Unseasonably hot weather affecting Ohio’s strawberry farmers

TROY — Heat in Ohio is impacting the state’s strawberry crop and farmers are asking locals for help in picking the berries.

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The unseasonably warm temperatures are making the strawberries ripen faster than usual, affecting farms in both Troy and Butler Twp.

“Now we’re noticing the berries getting smaller and smaller and you’ll see that happen throughout the year,” said Joe Fulton of Fulton Farms.

Recently, temperatures have consistently soared to the mid-80s with a heat index of 90 degrees.

Fulton Farms says along with their fast hands, they’re also irrigating the fields in the afternoon to try and combat the heat wave.

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Monnin’s Fruit Farm workers had 3,000 people from all over picking strawberries Memorial Day weekend, but will need more hands on deck in the coming weeks if the heat keeps up.

“Lack of rain and hot weather has just brought them all on at the same time, and we need as many (people) out here as possible so they don’t rot in the field,” said Nick Monnin of Monnin’s Fruit Farm.

Both farmers hope the temperatures cool, but hot weather or not, they’ll be ready for this weekend’s Troy Strawberry Festival.