Farm Information

Serviceberry Farms, a family run business since 1984, enjoyed its first serious strawberry harvest in 1988. Initially, shelterbelts were planted and, gradually, the existing hay fields were converted into strawberry fields. Four fields are used for rotation and each year, there is a planting field, a picking field and two fallow fields.

This is a brief description of the procedure followed at Serviceberry Farms in establishing a strawberry field.

YEAR 1 - The Planting Field (Matted row system)

In late April or early May, dormant bareroot strawberry plants obtained from a propagation nursery, are planted.
Plants begin to grow as the weather warms and irrigation and fertilizer are applied when necessary.
In early June, all plants are deblossomed (Yes, all the blossoms are picked off!). Berries are not allowed to develop in the first year.
Plants will now develop runners and, throughout the summer, daughter plants establish to make a wide row. Runners are pulled into place every 10-14 days.
Weeding, weeding, weeding is carried out diligently throughout the entire season!
By late September or October, the strawberry plants are firmly established in the field.
In mid to late October, eight inches of wheat straw is placed over the strawberry rows to protect the plants from harsh chinook winters.

YEAR 2 - The Picking Field

In late April, the straw cover in the row is mowed and raked into the aisle to enable new growth to emerge.

The field is fertilized and watered.
All weeds in the field are removed.
The abundant harvest begins in July and lasts 4-6 weeks.

At the end of the picking season, the tops of the plants are mowed, reducing the dense foliage, making the remainder of the strawberries easy to see and pick.
After harvest, field is plowed. It takes a full year to decompose all the straw which adds essential organic matter into the soil.

Serviceberry Farms is involved in conservation practices such as IPM (integrated pest management) which are environmentally friendly.