By the beginning of July, local berry enthusiasts can expect strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in local farmers markets and U-pick farms.
At last Saturday's University District Farmers Market, vendors offered five varieties of strawberries, two types of raspberries, and gooseberries, said Chris Curtis, director of the Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets.
Growers expect this to be the last week for Honeoye, a June-bearing strawberry, while everbearers such as Seascape and older June-bearing varieties such as Rainier, Shuksan and Hood may be around for a couple more weeks, Curtis said.
U-pickers should call local farms to see what varieties they grow and when their crop ends.
Tulamine and Malahat raspberries are available at farmers markets now; U-pick raspberries are also ready at some farms, such as Marysville's Biringer Farm.
Farmers markets anticipate blueberries by the first of July. In some places, U-pick might be a little later; Bybee-Nims Farms in North Bend, for example, expects picking to start in mid-July.
Watch for tayberries and marionberries by the middle of next month.
"This is a little earlier than in seasons past," Curtis noted.
For more information, including a list of farmers markets and a searchable farm database, go to www.pugetsoundfresh.org. The Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets also offers a "What's Fresh" sheet at www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.
Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times staff reporter
