Spring ushers in a notable strawberry yield at Tanaka Farms, Irvine. The family-operated 16-hectare farm is witnessing an extensive harvest this season. "This is probably the most strawberries we've had at this time this early in the season," stated general manager Kenny Tanaka. "We've been picking ever since January, and hopefully no more rain and we'll be good to go."
Despite the robust harvest, recent rainstorms present challenges. Sudden downpours can damage strawberries, potentially turning them to mush. Tanaka noted, "If we get hail or hard rain, even these green ones can be damaged. So we could lose a month of strawberry production."
The exceptional yield is attributed to a revised fertilizer strategy. "Water comes through the watering system, we put fertilizer in there and the plants really took off," Tanaka explained. "In past years, we were kind of experimenting with different composts, and we kind of found the right mix now. You're talking about hundreds and thousands of pounds right now."
Visitors to the farm engage in activities such as animal petting, train rides, and picking strawberries and vegetables. A tip for selecting strawberries is to seek those with bright red coloring all around and to pick by gently pulling the stem.
Kenny Tanaka remarked, "Springtime is the perfect time for strawberries. We're just getting a little bit warmer - 70s, 80s is what they really love and as long as this temperature kind of stays mild like that, you should have a long strawberry season."
Source: Eyewitness News