MARTINSBURG W.Va. — Local farmers could be a huge help for this years 75th annual Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon, and they could make some money in the process.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is looking for farmers to help stock a West Virginia retail location for berries during the fair in May.
The WVDA and Future Farmers of America will handle all the sales and then mail the farmers their checks after the festival.
WVDA Communications Officer, Buddy Davidson, says they could use as many farmers that are willing.
He says “This is the third year we’re doing it. There is certainly money to be made for anyone who is able to get those berries to us by that time.”
Davidson also says that consistently growing berries used to be challenging around this time of year, but the increasing prevalence of high tunnel technology and uheated greenhouse structures makes fresh berries in mid-May a more practical proposition than in the past.
Davidson can’t contain his excitement when he sees people bite into a fresh, West Virginia strawberry for the first time.
He admits that although he doesn’t care for strawberries himself, these are on an entirely different level of flavor.
He says, “Nothing against local grocery stores, but most people who visit the Strawberry Festival don’t really know what a fresh, picked-ripe strawberry tastes like. When they try a sample of our berries, lots of times there’s an actual look of surprise that comes over them.”
For more information, visit the WVDA website at www.agriculture.wv.gov.