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| Strawberries at Jones Family Farm |
This summer Terry Jones of Jones Family Farms is celebrating a
tradition he began fifty years ago as a young teenager: setting out thousands
of baby strawberry plants. Jones refers to this as the "Strawberry Red
Anniversary" rather than the more typical "Golden Anniversary "
because it honors a half of a century of tradition as well as two years of
plant production.
In 2013, Jones Family Farms is recognizing the 50th anniversary of planting the ‘Queen of
Fruits’ and 2014 will mark the 50th harvest!
According to the Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture, Steven
K. Reviczky, Terry Jones may be the state’s oldest commercial grower having
continuously planted strawberries for 50 years.
Two aspects of strawberries have remained
constant over the last half-century, according to Jones. First, the
consistent challenge of the weather. This spring is no exception.
The last week of May started with 28 degrees and frost at Jones’ ‘Valley Farm’
and ended with three days of highs in the mid-90s. In both cases, the plants
and fruit were protected by irrigation sprinklers. The second constant
is the excitement and passion of farm guests to harvest and to taste the
sweet goodness of the first, ripe strawberries of the season! Jones’
strawberries are ripening now, as they normally do in early June, in contrast
to last year’s record early start in May so it won't be long before it is
strawberry shortcake time!
Jones’ strawberries are ripening now, as they normally do in
early June, in contrast to last year’s record early start in May.
Jones Family Farms is located in Shelton, Connecticut, off Route
110. For more information regarding hours of operation, picking
locations, picking tips, and other information, visitors can call the Farmer
Jones crop info line at (203) 929-8425, visit www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/farm/strawberrieswww.jonesfamilyfarms.com/farm/strawberries,
their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jonesfamilyfarmswww.facebook.com/jonesfamilyfarms,
or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jonesfamilyfarmwww.twitter.com/jonesfamilyfarm.
For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com
