Just so you know, this post is fairly old… as you read it, know that any prices/dates/hours displayed here may no longer be correct. For the most accurate information head over to our home page for hours and then select different offerings from the home page for specific information around those things.
Thanks!
Hello friends,
We’re hoping to open our Pick-Your-Own Strawberry patch next week (the exact date still isn’t settled due to weather) but its looking like it will be mid next week. We will post on Facebook and Instagram as soon as we have a firm opening date and will send an email to our email list as well. The Strawberry page will also get updated with that info.
So, it is time to go over the details that you’ll need to be aware of when you visit the farm to pick strawberries this spring. I know there is a lot here, but it is important that you read through this and become familiar with the procedures we will be following to keep our employees and each of you safe!
With food sales being designated as essential businesses we do believe that this can be a great option for you and your family to be able to spend some time outside the house, picking fresh, local, nutritious, and safe strawberries!
Yoders’ Farm COVID-19 Procedures
If you’ve picked strawberries here in years past, you are probably familiar with how the process has usually worked. Because we are taking COVID-19 very seriously, and to keep everyone as safe as possible, we will be doing some things differently this year.
Note, a lot of what we are implementing comes from the VA Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and their guidance for PYO farms. If you’d like to read that directly you can do so here – https://bit.ly/2xB93m4
- Please practice social distancing throughout your visit to the farm, once you’ve parked at the farm, as you make your way towards the checkin area and then out into the field to your assigned picking zone.
- Before you enter the strawberry field you should use one of our hand washing stations to wash your hands with soap and water.
- To limit the numbers of interactions we’ll be using volume pricing this year instead of by the pound pricing as we’ve done in the past. When you arrive at the farm you’ll come by the check in area to purchase a busket from one of our gloved stand workers. You’ll then head out into the field and harvest your strawberries. Once your busket is filled you’ll be free to go because your berries are paid for when you receive your container.
- For payments we recommend and prefer the use of Credit Cards, Apple Pay or Android Pay.
- Our hours (once we open the PYO patch) will be 8 a.m. till 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday, just as in years past. We do ask that you check Facebook, Instagram or the home page of our website, before visiting since there may be times we’ll need to close for weather, or if we get picked out. We do encourage you to visit on weekdays, if you can, to help spread out the number of people visiting at one time.
- One of the perks of PYO strawberries is tasting a few berries in the field as you pick. Because of the threat of spreading COVID-19 we ask that you refrain from tasting berries in the field.
- If you are sick please do not come out to the farm. If we believe you are sick once you arrive at the farm we will have to ask you to leave.
- We love having families come out to the farm, but we do ask that you please keep an especially close eye on your children this spring. Our normal play area and activities won’t be available, but you’re welcome to walk by and say hello to the rabbits, chickens, and calves but please don’t linger any longer than needed and remember to practice social distancing.
- We will be wearing face masks and gloves at our check-in station, and gloves while harvesting pre-picked berries, we recommend that you wear a face mask and gloves as well.
I know that’s a lot, so thanks for reading through it and helping us do our best to be as responsible as possible during this time! The key to all of this is everyone taking personal responsibility and if we can all have a little patience we’re pretty sure this can work fairly well.
- For pricing head over to the strawberry page.
- For current hours/conditions/notifications check Facebook, Instagram, or the home page.
- To help streamline things staff wise, and to simplify things we won’t be running the Snack Shack this spring.
That pretty much covers things! If you have any questions let us know. We’ll update this post if any further clarification is needed.
