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Red, sweet, and ready to eat

Spring’s challenges make this year’s strawberries taste sweeter than ever
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The strawberries are ripe and Galey Farms has plenty of local and migrant workers supplying the market every day.

Farmers are at the mercy of the weather, and you might think that Vancouver Island’s cool spring would have Rob Galey stressing. But the owner of Galey Farms is in good spirits.

“All the cold weather is giving our June strawberries a really high sugar content. They’re very sweet, and we’re picking them fresh every morning,” he says.

Galey Farms has no shortage of supply, and a solid team of local and migrant workers bringing the crop in every morning. The June varieties like Ranier Strawberries are popular not just because they’re among the first of the season, but also because they’re full of flavour and great for preserves.

“People are already coming in to the market, looking for these Raniers,” Galey says.

Speedy, safe service

Like all businesses, Galey Farms has adapted their market to keep customers safe and allow for physical distancing. They have extra staff and a new system to keep lines short and quick.

“We built an all-new system outside the market to accommodate all the extra COVID precautions,” Galey says. “The whole process is working very efficiently.”

Flats of strawberries are available most days, weather permitting. Galey expects the first crop of carrots and nugget potatoes by the end of the week, with raspberries and blueberries by the end of the month. Galey’s sweet local corn will follow shortly after that.

“It’s these cold nights that really lower the soil temperature, so plants aren’t jumping up first thing in the morning,” Galey says, but the farm is already in full strawberry production.

Galey Farms is four generations strong, and has been farming in Saanich since the late 1930s. They wholesale to major grocery chains and food suppliers and are a well-known attraction every year in October.

The Galey Farms Market is open daily from 10 a.m to 5:30 p.m at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd. The Wilkinson Location at the corner of Wilkinson and Carey Road is now open as well, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information visit galeyfarms.net or call 250-477-5713.

our market this year is covid friendly

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Galey Farms Market is outdoors and well-staffed to serve you strawberries and other produce in a safe and speedy manor.