The name Strawberries Galore and More is indicative of what's available at Tammy Frericks' farm just outside Albany, MN.
Frericks not only has U-pick and pre-pick strawberries during the berry season, but she also sells jams, jellies and pickled asparagus and dilly beans. Sales of garden produce is available throughout the growing season while the canned items are offered year round.
She had never been strawberry picking until a friend invited her to go with to another berry patch. Frericks was intrigued. There were lots of people picking strawberries early in the morning, she said. It was a thing. And it was something that she wanted to try herself.
Frericks talked to her husband, Steve, about purchasing land in the country to fulfill a dream she had of operating her own U-pick operation. They looked at one country place, but only had six hours to decide whether to purchase it.
Obviously they did, because it is now home to Strawberries Galore and More.
They planted strawberries and asparagus and, with a grant from the Natural Resources and Conservation District, built two high tunnels where they grow raspberries and some garden produce.
On the day I visited Strawberries Galore and More there wasn't much to see. It was very early spring and trees were just getting buds and the ground was brown. Soon enough, though, the plants will emerge as the weather warms and the strawberries and asparagus will be coming forth!
Check out the story at thelocalgrowers.com.