Strawberry Picking

By Kip Tabb – 

Picking strawberries on a sunny spring day at the Malco’s strawberry field.

There is something about picking your own strawberries on a glorious spring day that reminds us that there is so much right in the world. Not that picking strawberries can solve all the problems that surround us, just that somehow it’s a reminder that the small things in our lives are worth celebrating.

My daughter and I have been going to the Malco’s strawberry field every year for the past 12 years. Some years the strawberries are better than others, but we have never been disappointed. But then, I’m not sure if it’s about the fruit or the memories.

For anyone needing directions, it’s easy to find—cross the Wright Memorial Bridge into Currituck and look for the sign that says “Strawberries” in big letters, hopefully with the small “open today” sign under it. Make a right at the first road after the sign and head back to the strawberry banner.

The field seems to be about two acres in size and if that doesn’t sound small, believe me, there’s a lot of strawberries to pick.

This year they seemed particularly good. So wonderfully red, bursting with juice and flavor, that my daughter and I managed to pick 15 pounds of them before we even realized what we had. That’s the same problem we have almost every year, though, because even after making strawberry muffins, freezing a few pounds and eating as many as we can every day, strawberries just don’t keep that well.

Which means we’ll have to go back and pick some more.

For anyone who has not been to Mr. and Mrs. Malco’s Strawberry Field, it is cash only and they seem to be opened from about 9-5 although I’ve never asked about their hours. The berries appear to be at their absolute peak right now and will probably be perfect for picking for another two weeks or so. We have picked in early June, but the quality is not quite as good.

One more piece of advice: take children with you and create memories. It’s a reminder that life is worth celebrating.