Hello and Happy Monday!
I had quite the exciting weekend, but after yesterday’s half marathon I was busy catching up on life so here is an update.
Friday you saw the deal – I drove up to Ventura, CA for an event with the California Strawberry Commission.
We stayed in Ventura Friday night and actually it was at a hotel right along Ventura Beach! This is very close tothe Shoreline Half Marathon race route (check my race discounts page if you want to come).
Luckily Anne was on the trip too and wanted to run with me! We did four miles along the beach – the best way to start the day!
Breakfast!
(via TheLemonBowl Insta)
From there we headed to Terry Farms. The Terry family has been farming in California for over 110 years.
We met the father and son team Edgar and William. As soon as we got there they welcomed questions and said they were an open book. So, we did ask about organic farming and the farm workers – two topics I am curious about and know many of you are too.
> The farm is not organic. But, William said organic fruits are still often sprayed with pesticides, just approved/organic ones. (Natural News article about that here.)
> They also explained that strawberries grow fairly quickly compared to other produce. So, the fields are harvested about two times a week. This also means the fruit is not subject to repeated exposure to the things they use to mitigate bugs.
> The strawberry pickers get $9.00 per hour plus bonuses for a certain amount of boxes picked. In high berry season they are making significantly more than that. The farm workers at this particular farm are not unionized, but the United Farm Workers have come to talk to them in the past.
> You are not supposed to wear any jewelry while out on the field for food safety reasons. We also had to were close toed shoes and were very careful about following directions.
I have no idea what’s going on here…
We took a tractor ride around the farm for a tour. Check out that view…
The bloggers were able to pick the berries to try and compare.
William gave us a lesson in strawberry picking too…
I was surprisingly good at it! All the better to eat you with 
It was GORGEOUS! I had the best time.
After that the Lobos Truck served us lunch. It was epic. The main course was a kobe beef slider with peanut butter and jelly. I don’t have pictures of that because I was too busy eating. And my phone died.
Overall: I ate 12 strawberries – way below my 365 goal.
But I had an amazing time! Also, I made a few new friends!! Liz from The Lemon Bowl and Kevin from Closet Cooking were super awesome!
My favorite Strawberry Recipes:
Question: What’s your favorite fruit right now?
Disclaimer: The California Strawberry Commission invited me on this trip. All opinions are my own.
Love your tale of the strawberry farm! My forever-favorite fruit is strawberry. It’s funny, but no matter where I go, I can always tell which strawberries are from California (specifically from Salinas to Oxnard,) by the smell. There are no better strawberries out there. None. I lived in Ventura for a few years, and got so spoiled by the wonderful fresh produce and farm stands (not to mention the beaches, and the awesome people.)
My favorite fruits are raspberries, nectarines & Red Haven peaches!
That looks awesome! I made some strawberry shortcake last night and it was so good with fresh strawberries!
Danielle
Smitten with Sunday
Yumm! I went strawberry picking last year and had a blast…I think I ate almost as many as I collected! I’m guessing California strawberries > NJ strawberries though… can’t wait until summer for all the fresh fruit!
I can’t believe you have strawberries already- I’m jealous/so excited to get some here!
Super fun!!! Hmm my fav…do goji berries count?!
Totally count 🙂
I’m an Oxnard girl and the California Strawberry Commission has been doing great things for our area. Thanks for spreading the word. We also have a Salsa Festival and let me tell you, strawberry salsa is the bees knees.
I need to try that!
I’m enjoying some fresh pineapple and melon!
Only 12 strawberries? Bummer! Good thing you had lots of other goodies to eat!
oooooo my!!! that view! 😉
Looks like an awesome time! The drink is totally screaming summer! Right now I am really loving any type of berry!
Right now blackberries have been on sale and I’ve been LOVING them! I eat a handful every day!
That’s awesome! I can’t wait until it’s strawberry season here in Michigan, I go out picking every year!
In talking with some of my local farmers I learned that some of them can’t say their product is organic because they don’t want to pay an agency several of thousands of dollars to come and survey their farm. If they use the word organic without being certified they can face a penalty of up to $10,000. CRAZY!
Personally I don’t care enough about labels anyways and try to buy local when possible 🙂
Sorry for the rant…..
Strawberry picking and fresh strawberries are so fun! (especially making strawberry jam afterward- it’s honestly like candy) I love being out in the fields, especially in good weather 🙂 looks like a great weekend
It’s hsrd to come by experienced people for this topic, however, you seem like you kow hat you’re talking
about! Thanks
Im loving strawberries right now but plumcot season is just around the corner and I. Cant. Wait.
Strawberries are number one in my heart all year round 😉
I love strawberries so this would be such a blast to go visit a strawberry farm.
I’m an Oregonian and I’d but our berries (in season) up against any berries in the world. However, your Californian farmers have ours beat by miles! William is going to have to start his own blog to keep up with his new fan base. 😉
Oranges! This season’s citrus has been wonderful. Cannot get enough oranges and red grapefruits 🙂
I’ve been obsessed with blackberries lately. I just finished my stash and am already planning on heading to the store for more. My dad used to grow them in our yard when I was a kid but I don’t think I appreciated them back then because they looked “hairy”. LOL!
As much as I love strawberries, I think I would have picked up William instead at that farm 😉
Favorite fruit? I’m not sure I can choose just one; I think I love them all. I was even trying to think of one that I DIDN’T like and couldn’t come up with anything.
Love strawberries! one of my favorite fruits. They are delicious! Also, always remind me of Spring and Summer.
I’m glad they’re paying their workers a decent rate, but why they’re not unionized is quite interesting… Anyway, liberal political aside, I loved this post- it reminded me of growing up in the Central Valley. Right now I’m all about citrus fruits, especially in smoothies.
I LOVE BERRIES. Strawberries were on sale this weekend so I stocked up and I’ve been eating them on oatmeal with a few chocolate chips and it is breakfast perfection!
What a beautiful scenic run – I can’t wait to get back to the coastal states and run along the water!
So jealous that you got to meet Kevin!
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Pineapple! I can’t get enough!
I’m always into berries – either strawberries and blueberries or raspberries and blueberries. My Grandpa used to grow strawberries on his farm. I remember as a kid spending all day picking them and bringing buckets home to freeze. It is one of my best memories as a kid.
My favorite fruit right now would have to be mangoes! They are starting to come in super nice and sweet at Whole Foods and I literally would eat them all day and night if they weren’t so expensive!
It looks so beautiful there! I am a strawberry fan right now because they just started going down in price up here. Now that you posted this I think I am going to have to make a grocery store trip tonight!
I’m loving mango currently!
Check out the view? The crops or William?
I thought the same thing!!!! I’m going with the farmer!
My favorite fruit is (and will always be) WATERMELON! It is simply the best thing ever!
Favourite fruit right now is a Tangelo. I didn’t know they existed until I visited an orange orchard on a recent trip to Phoenix and now I’m obsessed!!