With an abundance of berries at nearly every step, it didn't take long for strawberry lovers to get their fill on the first day of the pick-your-own season at Fay's Strawberry Farm on Kossuth Road.
Janine Fay was busy telling visitors where to park at the two-generation berry operation run by her dad Tony Fay, as pickers of all ages scattered through the immense fields.
The first weekend of what is typically a three-week season, depending on the weather, drew dozens of pickers out Saturday morning, many of them families getting together for a safe, outdoor activity.
Tina Tucker lives in Kitchener and thought it was a good middle ground to meet her sister Tanya McGillivray and her daughters Teegan, Isabel and Abby, from Guelph.
"There are tons of berries," she said, as the kids helped fill two baskets to overflowing.
Asked what they plan to do with them all, McGillivray said they'll be making strawberry pie for sure.
"We might make some jam. We'll freeze some. Sauce for ice cream and, of course, we'll be saving some to eat."
Lucy Kozlowska came to the farm from just down the road in Breslau.
She said she looks for the longer berries with a bit of white at the stem. "They're a bit sweeter, in my opinion," she said, adding she plans to make a trifle with them for Father's Day.
Janine said this year's crop is in the farm's older field so there are fewer bushes to pick, but the berries are more abundant.
So when is the best time to pick?
The earlier in the day, the better, Janine says, not only to get the best berries, but to avoid the sun and heat.
Safe picking is a priority so Fay's provides baskets to each customer and asks everyone to keep their distance while they pick.
"They're nice large fields so if you need to stay away from people, this is definitely a safe place to do it," Janine said.
The farm is located across from Cambridge Country Manor, just west of the intersection of Speedsville and Kossuth roads.
Berries sold out at the farm Saturday but the plan is to open again Monday.
