Learn About Our Farm

---

 🌱 How We Grow at Harvold Berry Farm

 We know many of our visitors care about how their food is grown—so do we. Here’s a look at how we care for our crops and our land. 

 🌦️   Farming Works with Nature 

 Every season is different. Weather, pests, and crop conditions can change quickly. Farming means adapting and making the best decisions we can to grow a quality crop while caring for the land. 

Organic vs. Spray-Free

Organic farmers also use pesticides and sprays. Here is the national list of sprays approved for organic produce, many of which we use.

Pests and Disease

Despite our best efforts, weather and mother nature sometimes have different ideas in mind. At Harvold Berry Farm U-Pick we follow an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This means we use a combination of pest control methods so that we limit our impact on the environment. We deal with disease and pests on a case-by-case basis and only spray when it is absolutely necessary to save our crop. We only use products that are approved by the FDA for food and produce. Therefore, all our produce is safe to eat right out of the field.  Sprays are also diluted in water prior to application. For example, a pesticide is applied at a rate of 4 oz per acre. This is equivalent to 1/3 soda can of chemical per one football field. You can read more about Integrated Pest Management here.

 🌾 Healthy Soil = Healthy Crops

We rotate many of our fields on an annual or biannual basis so the soil can receive nutrients naturally. For example, after we harvest a strawberry field for two years, we remove it and plant clover, pumpkins, squash, wheat, or other crops - many of which add nitrogen back into the soil. This crop rotation method allows us to suppress weeds, fungus, and bug pests naturally. Crop rotation also adds more organic material to our soil each year.  We test the PH of our soil regularly so we know if we need to add more natural elements (such as lime) to help maintain our soil's health.

While our berries and vegetables are not organic, we use crop rotation to naturally reduce the need for sprays and promote healthy, nutrient-rich soil.

Unlike some large-scale farms that grow the same crops in the same fields year after year, our rotation practices help minimize disease and pest pressure naturally. In many large strawberry operations, repeated planting can lead to the need for soil fumigation before replanting.

By rotating our fields, we avoid those practices and focus on building healthier soil over time.
👉 Learn more about soil fumigation here.

Meet the passionate family and team behind Harvold Berry Farm. Committed to sustainable farming, we work daily to bring you the best of our land — friendly, trustworthy, community-focused.