Strawberry Crop is a Go, Festivals — Maybe? No?
It’s the time of year when Californians typically enjoy the sweet smells of strawberries ripening in the fields along the California coast, and the ripened berries also signal the start of the strawberry festival season. As one of California’s most popular types of food festivals, attendees get primed for some fantastic tastes such as strawberry smoothies, strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream and anything one can concoct for the discriminating palate.
So now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) scare is upon us, what’s up with strawberries and strawberry festivals?
Strawberry crops
In Monterey County where strawberries are grown, the county has issued an order limiting activity, travel and business functions to the most essential needs. It makes provision for agricultural and fieldworkers who keep food in supermarkets and on the table.
Those whose jobs include food production such as planting, harvesting, processing, packing and transporting may go to work but as much as possible comply with social distancing practices, county officials said in a press release. The workers harvesting strawberries are able to maintain social distancing.
- Strawberry farms produce the fourth most valuable crop in California while using less than 1% of California’s farmland.
- Strawberry production for 2020 is expected to increase 4% over 2019.
- High quality California strawberries are projected to be widely available starting in April.
California Strawberry Festivals
All subject to change!!!
CALLED OFF FOR 2020
- Oxnard’s California Strawberry Festival
- Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
POSTPONED
- Vista Strawberry Festival new date September 6, 2020
NO CANCELLATION AS OF YET
- Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival April 24-26, 2020
- Roseville Berry Fest Strawberry Festival Mother’s Day Weekend
- Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival Memorial Weekend
- Watsonville Strawberry Festival in August
- Anderson Happy Valley Strawberry Festival Memorial Weekend
