Carlsbad Art and Culture

Hello Summer 2009 part 7 of 11

A drive through Carlsbad on the I-5 has its sites. The dominating presence of the Encina Power Plant pokes skyward and a collection of lagoons animate with wildlife. The Pacific Ocean crashes upon long stretches of sandy beaches and bright colors splatter across the evening sky. A site less spoken of, but just as special, is the wide growth of the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields. Located on Canon Road one block East of the I-5, nearly 80 acres sprawls along the South side of the Batiquitos Lagoon. Strawberries are seasonal, but 150 employees work year-round for our pleasure. Commercial harvesting usually begins January and “U Pick” usually opens in Spring. The fields will continue to flower until the nights are more than 10 hours long. The berries tend to be smaller this time of year, but the large amounts of sunshine make them super sweet. The plants are turned in July and the soil begins to be prepared for the following season.

The sun glares and faint clouds flutter overhead. The large smoke stack of the looming power plant points at the sun and a series of wires dangle in the blue sky. Evenly spaced rows of low strawberry plants run the hillside while kids scamper for the roundest berry. Parents meander slowly and busy children return only to drop their newest find. Wandering the fields is free and a cheap basket of strawberries could not me any fresher. Summer in Carlsbad is given a gift for a few months… get your pickin’ in before August!

Did you know you can pick your own strawberries?

hello summer 2009 parts 1-11 visited and photographed on June 21st