Nearly all strawberry lovers will tell you that the Minnesota strawberry season is just too short. It seems to sneak up in mid-June and pass by in a flurry of summer activities.

This year, however, a late crop is giving strawberry pickers a little more time to stock up on a favorite summertime fruit.

Most berry farms opened last week, a week or two later than usual, due to Minnesota’s cool spring. Because strawberries like cool weather, it’s having a positive effect on the 2008 crop.

“The cool weather we’ve had this spring is preferred for strawberries; it causes them to ripen slowly for best flavor,” according to master gardener Dave Schwartz.

Julie Townsend of Dassel Hillside Farm said this season is the 25-year-old farm’s latest strawberry season ever. While summer may have taken its sweet, old time getting here, that first taste might be worth the wait.

“It’s an average to good year,” said Joel Leafblad, owner of Leafblad Produce. “The quality of the berries is excellent and the flavor is excellent.”

Read more about this year's crop and how long it's expected to stay around in the July 3 Independent Review.

Local berry farms with U-pick or pre-picked strawberries include:

* Crow River Berry Farm, four miles east of Litchfield on Minnesota Highway 12, then 1 3/4 miles south on County Road 9.

* Dassel Hillside Farm, 24492 Minnesota Highway 15, Dassel, (320) 275-2622.

*Ernie's Gardens, 51575 CSAH 3, Grove City, (320) 699-8168.

* Leafblad Produce, 67784 330th Ave., Watkins, (320) 693-2486.