The co-owner of Wilfert Farms on Manitou Drive, Two Rivers said they’re looking about a week out yet for the arrival of the strawberry crop.
Dave Wilfert tells Seehafer News, “We’re fortunate in this cooler by the lake type thing that we’re a grower that starts later than everyone else because of our proximity to Lake Michigan. In this extreme heat, it’s actually going to turn into a plus for us. It’ll slow us up a little bit and keep us in the ballgame.”
As for dealing with the recent dry conditions, Wilfert explains, “Well, it simply means we water more because we’re continually adding about an inch to an inch and a half of water a week to the berries. So when it doesn’t rain at all it keeps us busy. Not only do we have the berries to water, we also have the peas, carrots, and a lot of the other vegetable stuff that we do.”
The owner of the largest fresh-market farm in east-central Wisconsin said they do most of their watering at night when you have less of an evaporation factor. Wilfert added, “It’s not fun, but part of the game.”
