Vehicles started pulling into Carver Farms at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday for the first day of U-pick season. The farm near Newman Lake officially opened at 7 a.m., and within a half-hour, about 300 people had descended on the fields to harvest one of the first fruits of summer.

“Jam, lots of jam. Smoothies. Syrup for waffles. And pies, fresh strawberry pies,” said Sarah Keevy, of Spokane Valley, describing the incentives she used to coax five kids out of bed for the early morning harvest.

Keevy expected to leave the field with about 15 pounds of berries. Her friend, Jennifer Hogan, brought her four kids to Carver Farms with similar expectations.

“They turn into an army of strawberry pickers,” Keevy said of the children, ages 4 to 13.

Farm owner Marv Carver is a 40-year veteran of strawberry season. On Tuesday, he was directing traffic and helping assign families rows to pick. Opening day always brings a crowd to the farm, especially when the weather cooperates, he said.

“I think the local berries are so important to people because of the flavor,” Carver said. Full story. Becky Kramer/SR

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