Virginia Beach has the largest concentration of strawberries grown in the state with a value of between $600,000 and $750,000 every year.