With winter’s freeze in the rearview mirror, fans of fresh produce are eager for the harvests ahead. One has begun at Mayhew Tomato Farm, where strawberry picking is in full swing. Containers of the plump red fruit covered a sales counter in the farm’s rustic barn in the Mayhew countryside Monday, ready for pick-up by customers who had called in their orders.
In the distance, the rumble of a tractor coming over the rise slipped into the mid-morning quiet. Mel Ellis was at the controls. At the barn, he hopped down, wiping his brow, his damp shirt evidence of the hard work that began before 6 a.m. A yellow-haired farm dog happily followed him.
“For every step I take, she takes two,” Mel grinned, making his way into the shade of the barn. Mel and his parents, M.C and Frances Ellis, operate the farm on land that has been in Frances’ family since the 1800s. Before establishing Mayhew Tomato Farm though, M.C. and Frances were educators in Georgia and Mississippi. M.C. also worked in parks and recreation as well as turf grass management for golf courses, including Augusta. Mel, who joined the business about 20 years ago, is a former attorney and was once a pro golfer. The backgrounds are varied, but the good earth is the family’s common denominator now.
A wide variety of crops are grown on the farm, but strawberries are the first out of the gate each spring. The 16,000 plants put in last October represent a labor-intensive crop with a short harvest window.
“We hope to have good picking for 30 to 40 days,” said Mel. Unusually heavy rains or early sustained hot weather could shorten that.
Now is the heyday for fresh strawberries. Jars of strawberry-jalapeno jam and strawberry fig preserves were lined up on the Ellises barn counter, next to a spiral-bound steno notebook bearing a list of customers and their orders. Most are buying strawberries by the flat.
“A flat is a good 12 pints, about 8 pounds,” Mel explained. The farm also sells in pound and pint containers; some smaller containers are offered, when available, at the Clay County Co-op in West Point.
After pausing from work to chat Monday, Mel was soon back on the tractor, on to the next task, planting tomatoes. The Ellises will soon join other local growers at area farmers’ markets opening for the season in May. One of them is having “sneak preview.”
Strawberry day
Because strawberries are center stage right now and generating enthusiasm for other produce soon to come, the West Point Farmers’ Market will host a special Strawberry Farmers’ Market on Thursday April 19, from 5 p.m.-“until” at the Mossy Oak Outlet on Highway 45 Alternate. Locally-grown strawberries and other market favorites will be available. Get more information from the Growth Alliance, 662-494-5121, or email Lisa Klutts at [email protected].
Fresh strawberries ripe with sweetness are perfect for cakes, pies, trifles, salads, jams, jellies, main dishes and more. Today’s recipes illustrate ways to enjoy them in a salad, a main course and a sweet.
Learn more about Mayhew Tomato Farm by following them on Facebook or call 662-327-4715.
STRAWBERRY SALAD WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING
Prep/total time: 30 minutes
Serves 10
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 bunch romaine, torn (about 8 cups)
1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cups halved fresh strawberries
For the dressing:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 tablespoon 2 percent milk
2 1/4 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
(Health tip: Turn this potluck salad into something heartier. Grill 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, slice and add to the salad for 10 main dish servings.)
(Source: tasteofhome.com; originally published as strawberry romaine salad in Country Extra, March 2009)
PORK TENDERLOIN WITH BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES
1 (3-pound) package pork tenderloins
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8-10 bacon slices
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
1 cup diced, fresh strawberries
(Source: spicysouthernkitchen.com)
STRAWBERRIES ‘N’ CREAM SCONES
Prep/total time: 30 minutes
Makes 8 servings
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
2/3 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh strawberries
1 large egg, lightly beaten
(Source: tasteofhome.com; originally published in Country Woman Christmas Annual 2008)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.