Last weekend, Jeff and I went strawberry picking at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, RI.  You may recall that we have a few strawberry plants of our own, but those pesky bunnies got to them first. I really need to find a netting solution to cover the plants.  Anyway, it’s always a pleasure to drive to that part of Aquidneck Island – some of the best RI beaches are just another mile away. Sweet Berry Farm provides a lovely, cozy farm experience. A gorgeous setting, an adorable cafe and shop filled with delicious home-baked goods, gourmet ice cream, and fruit to pick throughout the summer and fall. In addition to strawberries, you can pick your own apples, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins, and raspberries in the appropriate seasons.

I had never been strawberry picking before, and was delighted by how adorable the strawberries were. They looked like the strawberries you see in drawings; that perfect strawberry shape, small, soft, and bright red. Sometimes when pulling them off the stem, I heard a little “pop” like a suction cup being removed – it made the berries seem even more fresh. When we got home, I made a small batch of strawberry balsamic preserves.