Strawberry season – a welcome sign of spring around here – is just starting.

Roadside stands are opening, selling strawberries this weekend, and farmers markets are selling too in Fresno County. However, things are a little different this year for a couple of reasons.

First, the recent rains have damaged some of the early strawberries, said Felix Muzquiz, the executive director of the Vineyard Farmers Market. Rain, followed by sun midway through the growing process has left some berries with tips that are a little blackened or dried out, she said.

But that won’t last long.

“Next week we should have tons of them because there’s going to be great weather,” she said.

This year’s season also comes during the coronavirus pandemic, when people are being directed to shelter in place at home. The city of Fresno’s most recent emergency order directs people leave their homes only for essential trips, and specifically cites getting fresh fruit and vegetables as allowable.

Customers are asked to stay 6 feet away from each other. They are also asked to not touch the fruit unless they’re planning to buy it, to not sample it, not linger at the stand, and to wash the strawberries when they get home, according to the Fresno County Office of Tourism.

Where to buy

Here’s where you can get strawberries. Note: some farmers markets have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not listed here.

Vineyard Farmers Market, Blackstone and Shaw avenues, 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

River Park Farmer’s Market, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

Fresno State Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market, 5368 N. Chestnut Ave. Hours vary by day.

The 16 strawberry stands on the list are either already open or will open this weekend.

Saechao’s Fresh Strawberry Farm, Chesnut Avenue near Florence Avenue

Simonian Farms, Jensen and Clovis avenues

Dou Moua Ly Strawberry Farm, Jensen and Thompson avenues

Kao Saechao’s Strawberry Farm, northeast corner of McCall and Manning avenues, Selma

May Saelee’s Strawberry Farm, Highway 43, half a mile west of Highway 99

Koy’s Fresh Strawberry Farm, Mountain View and Academy avenues in Kingsburg

Pao Saephan’s Fresh Strawberries, southwest corner of Manning and Reed avenues in Reedley

Choinam’s Strawberry Farm, McCall and Belmont avenues

Chingfou Strawberry Stand, southwest corner of McCall and Ashlan avenues

Yang’s Strawberry Farm, Fowler Avenue, a quarter mile south of Clinton Avenue

Saetern’s Strawberry Farm, Shaw Avenue, half mile west of DeWolf Avenue

Siong’s Strawberry Farm, Behymer Avenue, east of Willow Avenue

Ming’s Strawberry Farm, Herndon Avenue, a quarter mile east of Willow Avenue

Saetern’s Farm, Shaw and Grantland avenues

Thao’s Farm, Dakota and Brawley avenues

Saechao’s Fresh Strawberry Farms, Marks Avenue, a half mile north of Clinton Avenue.

This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 12:00 AM.

Bethany Clough

The Fresno Bee

(559) 441-6431

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.