While I was taking my daughter to her softball assessments today I drove by the famous Vargas Strawberry Farm located on the corner of Towne Ave & Baseline Rd in Claremont. To my surprise they were open for business! Yes, winter is nice in So. California.
Adrian Vargas, owner of the strawberry farm is a local farmer and landscaper that grew up in neighboring La Verne and now resides in Rancho Cucamonga . He and his family have farmed this piece of land with strawberries since 1985. The land he grows his crop on is about 3.5 acres. Two and half acres are used for the strawberries.
Since pesticides are kept to an extreme minimum green onions are planted along the perimeter of the strawberry field to keep out gophers and other pests. When the onions are harvested they are also sold at the strawberry stand.
The farm yields approximately 5000 boxes of stawberries per season depending on the weather. Not only are the strawberries sold to the local residents, but they are also sold to Marie Callender’s restaurant and 21 Choices frozen yogurt shop in Claremont.
Mr. Vargas also mentioned that he appreciates the local support from schools and neighbors. The schools bring their classrooms over for field trips and the kids love it. It is a wonderful learning experince for them. He said, “It is important that children learn where there food comes from.”
Support from the neighboring residents comes not only in purchasing his strawberries year after year, but also in the fight for the preservation of his farm. Since there has been talk of him giving up his land for the Baseline Project he said, “the neighbors have been fighting strong for him and his land at city hall and also on other levels .” He is extremely proud and grateful of the farm neighbors.
Vargas Strawberry Farm will only be open until early July. In summer time it gets too hot and the stawberries won’t last long. They are big, red and sweet not to mention beautiful to look at. Get them while you can!
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
Nothing compares to So Cal weather!
You have got that right PlanOpen. I have friends that live in the New England states and the thought of So. California makes them want to move here every winter.
Yum! Strawberries! Lovin’ your blog Jenn!