Business & Tech
End-of-Summer Strategy: Berry Picking by the Sea (PHOTOS)
An abundance of strawberries and ollalieberries beckon.
A nice way to celebrate the last days of summer on the Coastside is to spend a day picking berries at the Coastways Ranch U-Pick in Davenport (30 minutes south of Half Moon Bay), then idle the afternoon away at Swanton's Berry Farm farm stand just a few minutes south on Highway 1.
With fond childhood memories of climbing up on ladders to pick apricots and cherries in the Brentwood sun, crouching amidst blueberry bushes in Washington State to find that hidden gem left behind, and years of stopping mid-run along my favorite trail to pick ripe blackberries in Seattle, I didn't want the summer season to pass me by without trying my hand in the Coastside berry fields.
On a recent foggy afternoon — with less than 15 minutes to spare before the ranch closed for the day — I drove down the dirt road to the land leased by Swanton's at Coastways Ranch. Dozens of neatly lined-up rows of organic strawberry plants offered endless opportunities to pick the perfect set of berries to consume in whatever way I chose — as part of a pie, with some cream on top, or right out of the carton itself. (After all, the attending worker advised me, there were only so many strawberries I could pick in 10 minutes).
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With so many strawberries to choose from, yet under a tight time constraint, I could afford to be choosy, but not too choosy. Many strawberries dangled tantalizingly on the slope of the elevated plant beds — some pale green, some a tepid pink to a pale red. Others, displaying a shade just shy of the ripe-red color, peeked out from the side of the leaves. And a few forgotten berries remained on the bush, overripe and past their prime.
What would be my strategy? Take as many of the perfectly acceptable almost-ripe reds and run — with a potential of graduating to a second carton and the makings of more than just a humble handful? Or look for the hidden treasure, the ones that had reached just the exact state of ripeness?
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Stooping among the bushes, miniature green cardboard carton in tow, I carefully parted the leaves from one strawberry plant to the next, marvelling at sheer amount of berries each plant produced alone. Every other plant or so, I was rewarded with a mid-sized ripe berry or two that was hidden underneath a cluster of leaves.
As I filled up the carton, the sounds of birds chirping in a neighboring stand of trees filled the air, and a westward breeze reminded me of the field's location overlooking the ocean. It's also positioned next to and parallel to Año Nuevo Island and its elephant seals, which the attendant watched with a set of binoculars from where he sat at the weighing stand.
"See the mass of dots around the house? Those are all elephant seals," he said, handing me the set of binoculars for a quick look.
With the sounds of the birds in the background and the fresh coastal air all around, I took on parting the berry plants one by one. The resulting meditative effect made me wish that I was able to arrive earlier in the day — and on a weekend, when Swanton's opens up the ollalieberry fields at its Coastways Ranch for picking. In the winter, one can pick kiwi at the same location. All crops are organic.
Afterwards, being careful not to drop any of the strawberries teeming over the small carton on the way back to my car, I ventured over to Swanton's Berry Farm, which has a homey farm stand and strawberry U-Pick field in front of the building next to Highway 1.
The stand is actually more of a cozy cabin filled with sweet treats and drinks (of all temperatures). It's a place to hunker down and hang out, playing old-fashioned board games, reading the newspaper, or absorbing oneself in a good book. And if you have more than enough work to do, don't hesitate from stopping by. Just bring your laptop and work there — anything goes here.
Thirsty? For $1 a cup, you can choose from icy cold tayberry lemonade, strawberry-apple cider, steaming hot fair trade coffee, or Mexican hot chocolate. And if you want something sweet, you'll have an endless amount of choices: an assortment of berry truffles (in tayberry, strawberry, strawberry citrus varieties and more for $1.50 each), chocolate-covered strawberries ($1.50 each), chocolate cheesecake brownies ($3 each), strawberry shortcake and "union-grown" ollalieberry pies ($18 each).
Those whose sweet tooth can wait can purchase a small selection of the farm's vegetables (artichokes and snap peas were available the day of my visit). Strawberries and a variety of jam are available too.
Those who arrive on bicycle receive 10% off all products at the farm stand and the U-Pick.
Payment is on an honor system, with an tray on the front table for customers to deposit their cash. It's watched over by a stern yet benign-looking rooster.
The farm stand plays tribute to influential figures such as labor organizer Cesar Chavez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers. Several photos are mounted on the side of a refrigerator which remind visitors of the contributions of entertainers such as Ray Charles and Dizzy Gillespie.
Enveloped in aromas of berries and chocolate and arms filled with a bounty of overflowing strawberry baskets, it's almost impossible to leave this place without a smile on your face and a good feeling in your tummy.
Swanton's Berry Farm is located at 25 Swanton Road in Davenport off Highway 1. The farm stand is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the fall and spring, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter. Strawberry picking is available throughout the season every day, while ollalieberries can be picked only on weekends. The kiwi U-Pick opens in October and November. For more information and directions, visit their website here, or call (831) 469-8804.
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