A Berry Adventure

One of the best things about summer is the fresh, local berries. And since it took so long to arrive (summer, that is), there’s still lots of time to take the kids on a berry-picking excursion. The Fraser Valley has lots of family farms to choose from, but our fave for u-pick is Krause Berry Farms in Langley.

Krause is easy to find (off Highway 1) and offers a great selection of other activities. Kids will love the hay and horse-drawn carriage rides, a small fenced-in children’s play area and a petting zoo (some activities are free and some charge a fee). They also have a market for those who are not interested in picking, but still want to take some home or upgrade to a jam, pie or other yummy berry treat.

Berry picking with kids definitely requires some savvy planning so here are our recos for your family berry adventure:

1. Bring buckets – they sell plastic ones for $1, but bringing your own is more environmentally friendly.
2. Weigh your buckets – have them weighed at the check-in counter before you fill them so you only pay for the berry weight.
3. Wear closed shoes – you’ll want to keep the dry, loose dirt from turning everyone’s feet black.
4. Bring a hat and sunscreen – berry patches are not known for their shade. Plan for an hour at most of actual berry picking before the kids tire out (and less for toddlers).
5. BYO lunch – the outdoor café at Krause specializes in berry-inspired treats, but offers a very limited selection of real meals.

The strawberry season has about two weeks left so don’t delay. Get out and pick, eat, freeze or bake them while you can. Tested by Michelle T., Vancouver

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