I remember Lowell Foster’s strawberry patch.

The Fosters were always looking for people to pick strawberries. And I was always lookin’ for opportunities to earn a couple of nickels.

With strawberries, you gotta get ’em when you can, because it’s the shortest of short seasons.

I was in grade school at the time, so Saturdays were the only days I could pick. Nobody would even think of picking strawberries on a Sunday.

Mrs. Foster would hand out the quart size wooden container, assign me a row, and I’d start pickin’. When I was finished, Mrs. Foster paid me a nickel for each full quart I brought back.

Occasionally, I’d sneak and eat one. I figured nobody would miss just one berry.

Strawberry season back then wasn’t as long as it is today. These days, they’re growing those little red wonders in February, or so I’m told. Then they cover ‘em up in plastic to keep them from freezing. They must be a different variety than the ones growin’ in Lowell Foster’s strawberry patch.

My pickin’ days are behind me. Today, I head over to Flamm’s to get my strawberries... along with some strawberry shortcake and ice cream.

I also like the strawberries from the Farmer’s Market, Bass Farms in Marion, and Paul’s Produce in Energy. Whoever’s sellin’ farm fresh strawberries, I’m buyin’.

You better get yours soon, before they go out of season.

Be well. Stay well. Thanks for readin’...

Francis Pass

P.S. – Did you know there are over 600 different varieties of strawberries? That’s a whole lotta pickin’.