Qld strawberry picking season delayed by wild weather but crops still looking good

Strawberry season in Queensland is facing delays thanks to wet and wild weather earlier in the year, but the good news is the fruit is just as sweet as ever for those willing to wait.

Strawberry season might be delayed this year, but the fruit is just as sweet.

Luvaberry Farm, north of Brisbane, has officially reopened its picking fields once again after a four-week delay to the season following wet weather earlier this year.

Farm owner Mandy Schultz said with recent rain wiping out one of their paddocks and impacting others, the farm is now producing what they usually would have back in mid-June.

“We missed our first flush and that’s now really starting to come through, it also means that we’ll have fruit longer than normal,” she said.

Sisters Miranda 5, and Grace Schultz 3, have fun picking strawberries at Luvaberry Strawberry farm at Wamuran. Picture Lachie Millard

Thanks to the sunnier and drier conditions of late, Ms Shultz said the size of fruit and level of production has improved “dramatically” since the first four weeks of the season.

“Production is moving, the sunshine helps, it’s tracking very nicely. It’s just tracking at a different time of year,” she said.

People heading to the farm in Wamuran, just outside of Caboolture, are encouraged to make bookings to ensure plentiful fruit, but Ms Shultz said it wasn’t a necessity.

“You come for the experience, kids can come and eat in the field, parents can get photos,” she said.