47 Years of Summertime Sweet

Wold Strawberries opened their season Tuesday, June 16 to a crowd of eager berry pickers. "It's a beautiful day," remarked fifth-generation family farmer Melissa Wold.

Within the first four hours, Wold noted around 300 people at the farm. It was an excellent start to a season helped by the late spring. "It's making all the berries ripen at the same time," said Wold. It also allowed the Wold family to prepare for the season and the new adaptations needed for COVID-19.

Though Minnesota has imposed many regulations, none apply to fruit farms like Wold Strawberries. "For fruit farms, there's not even state guidelines. We made up our own," said Wold.

Kay Cross, family friend and employee, said the Wolds came up with their own regulations to keep people comfortable and safe. "They've put up extra washing stations, plexiglass in front of the pay counters and have all employees wearing masks," Cross said.

The farm asks people to maintain distance between other people, keep children close, wear a mask if possible and are providing new picking containers to each guest. Containers from previous years are not allowed and each box carrier is sanitized after use.

The farm, though in existence for over 100 years, first opened to the public in 1973 as a pick-your-own strawberry farm. Despite the pandemic, Wold was certain the farm would be able to open for the forty-seventh year. Community support has been wonderful. "We didn't know what people would think," said Wold. "We're lucky that we're outdoors and people want to be outdoors."

Cross noted people have been supportive and understanding of the precautions they were asked to take. Social distancing is maintained and the separated rows open to pick from make it easier to give every group their space. Everyone is willing to spread out if they can get a box full of Wold's fresh strawberries, Cross said. "It's become a yearly tradition for some people," she added.

Those unable to pick themselves can pre-order boxes for pickup at the farm. The farm engages local Amish girls to pick the strawberries from the fields and boxes are filled up for orders made a day in advance.

"We added a new rule for COVID-19," Wold remarked. "We have two slots in the daytime when people can come for curbside delivery," she said. People can choose to pick up between 12 to 1:30 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. The curbside pickup allows people to remain in their cars while the boxes are loaded by employees and is great for those who would like to remain distant, she added.

Cross noted how people were excited to change up their routines. "It's something social that's still safe," she remarked as people plucked in the fields behind her. "Everyone is happy just to be outside."

Everyone on the farm is working to keep people safe. "All of a sudden you have to switch patches and make customers wait, which is hard," Wold said. Employees guide each group to a row to keep them distanced from their fellow pickers.

"It seems like families want to enjoy the outdoors with their kids," Wold said, "and everyone is interested in fresh fruit."

The farm is open for picking from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. with updates about the farm posted on their Facebook page and website. The Wolds are working around the clock to keep everyone safe as they welcome in a new season.