Each spring, we await the arrival of organic strawberries from Vollmer Farm in Bunn, NC. This year we plan to sell a ton of strawberries a week… literally! The berries have had a great spring so there should be an ample supply. Our direct relationship with Vollmer Farm means great value in addition to great berries.
Strawberries were the first crop the Vollmer family tried when they began the transition from tobacco to organic produce. They have now diversified into other organic crops, including pumpkins, lettuce, and blueberries. We sell their asparagus and hot house tomatoes each spring. The Vollmers also run an on-site ice cream shop and a farm playground with a hay pyramid, a giant underground slide, the “pumpkin jump,” and more.
Growing a large crop of organic strawberries takes a lot of planning and labor. There are the basic organic practices, like using a rotation of cover crops to replenish nutrients in the ground and adding organic matter to the soil. Any weeds that are pulled are pulled by hand, not doused with herbicide. Plants are also susceptible to disease problems. A conventional farmer would fumigate the soil to kill the diseases, killing beneficial soil microbes in the process. Russ Vollmer rotates the location of his berries, and he added a year to the rotation when he noticed problems. His four-year rotation means each field will have three years without strawberries during which strawberry pests will die off.
We get the strawberries delivered fresh three times each week, within 24 hours of harvest. Be sure to eat as many as you can while they are in season!