Tidwell Berry Farm owner Ray Tidwell (RPCV India) is very optimistic about the strawberry crop this year
Strawberries survive frigid temps, will be ready for festival
Tidwells Berry Farm is expecting a bumper crop this year in time for the Tennessee Strawberry Festival
By Tambria M. Peeples
The Herald-News
Dayton, Tenn.
April 27, 2005
Tidwell Berry Farm owners Ray and Emily Tidwell are very optimistic about the strawberry crop this year, despite the recent surge of cold weather.
"We did have a couple of scary days. It may have slowed things down a bit, but everything is fine," said Mrs. Tidwell.
The Tidwells are looking forward to contributing to the Strawberry Festival this year.
"We have been donating to the festival for more years than I can count. We will give strawberries for the benefit auction, the festival shortcake and other festival events where needed. Paul's Produce will be selling our strawberries in a special designated area during the festival," she said.
With around 70 employees, including seasonal pickers for the 16-acre farm, retail store crew and field help, the Tidwell Berry Farm is the largest berry farm in the tri-state area and the only one in Rhea County.
"We've stood the test of time. I think we've been progressive in the way that we raise our strawberries. We offer a good quality product. Our strawberries are like Sara Lee, 'nobody doesn't like them,'" she said.
The Tidwell's have enjoyed raising berry crops for 20 years but it hasn't been easy, according to Mrs. Tidwell.
"Farming is like gambling in Las Vegas, it takes a lot of luck and hard work," she said.
Mrs. Tidwell grew up on a ranch and Mr. Tidwell grew up on a farm both in Florida. Mr. Tidwell even spent two and a half years in the Peace Corps in India teaching farming, according to Mrs. Tidwell.
"So I guess you could say farming is in our genes. We started out raising a soybean crop and then were encouraged to switch to strawberries by Harold Robbins, the University of Tennessee extension agent at that time," she said.
Now, the most important question at-hand is when will these delicious strawberries be ready for consumption?
"We will start our season the first week in May and it will continue until around the end of May or the first week of June. After about 10 days into picking, the crop really starts to peak," she said.
The Tidwell's provide produce for Rhea County and surrounding counties, according to Mrs. Tidwell.
"Locally, our strawberries can be found at Paul's Produce and in our retail store," she said.
The retail store, located on Rhea County highway just four miles south of Spring City, is open at 8 a.m. and closes when all the berries are sold.
Tidwell's strawberries are no longer available for U-pick. For updated information about the availability of strawberries, call the Tidwell Berry Farm 24-hour hotline at 365-9300.
