Strawberry season starts: The Hartweg family invites you to pick your own!

Strawberry season starts: The Hartweg family invites you to pick your own!

The strawberry season began on June 2, 2025, and in the Seppenrader Bauerschaft Leversum, the Hartweg family welcomes visitors to their fields. Andreas Hartweg, 42 years old, reports that many people flock to the fields, although they are “relatively far away from the village”. Despite the initial interest, Hartweg would like to see more visitors in order to improve yields. The family decided to offer a pick-your-own option, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

The strawberry season extends from mid-May to the end of July. During this time, numerous farms are willing to offer pick-your-own options. This form of harvesting is particularly popular with families, as they can not only harvest fresh strawberries, but also spend time together outdoors. Children have the opportunity to learn about the plants, while adults can compare the different strawberry varieties, such as the well-known 'Elsanta', 'Senga Sengana' and 'Mieze Schindler'.

Enjoyment and sustainability

An important aspect of picking yourself is that the strawberries you pick yourself are not only fresh, but are often cheaper than in the store. Although prices fluctuate, they are generally more attractive. In addition, the strawberry fields are often conveniently located, which makes access easier. Stalls provide sturdy cardboard baskets for the strawberries, and visitors can also bring their own containers. The weight is weighed before picking, which takes the concept of sustainability into account.

The opening hours of the strawberry fields can vary depending on the weather and the type of strawberry, but picking in the morning is usually more pleasant than in the afternoon. In addition to strawberries, many farms also offer other crops for you to pick yourself, including blueberries, raspberries, apples and pumpkins. Even cut flower fields are common in the region. Billing is often carried out via a “trusted cash register”, which underlines the special nature of the self-picking offers.

It is important to handle it carefully

It is important that consumers handle the plants carefully as this benefits both the producer and the quality of the crop. When the weather is unfriendly, the number of visitors can fluctuate, which poses challenges for the operators of the self-picking facilities. Nevertheless, many providers invest in customer loyalty and experience to increase the attractiveness of their offering, which also increases interest in activities such as picking strawberries yourself. WN reports about the efforts of the Hartweg family to optimize their income based on these seasonal offers.

The pick-your-own events are not only an excellent way to enjoy fresh produce straight from the field, but also promote awareness of local agriculture and sustainable practices. For many families, these excursions are an exciting experience in which the focus is on enjoying nature and the joy of experiencing it together.

For further information on the topic of self-picking and the best tips, such as easily accessible strawberry fields, those interested can use the platform agriculture Visit, which offers a comprehensive overview of the possibilities.