Today is the 3rd day we opened and the 1st where we had enough berries to stay open all day long.  It started out rainy but that didn't stop our customers.  Some of them really got a  soaking in the morning.  Mid-day it really poured on us for a while, but in the afternoon it cleared up and we continued to harvest ripe berries.

We already are having to separate very clearly the 25% Camarosa section from the 75% Chandler section.  The Cams just aren't sweet at all until they are blood red, almost maroon in color.  This variety is what is commonly purchased at grocery stores.  The Chandlers are sweet as soon as they are mostly red and the fully ripe Chandlers practically melt in your mouth.  We are really looking forward to some solid sunshine to fill these berries with sugar.  We have been directing most customers to the Chandlers, especially those with kids.  For the adult customers, we explain the more rigorous picking requirements of the Cams and let them choose what variety they want to pick.  I feel bad if they get a semi-sweet berry so have emphasized the need to pick the Cams beyond red.  

Unbelievable, looks like we are going to get 2 nights of probable frost next week.   We will probably cover the field again Monday afternoon and leave the covers on until Wednesday morning.  I thought we were done with the frost protection, but Mother Nature has one more winter blast for us.